Princess honours progressive teachers throughout Asean bloc

William Egot Moraca does more than just hand out pencils and paper as principal of Klolang Elementary School in the Philippines. He has gone to the extent of installing a windmill to bring electricity to his far-flung community.

Mr Moraca is one of 11 recipients of the first Princess Maha Chakri Awards handed out to teachers across the Asean bloc and East Timor.

He says the most important thing a teacher can have is the will to help students. “I hope earning the PMCA award will be a good example for teachers in my country to follow my footsteps.”

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Friday presented the awards to teachers for outstanding work in creating development changes in students and inspiring other teachers.

Each recipient received a medal, a certificate and a US$10,000 fund.

Chalermporn Phongtheerawan, who teaches science at the Suratpittaya School in Surat Thani, is another to receive an award.

“It’s the highest honour for me and my family to win this award. I hope it will inspire good practices among other teachers,” he said.

Mr Chalermporn is an expert in designing learning techniques which enable the students to develop analytical skills and logical problem solving skills.

The recipients of the awards are Hajah Ratnawati Binti Haji Mohammad from Brunei, Tauch Bundaul from Cambodia, Herwin Hamid from Indonesia, Vongsamphanh Khamsoy from Laos, Zainuddin Zakaria from Malaysia, Yee Mon Soe from Myanmar, William Egot Moraca from the Philippines, Wang-Lim Ai Lian from Singapore, Julio Ximenes Madeira from Timor-Leste, Tran Thi Thuy Dung from Vietnam and Chalermporn Phongtheerawan from Thailand.