1. The Bamboo School and Community Empowerment Winds of change
Mechai Viravaidya Foundation
Mechai Bamboo School 1

2. literacy and numerical skills Thai education today concentrates on
rote memorization
And emphasizes
literacy and
numerical skills

3. which
Produces
and Followers 3

4. Rather than
leaders of tomorrow 4

5. Grades Budget 12th grade O-Net 50% 30% 10% 20 % of National budget
Mathematics
Thai
English
50%
30%
10%
Science
12th grade O-Net
Education Budget
Unit : 100,000 Million Baht
Year
20 % of
National budget
: TDRI, 16/2/12 5

6. And most of them remain
inside the box 6

7. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 7

8. We need to change the school
To this
From this

9. A Bold New Experiment in Education has already begun…
Buriram
Bangkok
…Buriram Province
Among lowest 4% in educational attainment 9

10. Crafting a New Generation of Thai Citizens
The Bamboo School
Crafting a New Generation of Thai Citizens 10

11. Learning Centers A Lifelong Social and Economic Advancement
It is not just a school, but
A Lifelong
Learning Centers
and a hub for
Social and Economic Advancement
for students, their families
and the entire community

12. The Bamboo School
is different
from other schools

13. 400 hours School fees paid by family with
of community service (8 hours per week)
and planting trees

14. Students perform 7 hours of community service per week

15. Purchasing and audit committees
They are also members of the
Purchasing and audit committees

16. Two students are elected from the student council to become
members of the school board

17. Students applying to enter Grade 7 are selected by a committee of 8th, 9th & 10th grade students and teachers

18. Students participate in
teacher selection
and evaluation

19. School constructed of Bamboo
Bamboo Structure of Dome 19

20. World’s largest
Bamboo Geodesic Dome
Diameter = 30 meters

23. for 10th Graders One year studying in Pattaya
Year 7,8,9, 11,12 students study in Buriram 23

24. encouraged & stimulated to
Our students are
encouraged & stimulated to 24

25. Why not paint trees 25

26. And fruits 26

27. Alternative vegetable garden
Fan cover 27

28. vegetable shoes 28

29. American Standard vegetables29

30. We are
encouraging
them to
become
even more
creative
in the future 30

31. Three Major Roles of the Bamboo School
Students
Teachers
Villagers
Education & Skills Training
Families
Communities
Institutions
The Mechai
Bamboo
School
Income Generation
Schools
Temples
Hospitals
Small Jails
Capacity Building
With support of the private sector

32. Project-Based learning
Students’ research and presentation to class

33. Bamboo School acts as IT Hub for surrounding communities
Computers made available to children
in communities surrounding school

34. Our students and those from
30 surrounding villages
are trained to be
Barefoot IT Teachers

35. Community IT Learning Room
Supervised by Barefoot IT Teachers

36. Student-Teach Project… in villages
Community Services…
Student-Teach Project… in villages

37. Community Service
Elderly
Hospital
Temple

38. Tree Planting

39. during rice planting & harvest
School close so students can
help farmers
during rice planting & harvest 39 39

40. Students’ Good Deeds Van ……

41. Doing Good Deeds

42. Students’ Good Deeds… Boat

43. Know Alcohol 43 43

44. Don’t let it control your life44 44

45. Sex Education & AIDS 45 45

46. Bio-Diesel 46 46

47. play
Sign language
help 47 47

48. Understand others

49. Understand others

50. Understanding hunger

51. All students are involved in tackling inequalities
…and in proposing solutions
especially for vulnerable groups

52. Income generating activities for vulnerable groups
(Mushroom growing for handicapped) 52

53. Corruption & Solutions
Identifying
Corruption & Solutions

54. Our students are also involved in training of teachers & students
At Government Schools 54 54

55. share their success Bamboo school students capable entrepreneurs
learn how to become
capable entrepreneurs
who are willing to
share their success

56. Business Agriculture Training
for Students

57. Businesses operated by students

58. Students’ farm and products for sale

59. Students food processing venture
50% of profits donated for scholarships of poor primary schools children

60. and make society a better place
The school is determined to
inspire students
to become citizens who:
Are honest, happy & caring, innovative and resourceful
Possess management & business skills
Practice & promote gender equality and democracy
and make society a better place

61. Our school in the 21st Century
Lifelong Learning Center
Hub for Economic & Social Progress
Teacher Training Facility
Occupational & Entrepreneurial Training
Job Training Opportunities
Placement at Tertiary Institutions (Scholarships)
Employment
Assist Students to Find

62. We are now expanding our activities to other rural schools
with the support of the private sector 62

63. School-Based Integrated
Rural Development
(SCHOOL - BIRD)

64. the School-Based Integrated Rural Development
6 Key components of
to improve the quality of life and eradicate poverty
the School-Based Integrated
Rural Development
1. Community Participation
and Empowerment
2. School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise
3. School & Community Micro Credit Fund
4. Health, Sanitation & Environment
5. Teachers’ Training
6. Supervision and Management

65. Cleaning of Village, School and Temple1
Community Participation
and Empowerment
Cleaning of Village, School and Temple

66. Community needs assessment1
Community Participation
and Empowerment
Community needs assessment

67. 2
School Lunch Farm
and Social Enterprise

68. Strong Community Participation2
School Lunch Farm
and Social Enterprise
Strong Community Participation

69. 2
School Lunch Farm
and Social Enterprise

70. Using half an acre of land2
School Lunch Farm
and Social Enterprise
Using half an acre of land

71. 3
School & Community
Micro Credit Fund

72. 3
School & Community
Micro Credit Fund
Chilies
Vegetables 72

73. 3
School & Community
Micro Credit Fund

74. 3
School & Community
Micro Credit Fund 74 74

75. 4
Health, Sanitation and
Environment

76. 4
Health, Sanitation and
Environment

77. 4
Health, Sanitation and
Environment

78. 4
Health, Sanitation and
Environment
Green Toy Library

79. 5
Teachers’ Training

80. 5
Teachers’ Training

81. 6
Supervision & Management

82. mechai@pda.or.th www.mechaifoundation.org Mechai Viravaidya Foundation
Population and Community Development Association 82 82