2021 has been a challenging year for Thailand. Schools have remained closed for months as the country battles the resurgence of the pandemic, and many are forced to move back to distance learning - whether they are ready to adopt this method or not. This has sparked concern among academics, as the impact to the learning process means that the educational trajectory for students is affected, with their learning and development impeded. Urgent interventions are needed to help students - especially those in remote areas - gain access to online learning materials to ensure they do not fall behind. This is where KONE and the Zero-to-Hero Foundation are hoping to impact, providing students with tablets to allow them an avenue and opportunity to learn online.
"This year, Thailand is facing an unprecedented crisis across many of its sectors, and the education industry is no different. As a result of the pandemic, those living in rural areas have minimal access to distance learning. With our contribution to support the Zero-to-Hero Foundation, we want to enable students and empower them with the technology necessary to ensure they have continued access to education," said Anthony Tan, Managing Director, KONE Thailand.
"At KONE, we care for each other. Care is one of our core values, and we believe in extending this beyond our employees and customers to the communities around us and to future generations. Despite the pandemic, we want to ensure students in Thailand have the opportunity to continue learning, and to aim for a brighter future," he added.
The Zero-to-Hero Foundation is dedicated to providing active learning for students in Thailand, beginning with collaborating with teachers in a local government school in the Huana Village - part of the Huana Pilot Project. The goal of the Pilot is to successfully find a model of learning that can improve the quality of education for children in rural areas. Through raising the quality of education and life in Huana Village, the Zero-to-Hero Foundation will pitch the idea to the Thai Government, allowing more schools - and more students nationwide - access to active learning models especially effective given the current distance learning requirements.
"Our Zero-to-Hero program in Huana is based on our experience in Finland with early childhood education. Together with Thai experst, we are adapting the concept to better fit the Thai children and learners in rural areas. While we are beginning with Huana, we believe there is an opportunity to reach out to students all across Thailand, and in developing countries everywhere," said Duangruthai "Jo" Rubinstein, co-founder of the Zero-to-Hero Foundation.
For more information about KONE, please visit our website. For more information about the Zero-to-Hero Foundation, please visit the website.
Source: Precious communications