Five hundred volunteers will be deployed to provide educational support for students in rural areas taking part in a long-distance learning programme introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
The volunteers will work to support 279 mostly rural schools across 45 provinces which are conducting long-distance classes via an on-air platform broadcast on television.
Udom Wongsing, director of the educators' quality office at the EEF, said the volunteers, who will be provided with clearly laid out assignments, will visit students at their homes in villages and help answer queries they may have about subjects studied during long-distance classes.
Many students may have questions but have no one to ask since the on-air learning experience involves one-way communication.
Mr Udom said the volunteers will also offer students and their families guidance on how to prevent Covid-19 transmission.
The EEF has worked with local school networks in recruiting the volunteers, some of whom will make home visits in remote areas in mountainous areas and on islands.
"Long-distance learning isn't easy to adapt to. Parents may not be able to help their children grapple with the content of some on-air classes," Mr Udom said.
He said the volunteers, who will be on hand to assist about 80,000 students nationwide, will be fresh graduates with a teaching degree, temporary-contract teachers between jobs and retired teachers.
They will receive adequate stipends to cover their travel expenses and meals, he said adding they are expected to work at least until the delayed new school term starts on July 1.
Supachoke Piyasant, director of Ban Huay Rai Samakkee School in Chiang Rai, on Tuesday said the volunteers can help provide a solution to television reception problems in some areas.
