The Nation October 5 1998

Instead of drawing squares on the blackboard, students in Khon Kaen's Kud Chiang Mee primary school learn the meaning of width, length and area by growing vegetables in a prepared bed outside the classroom.

Students become familiar with words in English, not just for plants but for other things they see and touch, by playing name games which extend outside the classroom. Although it is definitely an English class, how the students learn the language is very different from traditional teaching methods in other country areas.

''We try to encourage our students to learn by themselves instead of following direct instructions from their teachers. Instead of using 'chalk and talk' we have created fun activities which are related to their real lives, so what we teach is really applied learning,'' said Isaan teacher Ware Khejorinsart. ''Our strategy is to allow the students to have fun while studying,'' he added.

This fun classroom in Kud Chiang Mee School is one of the interesting pilot projects being tested in Khon Kaen. Student-centred systems are a new concept in education which concentrate on helping children learn to think for themselves rather than merely listening and remembering.

The project is funded by the United Nation Children's Fund (Unicef), with the cooperation of a number of relevant authorities.

''It is in accordance with the reforms in the new Education Act, which is currently being considered by the Cabinet,'' said Waree.

Apart from making the lessons fun for children, teachers at the Kud Chiang Mee School have to seek cooperation from students' parents to help the students gain farming experience.

''Our students will learn agriculture on a real farm, one of their parents'. They will not just learn mixed farming and alternative agriculture but become aware of real social problems in their community, such as Aids, drug addiction and prostitution,'' Waree explained.

He said studying in real-life situations would not only make students learn their lessons but familiarise them with issues in their own community too.

''It will narrow the gap between children and their families. It will help them consider their goals in life and what they will do when they leave school. Those who want to be farmers can learn useful skills during the class. Most of all, you will see how much of a teaching success this is by the smiling faces during class,'' he said.

A Grade 6 student, Jatupol Sikhaen, 12, said he preferred the new way of studying as it made him less shy with his teacher.

''You can discuss any problem with him. I used to be quite scared and didn't dare talk to him. It is fun to study in the middle of a field. Sometimes our teachers are our neighbours and cousins. My latest agriculture teacher is my Uncle Mee,'' Jatupol said with a broad smile.

''After learning from him, my friends and I have to practice it ourselves at school. Now we're growing greens for lunch. They are still young. Would you like to see them?''

Beaming at the students running around, Uncle Mee, alias Boonmee Worrabandit, said that teachers had asked him to teach the children alternative farming. It is not too difficult for him, because farming is part of his daily life.

''It depends on what those students would like to know. My latest class is showing them how to raise fish,'' Boonmee said. ''Adults have a natural duty to help children find the right way in life, to give them choices and the confidence to determine and reach their goals. At this time of economic crisis we have to teach them the techniques of survival, self-sufficiency and a community-based way of living.''

To create the ''fun classroom'' is not easy as it requires a major adjustment of teachers' attitudes toward teaching and learning.

Boonthin Jantharak, 37, a teacher at the Non Chan Tuek School in the same province, who has 15 years' experience, said that it was quite difficult for a number of teachers who were used to the traditional way of teaching, adding that his school was also experimenting with the new system.

''To start, it is difficult, because teaching students to think is harder, but once our students have learned how to think, it will no longer be hard work for us,'' he said.

Head teachers also have to have this revolutionary attitude.

''The hardest part is to make teachers and head teachers realise that teaching does not mean making students like what you might want them to,'' said Kaj Phuakmuangphol, 42, headmaster of the Non Chan Tuek School.

''More teachers are doing it our way.''

Teachers of 26 schools in four districts of Khon Kaen have formed a network to experiment with student-centred education. The network is supported by the Sustainable Community Development Foundation, a locally based organisation.

Discussions and conferences are normal activities among network members. There are also training programmes for new members.

However, the programme is not easy. One big challenge is that many lessons are not suitable for this kind of teaching. Many lessons are purely academic and require direct teaching.

''We are trying to define the proportion of fun classroom and traditional teaching. We hope the fun classroom will stir the eagerness of the students to learn more formal subjects. Once they realise the value of acquired knowledge, they will easily study in a more serious atmosphere,'' said teacher Waree.

An important question is how much acceptance this experiment will get. The answer depends on teachers like Waree, Boonmee and Kaj.