Primary Teacher Upgrading/Training projects In the Primary Teacher Upgrading/Training projects, CWS works together with the Ministry of Education in Vientiane and with the local Education offices in the Provinces of Oudomxay and Phongsaly. This project provides training to primary school teachers who are already teaching in school classrooms but who may lack the skills and abilities to help the students learn their subjects. In addition to upgrading the teachers' skills and abilities in technical subject matters, the teachers are also taught new teaching techniques and methodology such as student group work, student participation in class, and how to make and how to use teaching aids from locally available materials. Teachers are also taught ways to encourage girls to come to and stay in school. Because the classroom environment has become more interesting and because parents can see that their children are learning more, there are now fewer students dropping out of school. As a complementary activity, CWS also assists in upgrading school facilities in some villages. For improving school buildings, CWS usually provides roofing sheet; the village people build the walls and furniture. This project is improving the quality of education for the children and is providing them the foundation for further higher education and improvement of their lives. Click to enlarge any of the pictures below.