|
A haircut at barber school costs half the amount of an outside cut
|
On-the-job training at a school barber in a southern Thailand province is creating a new generation of skilled workers, increasing income and reducing students’ costs for their haircuts.
World Vision Foundation of Thailand started the male haircut occupation project at Ban Din Dang School in the Lumtap district during the second term of its school year in 2006. The activity was added to the occupation skills training course in secondary grade one. Twenty students were trained to cut men’s hair using electrical clippers.
“I have set a goal for this group of students to receive 2-3 years of experience. When they leave school, they can continue to enrol in other crafts and make this into a career,” said Kanit Jeutongsi, health and physical education teacher and also a trainer.
The hair salon is open for service every day of the school term during the lunch break and after class. A haircut costs 10 Baht (30 cents US). If students cannot afford this amount, they can pay in instalments of one Baht a day.
The 10 Baht fee is divided in half. Fifty percent is used to repair any broken equipment and pay for other expenses, while the other half is given to the barber. The group members record all income and expenditure.
“The student barbers will use their income to help pay for their camp so that they don’t need to ask their parents,” Kanit said.
Their classmates are delighted with the service, which represents value for money.
“I’ve been having my haircut here regularly. It costs Baht 20 to have a haircut outside,” Rangsit Tala, 14, said.
In the community, there is only one barber, unable to provide service to 80 students. Within the school, though, there are two student barbers on duty each day, and they also advertise for customers from outside the school.
According to school regulation, male students must have short hair.
“When the school announces that there will be a hair check up, all the students proceed to have their hair cut. If they need to go on a Saturday afternoon the barber is available during that time,” Kanit said
The school barber has provided 140 haircuts since the project commenced.
More about World Vision's work in Thailand
