During my travels in Asia and Latin America I have noticed a distinctive absence of educational materials and supplies for students. This absence of educational materials is most noticeable in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Many of the classrooms, compared to classrooms in North America, are bland by comparison.

I think the most striking element involving many of these classrooms was the absence of educational, visually stimulating and thought provoking materials on the walls.

Libraries containing educational resource materials were often stark as a skeleton. I thought what chance do these young students have when it comes to competing for admission to colleges and universities abroad? The cards are already stacked against them from the word Go!

Many of the EFL and ESL books these students were learning from were written by native speakers of their own countries, the texts were wrought with grammar and spelling errors. I did not have the heart to point out these numerous and obvious errors to the administrators who were proudly showcasing the faulty foundations upon which the future of their countries were being built.

One of the reasons that some schools do not have access to quality educational materials and resources, especially EFL ESL text books audio cassettes, geography, mathematics, biology, science and other subjects is the cost. These schools do not have the financial budgets to make purchases of quality educational materials possible. And for that, my heart goes out.

I have provided in a comment board below, an opportunity for schools in Asia, Mexico, and Latin America to write posts about what type of educational materials they are in dire need of.

On another comment board there is the opportunity for schools to post announcements regarding books and educational materials they no longer need and our willing to send to a school perhaps thousands of miles away.

have worked in a good number of private EFL ESL language institutes and universities around the world and have seen the stacks of outdated EFL ESL books they have in storage, just sitting, rotting. I would urge language institutes, elementary schools, middle and high schools as well to send some of their old EFL ESL materials (Student Books, Teachers´ Guides, Audio and Video Cassettes) and other educational materials no longer used to public schools in need. There are thousands of educational texts that are no longer being used that could benefit greatly those students in need.

If you are a school teacher reading this consider starting Hub Pages http://hubpages.com/ about your school and community.  You can upload photographs of your school, your city, or village to share with the world.