Education reform needed

First, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn commented recently that children in rural areas did not have access to books as there were not enough libraries. The Princess has always been concerned with the education, especially of children in rural areas. Once again her comments are rightly drawing attention to the need for reading campaigns as part of "lifelong learning."

Book-lending scheme

In the same week, the Education Ministry was reported to be launching a textbook lending programme for students starting March next year. Six million Prathom students will have the opportunity to borrow books in the core subjects of Thai studies, English, maths, social science and science. It was reported that this project was in response to parents asking for the government to ease the financial burden on families and to alleviate students having to carry a heavy book bag to and from school daily. The hefty sum of 2.7 billion baht has been allotted to this project.

The problem as I see it is that the lending of books that students would normally have paid for themselves is a needless expense if the main concern is the carrying of books on the journey to and from school. Whilst some poorer families would benefit from free books, this appears to be an extravagant idea. If expenses are not taken into account, each Prathom student would have been allotted 450 baht, after expenses it will surely drop to 350 baht. The expense of 2.7 billion baht may be better spent on libraries, using existing buildings in schools and Education, Resource and Information Centers (Erics), supplying books for Mathayom as well as Prathom students.

As a parent, I know the damage that occurs to books that are used by Prathom students. After one semester, the majority of books may be severely damaged, however, if the books are reading books, held in a library, there is an opportunity for the establishment to manage the situation and try to prevent unnecessary damage.

Donations 'detour'

Secondly, at the start of April, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an was reported as stating that the ban on state secondary schools receiving donations during students' admissions would be lifted. A decision was made to allow the ban to remain effective for 15 days after schools announced the names of the successful candidates. The importance of this for the uninitiated is that money is usually offered as a "favor" to schools by parents during the period between first and final announcements of successful candidates.

If I were intent on still offering a favor to a susceptible school, would I not pledge the said favor and then make payment after the successful announcement of my sibling into the school of my choice? Those that wish to circumvent the law will do so unless realistic measures are used to combat this practice. This is an old habit which will be very difficult to stamp out, if at all.

Class sizes on increase

Finally, there has been debate for some time in Thailand that the class sizes at our schools are too big. Thailand has over the years, been promoting that classes average 25, a figure that is in line with United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) guidelines. Most teachers will tell you that this is not so. Classes average 40+, with some teachers in rural areas having to cope with 70 students in some classes.

So it was with dismay that I read that the Basic Education Commission had ordered public secondary schools in Bangkok and surrounding areas to increase class sizes. The reason for this is that more than 2,000 students had still to find schools. Schools have been ordered to increase the number of seats per classroom from 45 to 50; however, this was not enough as there were still approximately 4,500 out of the initial 7,000 that still did not have schools to go to.

I propose a major review of the Thai education system, by agencies outside of the Education Ministry taking into account the views and experience of teachers at the chalk face and also the educated and experienced scholars of Thailand that have so much to offer but are never heard by the powers that be.

To return to the words of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn; books are important tools for developing reading, language use and thinking skills, as well as creating inspiration and imagination. The government perhaps may wish to consider some of this inspiration and imagination and adopt some realistic policies to improve education for all in Thailand.