Thailand's notorious authoritarian school system and its reliance on corporal punishment recently claimed a child's life -- a tragic reminder of the urgent need to abolish the practice entirely.
On July 19, a teacher ordered a seven-year-old boy with lung problems to run five laps around a sports field. He was punished for not having all the required pins on his boy scout uniform. The boy collapsed and later died in hospital.
The obsession with uniforms is part of the deep-rooted authoritarianism in Thai schools to instil total submission to authority. Despite the Education Ministry banning corporal punishment and shaming tactics, students remain subject to public humiliation such as forced shaved heads for not complying with rigid hairstyle rules.
A young boy died needlessly from a power-crazy teacher, yet the school director denied responsibility, asserting the death arose from the boy's health problem. As of today, education authorities remain silent over a school teacher who violated the ministry's prohibition on corporal punishment.
It is this culture of impunity that perpetuates abuse of power. The ministry cannot escape the blame for its inaction and negligence.
The boy's death is just the latest in an endless stream of school violence coming from teachers. Among the shocking news in the past year: the shoving of plastic bags over kindergarteners' heads to stop them from crying, the hitting of a two-year-old on the head with a steel lunch plate, the breaking of a student's rib and the hitting of students with a cane 70 times for unfinished homework.
These abusive teachers often have a history of violence, yet they continue to be allowed to teach.
Whenever these horrendous acts make the news, education authorities take turns condemning school violence in principle, citing the ministry's rules and regulations.
But little action follows. Abusive teachers are transferred to new schools, and rarely fired. This is true even in rape cases.
This violence is rooted in the traditional belief of "spare the rod, spoil the child", which endorses harsh punishment for youngsters. The aim is not to instil discipline -- a habit that fosters personal growth -- but ensure total obedience.
Since 2005, the ministry has banned corporal punishment, allowing only non-violent measures, such as verbal warnings and counselling, to encourage positive behaviour in students.
It is simply ineffective. More than 60% of students reported having experienced physical punishment in Bangkok schools, according to a survey by the Thailand Development Institute in 2020. The figures rose to 70% in the provinces.
The common belief is that obedience and discipline will improve students' academic performance. The outcome, however, is distressing.
Pisa, an international test by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), measures 15-year-olds' abilities in reading, mathematics and science across 81 countries. Thai students have consistently scored poorly, reflecting the country's weak education system that prioritises obedience over quality.
But the 2022 scores were the lowest in 20 years. In mathematics, only 32% of Thai students reached basic proficiency compared to the OECD average of 69%. In reading, only 35% achieved this level, against the average of 74%. In science, only 47% reached basic proficiency, far below the average of 76%.
Thai student's competencies fall far behind their peers globally and in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei -- a troubling sign for the country's economy.
The educational system is in a crisis. To save it, we must rescue students from the systematic authoritarianism and oppression that kills learning zest and creativity. True, teachers must be relieved of excessive non-teaching duties to improve their quality. However, recruitment and performance evaluations must be under the control of local communities, not the central bureaucracy.
We also need a curriculum revamp to replace rote learning with one that fosters competency and creativity. Short of decentralisation, these changes are not possible.
The most crucial factor is ensuring that teachers respect children's rights and nurture their natural curiosity to enhance competency. Corporal punishment, or any form of punishment, must not be allowed. Support must come first. Schools must collaborate closely with families to address students' challenges and guide them towards positive behaviours without resorting to violence.
Ending corporal punishment is essential to prevent tragedies and help children realise their full potential. Allowing school authoritarianism to continue is a suicidal path for the country's future.