Of school admissions, tea money and family names

MY TWO SATANGS

Of school admissions, tea money and family names

Published: 5/02/2011 at 04:56 AM
Newspaper section: News

It was with shock that I recently learned that the Education Ministry has had to take time out from the stellar job that they do regulating Thailand's education system, in order to conduct checks on bribery within schools during this year's admissions season.

Apparently - and I find this seriously hard to believe - there is a high level of corruption within the kingdom's educational system. Basically, because big-name Thai and International schools are so good at preparing students for a life in the real world and equipping them with all the necessary skills they will need for a career in daddy's company, some parents have to pay "tea money" to ensure their children get one of the highly competitive places.

So parents have to offer bribe money in order to pay appropriately high tuition fees to schools that provide a sufficiently high standard of education that leaves students unable to differentiate between the words then and than. Seriously, I know people who want to be considered professional writers writing things like "Abhisit is better then Thaksin".

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: Writer: Arglit Boonyai; Position: Multimedia Editor

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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 5 : 06/02/2011 at 08:10 PM5
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What chance has Thailand got of stamping out corruption, which must begin with our youth, when the very ones educating them are likewise involved and tacitly employ similar and devious forms of rorts for their own gain.
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ashback
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Discussion 4 : 06/02/2011 at 09:48 AM4
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I taught at a private school whose principal was proud that no tea money was accepted, and that children were to be greeted as individuals. All classes have mixed social backgrounds, but I am afraid that even within the school, by the time the students were with me, in M4 or M5, they had absorbed the various prejudices of family, friends and wider society. Schools continuing to make these pro-active measures to integrate Thai society will contribute to positive change, but it requires more, so much more.
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travis
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Discussion 3 : 06/02/2011 at 08:44 AM3
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Personally, I would argue that it doesn't matter at all what school she goes to, Khun Arglit. One day she will graduate and long as she can say "Hello how are you" and " I'm fine thank you" then she is considered to be educated.
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mphilips
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Discussion 2 : 05/02/2011 at 10:15 PM2
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Pah! What was wrong with my comment? I know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but then I didn't have the right surname either when I was looking for a school, so it aren't my folt!
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Aussie John
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Discussion 1 : 05/02/2011 at 05:41 AM1
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Thailand wishes to find reconciliation within its divided nation. Yet right at the foundation of the country in its educational institutions double standards and corruption are perpetuated. Children as young as five are introduced into a social system that denies those without the bloodline or the influence to achieve a quality education. Thai society must take a serious look at how its obvious cast system together with unethical practices is affecting future generations of young Thais who are educated into assuming that the present and past systems are acceptable 'cultural practices'. Thai democracy has little chance of surviving in such an environment. I feel sorry for Thailand's future generations who must be forced to follow in the footsteps of their misguided forefathers.
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Of school admissions, tea money and family names | Bangkok Post: opinion