Stark lesson in reality needed

EDITORIAL

Published: 21 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The new education minister, Phongthep Thepkanchana, is right to be unhappy with our country's poor educational performance compared with international standards. He is also right to take a serious look at the country's curriculum. But he is definitely wrong if he believes overhauling the curriculum alone will improve the performance of students.

Like many policy makers, Mr Phongthep believes that for Thailand to benefit from economic globalisation, Thai students must perform better academically. A few years ago, the Programme for International Student Assessment showed that Thai students' performances in maths, reading, and scientific literacy were well below the international average. This year, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement released the result of its latest assessment for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which rates Thai students' overall skills in mathematics and science as "poor".

This is despite the fact that classroom hours of Thai students are among the highest in the world, according to Unesco. The budget for the Education Ministry, at 20% of the national outlay, is also higher than other sectors.

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rogiman
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Discussion 24 : 24 Dec 2012 at 13.2324
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Nerxt year will change everything!!
Why?
Because Bangkok is to be the World City For Reading Books-or whatever the slogan will be
Trust in a slogan and lots of celebrity opportunities
That'll fix the problem!
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rogiman
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Discussion 23 : 24 Dec 2012 at 13.1723
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BANGKOK POST could play a part in what's needed by having a designated,high status Education Specialist reporter,concentxrating solely on this vital subject
If you already have one ,my apologies
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rogiman
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Discussion 22 : 24 Dec 2012 at 13.1422
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Good editorial....
BUT
I'm worried that making devolution the priority won't work as there are at present just not enough high -class educational thinkersand researchers to spread around.The massive reform in content,style,admistration,teacher education,increase in status of the profession,can only come from strong determined central direction ,with devolution the ultimate aim once that is being achieved
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oldairman
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Discussion 21 : 22 Dec 2012 at 11.5521
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D20@ nui
I am sorry that I cannot claim the 100 baht prize as my calculator can only work with 10 figures. Had you asked howmany successful Education ministers there have been the answer would of course been zero.
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nui
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Discussion 20 : 22 Dec 2012 at 07.3320
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I will pay 100 Baht if anyone can tell me how many education ministers we had in the last 10 years. Or make it easier, how many dozens.
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ccarbaugh
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Discussion 19 : 21 Dec 2012 at 19.1219
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"... the Education Ministry must think seriously about how the education system can play a role to instill crucial peace values such as respect for cultural diversity and tolerance.

Indeed, Thailand desperately needs education reform to gear society towards being a more tolerant one where the young have better skills to benefit from economic opportunities.

This cannot happen without decentralisation of education management. So far, the decentralisation call continues to fall on deaf ears because it affects the Education Ministry's central power...."

Then what would happen to the feigned superiority toward all foreigners?
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spiceman
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Discussion 18 : 21 Dec 2012 at 14.2918
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Talking from my own experience as a native Thai, who went through Thai Educational System, the key to reform it is to teach all subject matters, except Thai, in ENGLISH! The reason is that virtually all of the knowledge in the world is written in ENGLISH language. And until Thai students possess the key to unlock the doors of all the knowledge locked up in textbooks written in English, they simply have no ability to access and utilize it. I use to be as dumb as a rock, until I learn to speak, read, and write in ENGLISH. Sure, it will require hiring many English speaking teachers. Other than that, it's impossible to do it any other way.
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raimund
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Discussion 17 : 21 Dec 2012 at 12.4017
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As long as teachers running around with rulers only to measure hair length , empty class rooms because the teachers are moonlighting and bored kids playing i-phones and i-pads ,nothing will change.
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buster
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Discussion 16 : 21 Dec 2012 at 12.0816
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It's not an educational problem,its political.
Politicians need expertise to decide, rule and divide.
Upgrading Teachers standards is one, salary two,political issue three,

As politics is playing "rude boy role model" it reflects society in general not only educational but overall attitude in general, were grab and run, and then heal with handouts is the name of the political game, how on earth can we point the finger at the students as there is no professional backup for their teachers in the first place.
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oldexp
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Discussion 15 : 21 Dec 2012 at 12.0315
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Education starts at home.
Is the child allowed and encouraged to think, speak and even object the parents?
Judging by the reactions of my wider family when they have to face my child ... NO.
Standard comment: "why is your child allowed to do ... , to have an opinion ... , aso?".
I even got advised to educate (train) my child the good way, the Thai way. And they really mean it like this. The Thai way and only the Thai way is the good way.
Change will have to put by force into their heads.
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Stark lesson in reality needed | Bangkok Post: opinion