Child Friendly Schools’ training greatly improved my teaching skills

By Tin Shwe

Buthidaung, Rakhine State, 7 September 2018 - Phyu Nway Moe is a Grade 2 Assistant Teacher who has worked at the Basic Education State High School (2) in Buthidaung for more than 10 years. 

Up until 2018, Phyu taught a ‘teacher-centred’ method in her class, focusing activities more on her as the teacher. However, when the Ministry of Education introduced a new curriculum for her class this year, she noticed a difference in which the new curriculum increases demands on both teachers, in the preparation of classes and teaching materials, and pupils, in their active participation in class exercises.

Phyu Nway Moe teaching her her Grade 2 students using the CFS method 

©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Tin Shwe

The Child Friendly Schools (CFS), provided by the Department of Basic Education with support from UNICEF through the funding from the Government of Japan, is aimed to help teachers through this transition to the new curriculum. The training is also combined with the Language Enrichment programme, to help teachers working with children whose mother tongue is not Myanmar.

Phyu was very excited to be selected in July with more than 800 other teachers for the training. “The Child Friendly Schools training is actually very relevant and beneficial for both teachers and students,” she said. “It showed us an improved method of teaching which builds our skills and enables children to learn more from each other. They are much happier. I can see that this will enhance class unity and give us a sense of working together as a team.” 

Applying the CFS method initially had its own challenges, mainly relating to the time needed to plan each lesson and materials to be developed. Phyu managed to resolve these issues through the training. “I realized that I needed to first gather materials which were available locally to make my teaching aids, and to adequately plan my lessons. The new method also requires us to be more patient with our students.” 

Phyu has noticed how her teaching skills have improved following the training particularly as she can now help her students easily understand more specific subjects. “There is no doubt,” she said, “the training has provided me with an important foundation upon which I want to continue to build my skills.”