Location: Nong Noke Ta, Khemaraat District, Ubon Ratchatani Province, Thailand
PCV Name & Mailing Address:

Counterpart: Mr. Utit Jailak, Principal
Requested Amount: Baht 19,000/ U.S. $475
Date of Request: March 23, 2005

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Nong Noke Ta
Nong Noke Ta is a village located outside of the district town of Khemaraat, about 15 kilometers from the Thai-Laos border. Because of its close proximity to Laos, the area has a strong Lao influence evidenced by the language, which is a mixture of Thai and Lao. The primary occupation of people in the area is rice farming. Farming begins in May and goes through December, which constitutes the rainy season and the beginning of the cold season. During the other four months of the year many people spend their time working with second income generation groups making products as varied as brooms, barbed wire and mushrooms. The average income of families in the area is about 20,000 baht (U.S. $500) per year, and the average number of family members per household is 4.6 people. For an additional source of income, family members often times must work in Bangkok because there are higher wages to be made there.

The school is the learning center for children from Nong Noke Ta and five of the surrounding villages. Comprised of 256 students and 13 teachers, the school starts at kindergarten and goes through grade 9. Mr. Utit Jailak began as principal of Nong Noke Ta School 18 years ago and he plans to stay for the next eight years until he reaches the required retirement age of 60. The campus has three school buildings, the library, a soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, and a boy/girl scout campground. The school takes two breaks every year, one from April 1 to May 15 and the other from October 11 to November 1.

Computer Library Project
While talking with people in my area I discovered that having a computer library in the school was a priority that filled a need set by the community. Mr. Utit Jailak, the principal of the local school, was the first person who introduced me to the project. He explained to me that the school has a committee that meets regularly to discuss issues regarding the students’ education. More than two years ago, the committee, comprised of parents, community leaders and school employees, identified computer skills as a pressing need for the students.

Currently the school has three computers, and each class has approximately 20 students. This 7:1 ratio of students to computers makes it very difficult for them to get good experience. Despite the school’s attempts to make do with what is available, computer classes have proven ineffectual. Over the past two years, the principal and one of the teachers have instructed the seventh, eighth and ninth grade students on computer skills. The classes consist of one student on each computer and the rest of the class sitting behind them watching. Though all students get their turn with the computers, this does not provide enough time for them to truly learn. Furthermore, this situation creates restlessness and a sense of frustration among the students thereby making it difficult for the instructors to keep the students’ attention. After quickly realizing that the current situation was not adequate for effectively teaching the subject, the committee decided that a computer library was the solution that would help them achieve their goal.

The school envisions the library as being a place that provides the students with the tools and environment necessary for the education of and benefit from computers and the internet. The primary use of the library will be to hold computer classes for grades 1 to 9; however, it will be used in other capacities. The school also intends for teachers to use the library as a tool to improve their lessons and increase teaching capabilities. Students will have an opportunity to use the library outside of normal school hours and the school will hold computer classes on weekends for anyone in the community who is interested in learning.

Mr. Utit and the teachers of the school are doing the research for the information necessary to this project. Mr. Utit and I are writing the proposals and look for funding and computer donations. Through in country donations and a Peace Corps Partnership proposal we are attempting to acquire 16 computers, a computer projector, a printer, desks, chairs, and training for the teachers on how to maintain the computers. We are hoping to acquire the funding for one computer and educational software with this proposal to RPCV group 27.

Community Contribution
The school has already taken steps towards bringing the library to fruition. They first collected about 400,000 baht (U.S. $10,000) from people in the community and former students in order to construct the building that will house the library. Many people from the area provided free labor to reduce the building cost. Construction, which started almost two years ago, is now complete and the building is ready for use. The community has also committed to donating 60,000 baht (about U.S. $1,500) towards the purchase of computers in this project. Although the community desires to have this library, and has eagerly contributed much to its progress, the project has come to a point where outside help is necessary.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goal 1: Students will have the opportunity to learn how to use a computer and the internet.

Objective 1: The principal will hire a computer teacher with money from the school budget.

Goal 2: Teachers will use the computers/computer lab to improve their lessons.

Objective 2: Teachers will have mandatory training on computers after school for the first month.

Goal 3: Students will have an opportunity to use the computer lab for general education.

Objective 3 a: Teachers will instruct the students on how to use the educational software.

Objective 3 b: Students will be given time to use this software.

Goal 4: The community will have an opportunity to learn how to use computers.

Objective 4: The principal and computer teacher will hold classes on the weekend for interested members of the community.

SUSTAINABILITY

The sustainability of this project primarily relies on two factors: computer maintenance and the school’s enduring commitment to computer education. To address the issue of computer maintenance, two measures will be taken. First, the school will hire someone to give the teachers a one-day training course on how to maintain and take care of the computers. Second, the school will pay someone to inspect the computers 2-4 times a year. The money for the second person will come from people in the community who use the computer lab after school and on the weekends. The school will charge 5 baht per hour for people to use the computers (excluding students and teachers), and there will be a schedule for the teachers to monitor the computer lab during these times. If the money amount needed for the inspector is not met through these means, the principal will pay the remaining amount out of the school budget.

While maintenance will keep the computers in good shape, it does not ensure their use. This assurance can only come from an enduring commitment from the school and the community. Commitment must stem from the principal, since he is the person who makes decisions regarding school priorities, and as one of the people who initiated this project, Mr. Utit is dedicated to its success. Given that he will stay eight more years, he can ensure that the library is engrained into the school’s curriculum. Moreover, with this extended period the community’s expectations of the library’s use will become stronger, so that when he does leave, the new principal will sense the library as a community priority.

Another component of the project that will contribute to the sustainability of the library is its use as a teaching tool by the teachers. To promote this goal the teachers will have training on both general computer skills and classroom specific computer applications. Mr. Utit is very knowledgeable in using computers and 3-4 of the teachers have basic computer skills (word, excel, power point, internet, etc). Mr. Utit and I are planning to lead the teacher training. All of the teachers have signed a letter of commitment to attend all of these classes.

BUDGET

SCHEDULE

Week 1
· Setup computers
· Have teacher training on computer maintenance
· Start computer training for teachers

Weeks 2-4
· Computer training for teachers

Week 5
· Test the teachers’ competency in computers
· Teachers start using the library for their classes
· Start teaching the students how to use the educational software

Month 2
· Start weekend computer classes for community members

Mr. Utit has already found the new computer teacher and he will start working sometime in the first two months.