OPINION

Website deficit

The problems of education in Thailand, according to many, are caused by the low proficiency in English. However, I postulate this is a small problem in the grand scheme of things.

In my opinion, the real problem of Thailand's educational system in the digital era is the absence of information which is accessible on the internet.

This problem can easily be solved by having high proficiency in English which would enable Thais to gain access to useful information on the English web rather than having to rely on shabby Thai websites.

However, taking a look at our Japanese counterparts, even with their low English proficiency, they are still able to look up useful content on the multitude of Japanese websites dedicated to specific information. Therefore, improving English proficiency is only one of the solutions that would allow Thais universal access to information, especially given the shortage of qualified teachers.

An easier method is to improve the quality of information on Thai websites.

In the Jan 9 letter, "Put up or shut up", the writer with codename 449900 is contradicting himself or herself by saying that "The whole trick is to improve the education system to teach people to ask questions and expose inequities. Then the people will force change".

Where are the signs of an improving educational system?

And how can you force change by asking people to put up or shut up?

Barry Kenyon (PostBag, Jan 8) argues that Pattaya is "a victim of its own success". He assumes that its "awesome crime", filthy water and rubbish on the streets is an inevitable result of being a city that has high-class hotels, restaurants, malls and entertainment. But how does he explain the fact there are so many cities in the world that have all those advantages without those disadvantages?

In my opinion, success is not the cause of Pattaya's problem, apathy is.

Re: "New transport systems on the horizon", (BP, Jan 8).

When will authorities stop with their grandiose, pie-in-the-sky ideas and instead deal with reality? Bangkok can't even organise the delivery of new buses. Having failed at that, now we'll have trams?

In Chiang Mai "authorities agreed the tram project is suitable for downtown Chiang Mai". According to what study? What is the cost? Will anyone be able to afford the fare?

Your news report about a serial offender accused of stabbing a man to death, and the related editorial "Why did officials let loose a thug" (Jan 8) was topical and to the point.

On the front page of the Jan 7 edition, there was a picture of a phalanx of police protecting the alleged killer from a mob of angry people while he took part in the usual ridiculous re-enactment of the crime. What made the process more ridiculous was the crime was caught on CCTV, so why the re-enactment, apart from being a photo op for the police? A few weeks earlier there was another "re-enactment" publicised for someone throwing a baby out of a car; the mind boggles at how this was achieved!

But back to the main point about the thug's early release from prison for previous crimes, perhaps it's time to consider the US system of "three strikes and you're out"?

The large photograph on the front page of the Jan 7 Post, showing the re-enactment of an alleged fatal stabbing in Lat Phrao, left me confused. I thought Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wisely put an end to these absurd and senseless crime re-enactments last year.

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th