Retired teacher helps children back to school

Written by Thein Than Tun

For many people, retiring after 40 years of teaching would mean a rest from the classroom but not for Thein Tun Soe, 63. No sooner had he retired, U Thein Tun Soe carried on teaching, this time in a non-formal middle school education (NFMSE) centre in Loilin Lay, 40 minutes’ drive from Loikaw City in the Eastern part of Kayah State.

U Thein Tun Soe at the NFMSE centre in Loilin Lay, Kayah State, Myanmar

©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Minzayar Oo

The NFMSE provides second chance education for children aged 13 and over who are out of school. The students have to study a six semester-course for at least three years. U Thein Tun Soe also had to complete a nine-day facilitator training provided by the Department of Alternative Education, with technical support from UNICEF.

U Thein Tun Soe is now teaching the sixth semester and has 11 students, six girls and five boys. “I am impressed with their progress,” said Thein Tun Soe. “They are particularly good in calculus    even the shopkeepers tell me that ‘when they come into our shops your students are calculating well what they owe and their change’.’’

To accommodate children who have to supplement the family income, lessons are held only in the afternoon and evening. During the first five semesters of the NFMSE programme, children learn basic vocational skills, such as agricultural techniques, carpentry, bamboo weaving, petty trading and art, which are tailor-made for each semester. The sixth semester focuses on equipping children with both academic qualifications and basic vocational skills, so they can choose between entering full-time skilled labour or rejoining high school education under the formal school programme. “I’m now focusing on Myanmar language and mathematics in the academic curriculum, and carpentry and art in the vocational part,” said U Thein Tun Soe.

Despite the gains, U Thein Tun Soe pointed out the NFMSE programme has challenges. Three of his students dropped out    two girls left to work in neighbouring countries of Singapore and Thailand and one boy left to work in another part of Kayah State. Moreover, he faces challenges with teaching children of mixed abilities. “…the children who left school when they were in higher grades have little interest in academic lessons that they have already learnt in school, and children from lower grades are unable to participate well (as they find it too difficult).”  U Thein Tun Soe  also added children need more practice during the vocational lessons; learning, for example, how to gather raw materials for compost-making as well as having the chance to visit local carpentry shops.

On a personal level, U Thein Tun Soe has supplemented his income by setting up a small shop which he and his wife run out of the family home. But it is teaching that he enthuses about. Not only is he doing his life-long passion, but he is continuing to learn new skills; he mentions that learning interactive teaching methods has made him a better teacher. “I am still reading and studying how to improve the effectiveness of my daily teaching activities,” said U Thein Tun Soe with a sparkle in his eye. After retirement, “my life is becoming more meaningful.”