Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has urged educationalists to incorporate basic research into the kindergarten curriculum.
Khunying Sumontha Promboon, chairman of the Higher Education Commission, on Wednesday told participants about the initiative at a Chulalongkorn seminar focusing on HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's post-graduate education development, to mark the princess's 60th birthday.
Ms Khunying Sumontha said the princess, an activist who uses both theoretical and practical research approaches, suggested that schools use basic research or simple data collection to revamp kindergarten education.
If teachers do not use the fieldwork approach in their methods, it could lead to narrow-minded results, she said.
However, research conducted at the graduate level should be designed using a more methodical approach, she said.
Aside from developing textbooks, the princess also recommended promoting health, sanitation and environmental learning to help learners apply the knowledge in real-life situations, according to Khunying Sumontha.
"On university education, the princess said learning must aim to link several academic fields, not just the surface of each subject, as well as cultivating morals and ethics in professions," Khunying Sumontha added.
As for educational institutes, they should function as a centre for development of both community and society, while teachers should act as developers.
Princess Sirindhorn has worked with children and youth development projects in many schools in rural and remote areas since 1980. Her project covers students at all levels.
Khunying Sumontha said the princess also used an information technology (IT) as part of her development project which allows people in remote areas including the disabled, patients, inmates and monks to gain access to distance learning.
"The princess said the capacity of every human being can be enhanced by education. Even though their abilities are not the same, equal opportunities must be provided for everyone," Khunying Sumontha said.
Meanwhile, Somkiat Tangkitwanich, president of Thailand Development Research Institute, said teachers should be freed up from administrative work to focus on teaching. He was speaking at a seminar organised by Thammasat University.
Teachers spend too much time doing evaluation reports rather than improving their teaching skills and student performance in classes, he said. Authorities should cut down unnecessary assessment work, and offer training for teachers during school holidays instead.