“I touch the future, I teach” – Christa McAuliffe, an American teacher and astronaut.
Being a teacher involves more than just imparting knowledge; it's about transforming students from within. A dedicated teacher has the power to maximize a student’s potential and even change their lives. However, this is no easy feat and requires support from all relevant parties. On the occasion of Thai Teacher’s Day, Teach For Thailand presents one of its programs that provides support for teachers to achieve their goals in class.
January 16th marks the annual celebration of teachers, known as “Teacher’s Day,” initiated in 1956. The accompanying phrase, “teachers shed light on your paths,” coined by Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsongkharm, the Prime Minister at the time, emphasizes the importance of having a day for students to express gratitude to their teachers.
The term “Kru” (teacher) is derived from Sanskrit “kuru” (heavy), signifying the weighty responsibility of a teacher and the necessity for support from all available sources.
Through the “Social Studies Program,” Teach For Thailand (TFT) has collaborated closely with teachers across Thailand, aiding in the facilitation of their work. This program integrates Social Study teachers into TFT’s leadership network through workshops, activities, and progress monitoring. The initiative offers crucial support for public school teachers, assisting them in enhancing their work to meet the goals of both teachers and schools.
TFT’s Fellowship Programme focuses on training teachers for subjects of Mathematics, Science, and English. However, Social Study is another department with an immense impact on students’ lives, as these teachers organize activities and carry out school policies. The subject itself concerns ways of living, development, and adaptation to society, providing students with an understanding of the system that impacts them and people in their lives. TFT envisions that a leadership network of Social Study teachers is crucial to drive Thai education forward.
Sutthasinee Chaweesak, from Rachineeburana School, Nakon Pathom, one of the participants in the Social Studies Program, commented:
“This program has played a big role in classroom design and creating lesson plans. Staff are constantly following up and organizing workshops with a friendly atmosphere, emphasizing to us the things we can do more to maximize student’s potential.”
“Thank you for making our classes complete, and for collecting feedback from students. We can use this data to conduct research in our classes,” she added.
Rattanachart Sarapo, from Maengon Kilek school, Fang district, Chiang-Mai, is another teacher in this network, remarking about how he and his fellow teachers were inspired by the program.
“The workshops have lit up our passions again, to go forward and further because we can exchange with others who face similar experiences.”
“After joining the program, I found myself able to focus more on my teaching and perceive my students more thoroughly. I have also started visiting other teacher’s classes to show support and provide feedback for them. They feel better about their students and are more motivated to teach.”
Teach For Thailand encourages you to express your support for public school teachers by sharing your experiences or stories to thank your teachers. Let’s express gratitude to these teachers who remain determined to propel Thai education forward. Education involves everyone, not just teachers, and you can be part of the change starting today.
Through everyone’s contribution, one day, we believe that all children in Thailand will have access to equal and quality education.
Support Teacher For Thailand’s mission, here. /ร่วมสนับสนุน/
