Teachers teaching teachers

Teachers participate in a self-sponsored workshop.

The people at the forefront of education, the frontline troops as it were, are the teachers. It is the teachers, after all, who interact with students on a day-to-day basis. It is their dedication and ability that have, arguably, the greatest bearing on students' learning.

In order to improve the quality of teaching in our classrooms, several issues have to be addressed. Undoubtedly, more intensive teacher training is required, along with a more meaningful licensing system. And there is also a need for more attention to be paid to professional development.

Many teachers here in Thailand appreciate the value of professional development and have gone about establishing associations dedicated to that end. These associations can be either informal, which take little in the way of organisation, or formal, which tend to take longer to set up.

A practical level

I have been lucky enough to observe first-hand several independent groups of teachers who come together on a regular basis to improve.

Mr Chalee Pongnumkool, a teacher from Ban Hinlad Wang Tor and chairman of a teacher association in Khon Kaen, said that his group comprises committed, like-minded teachers who are desperate for up-to-date teaching news and relevant professional training. They organise frequent training sessions and, when a theme is agreed upon, each member who is interested in participating contributes towards the costs. Their most recent session was in April, and it was impressive to see so many teachers giving up their weekend to come into school and share their skills and knowledge.

Each participating teacher paid about 300 baht, out of their own pocket, for this two-day workshop. The energy and motivation of those involved was infectious, and it is notable how many volunteers gave up their time to help organise the session by collecting materials, securing the facilities and providing refreshments.

Mr Prasit Phumi-Khan is the education supervisor for Educational Service Area (ESA) 1, Khon Kaen. He acts as an intermediary between the ESA and the various school associations. He collabourates with each group and helps them realise their ideas. He also keeps teachers aware of developments via the ESA's website.

Moving towards professionalisation

Such initiatives serve to reinforce a point made by Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor of education at Stanford University. In her book, The Right to Learn, she contends that in teaching, as in other occupations, professionalisation is often seen as being primarily concerned with power, autonomy, status and compensation. But many contend that teachers need and deserve more respect, more authority, and higher salaries.

The Khon Kaen teacher association is merely one example of teachers being proactive and creating their own learning opportunities. For more information on activities and workshops conducted by the Education Service Area, visit the Ministry of Education website at http://www.moe.go.th/web_linkarea/moeweb.htm .