Nang San Phong, A woman who aspires to support Shan youth to reach the highest level of education

Before joining the Kaw Dai National School, I was a summer-school teacher and taught children at village monastery schools. I began working as a summer-school teacher when I was a grade 8 student. That’s why I like teaching, and I am fond of it.

I want all Shan youth to be educated, so I am teaching for the next generation of Shan people. My name is Nang San Phong. My native town is Keng Tung, in eastern Shan State. Currently, I serve as the principal of the Kaw Dai National Primary School. I have served at this school for 13 years.

Before joining the Kaw Dai National School, I was a summer-school teacher and taught children at village monastery schools. I began working as a summer-school teacher when I was a grade 8 student. That’s why I like teaching, and I am fond of it.

I’m quite satisfied teaching Shan youth. At our school, we primarily teach: Shan, English, Math, Science, and Burmese language. The difference between state school and Kali National School is that our language of instruction is Shan language, so we accept students of any ethnicity who can understand Shan language.

We have transfer students from state schools. Our school is based on mother-tongue language learning, so children can understand more easily. It is difficult for we ethnic people to study at state schools. We see that children understand and learn more effectively using a mother-tongue based education approach.

I, myself, did not learn much from state schools when I attended. Children do not learn much from the teaching in state schools. That’s why I became a teacher; I dreamed of becoming a teacher so I could teach children to learn more effectively.

In my community, most children do not want to go to school. And the subjects which are currently taught are not useful. I believe that education is essential. That’s the reason I want to be a teacher.

As a teacher, you have to understand your subject well. So, you can teach students to understand the material you are teaching. I have tried hard to develop teaching methods which ensure students’ understanding. Identifying and developing the most effective teaching methods is a big challenge.

“It is quite challenging for us to have a deep understanding of word choice, and relevant expressions which children can easily understand. If we do not fully understand the subject we teach, then we are in trouble. When children ask questions and teachers cannot answer them, they will think teachers are not capable. Therefore, the challenge for we teachers is to thoroughly understand the subject we teach. And another thing is knowing the specific vocabulary and appropriate terms used in the subject.”
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