THE School of Home Science run by the Department of Social Welfare provides an inexpensive option for people who want to learn vocational skills such as sewing or baking, said Daw Tin Tin Aye, the principal of the school.

Branches of the school have opened in Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyine in Mon State, Pathein in Ayeyarwady Division, Myitkyina in Kachin State, Taungoo in Bago Division and Zipingyi in Mandalay Division’s Pyin Oo Lwin township.

Students aged 16 to 49 can attend classes in sewing, knitting, baking, Chinese foods, preserved plum production and flower decoration. Each subject is divided into basic and advanced levels, and classes last about 90 days.

Daw Tin Tin Aye said literacy is not required to enroll in the courses, which cost only K5000 (except for Chinese foods and flower decoration, which cost K10,000). Private schools, on the other hand, regularly charge K50,000 or more for one-month courses.

“Classes are taught with one teacher for every 10 students so the students can work closely with the teachers,” she said.

Each subject is offered eight times a year in Yangon, Daw Tin Tin Aye said, adding that the number of students has doubled in the past five years.

“We have already held the courses four times this year and have had a total of more than 200 students each time,” she said, adding that most students are interested in attending Chinese food and sewing classes.

Classes are held from Monday to Friday in two shifts: from 9am to noon and 12:30pm to 3:30pm

“This gives students more flexibility to choose morning or afternoon classes,” said Daw Tin Tin Aye.

Ma Myat Maw, 30, learned sewing at the School for Home Science in Yangon five years ago.

“I sew all my own clothes so I can save money and I can also make new design when I want,” she said.

The School for Home Science in Yangon will open training courses on August 31, October 12 and November 23, as well as on January 3, 2008.