The Teachers Council of Thailand, or Kurusapa, has selected nine educators to receive a Kurusapa Award in observance of Teachers' Day at an award ceremony on Friday to be hosted by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Pichet: Students under stress
Paithoon Sinlarat, chairman of the Kurusapa committee, said the five teachers and four school administrators were among hundreds of teachers and education officials nationwide who have demonstrated outstanding performance.
The teachers who will be recognised at the ceremony at Kurusapa in Dusit district are Chanya Thananimit from Santirat Witthayalai School in Bangkok, Natsukan Watthu from Anuban Krabi School in Krabi, Pichet Buntawee from Thungchang School in Nan, Pensri Somboonwong from Wat Sai School in Nakhon Pathom and Rayim Onsurathum from Pangkhon Witthayakhom in Sakon Nakhon.
The officials are Chompunuch Buabangsorn from Chetupon Commercial College in Bangkok, Prayoon Rienpingwang from Anuban Lampang School in Lampang, Wira Khangkasikarn from Primary Education Service Area Office Region 3 in Nakhon Sawan and Lamoon Rodkhwan from Secondary Education Service Area Office Region 14 in Phangnga.
Two of the winning teachers shared their thoughts and experiences about education in the country.
Ms Natsukan, 43, a music teacher at Anuban Krabi school, said Thai students compete fiercely with one another to get the best grades so they might be accepted into the most prestigious schools. They study hard during school, and after school attend tutorial classes, especially in the main subjects of mathematics, sciences and foreign languages.
But Ms Natsukan said the competition is putting them under stress. That's why she encourages her students to learn music.
Natsukan: Music just as vital as maths
"Adults have always given importance to academic knowledge. Even though academic work is important, we should not forget musical, artistic and athletic skills," she said.
She has been teaching traditional Thai music for primary students at the school for more than 14 years.
"I find there are about four or five students with a short attention span in each classroom. My students' attention and concentration have greatly improved because of music learning," she said.
Music could help ease their stress while boosting their academic performance. She has asked the government to provide more support to music teachers.
"Teachers in core subjects of maths, science and foreign languages are given more opportunities to attend seminars to enhance their knowledge and skills," she said. "Music teachers like me have to search for training courses on the internet ourselves."
Mr Pichet, 42, a science teacher at Thungchang school, said he formed an information and communication technology club in the hope of catching the attention of students with problematic behaviour and low academic achievement. The club has about 30 members.
Mr Pichet said the students develop instructional media packages, such as short films, on various academic subjects. Then they distribute them to the students who need them. He has been teaching at the school for more than 20 years.