Bandar Seri Begawan - Nine-Year-Old Moi from the 'Palong' hill tribe in Thailand is currently in Primary Three but she is different from any Bruneian student as she cannot speak one word of English and has difficulties spelling out the English alphabets.

Her problem is common among some 300 students of Kop Dong primary school, a school hidden in the mountainous area of Chiang Mai.

However, the lack of English knowledge for students of the less developed school situated inside Doi Ang Khang, may soon be a thing of the past as Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has plans to send students to the school to teach the English language as a community service under the Discovery Year (Third year) of Generation Next Degree.

During a recent trip to Pok Dong school, three UBD officials comprising Datin Hjh Rosnah binti Hj Ramly, Senior Lecturer of the Language Centre, Dr Yabit Alas, the Director of Language Centre and Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Hj Wahsalfelah, the Director of Academy of Brunei Studies, along with eight students led by Madam Waesong Deleng, Minister of Royal Thai Embassy in Brunei, spoke with officials of the school in the hope of bringing in UBD's students to teach English to the students.

One of the teachers at the school, Riam, who has been teaching there for more than 20 years and has received Thailand's best teacher award for her endless efforts in teaching the children, welcomed the idea of UBD student' teaching the children.

Dr Yabit said, "We are hoping to send our Generation Next Degree students to the school during their Discovery Year where one of the optional components is community service.

"The students who agree to come to the school, which is situated in the rural area of Thailand, may teach theEnglish language or even IT skills to the students. We have already spoken to the school representatives and they have welcomed our initiatives."

He also said that to further iron out any problems that may exist for UBD students to teach at the school, a pilot project comprising UBD students led by Dr Yabit himself will pay another visit to Kop Dong."We will try to smoothen the process for UBD students to go to the school," he assured.

"During the visit, we found that there is a house in good condition that comes at an affordable rent for accommodation for teachers," he added.One semester of teaching in the school will have a deep impact on UBD students and will also be a valuable experience for them and for the primary school students, he said.

The trip also left a deep impact on UBD and UNISSA students who were touched by the hardship and plight of the children and their families. The delegates comprised Mr  Phaosan Jehwae, Miss Nisurainee Nima, Dayang Lia Nuruhabah Binti Hj Mirwan Batubara, Dk Norafidah Binti Pg Mohd Shamri and Dayang Azimah Binti Hj Mohd Salleh from UBD as well as Awang Mohammad Lateh and Dayang Samsiyah Dalor from UNISSA.

Most of the visiting students from UBD said they want to return to help the students. Dayang Lia Nuruhabah Binti Hj Mirwan Batubara said, "I would love to come back to help the kids. Hopefully, I can come back in June again with Dr Yabit's group to see the children and help them." -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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