OPINION

Future learning

I read the Sept 29 article, "Thailand's education stands at a crossroads", with interest.

 In it there was a reference to a teacher who incorrectly marked a mathematics question about mangoes. "Joy picks 12 mangoes. Jo picks 8 more mangoes than Joy."

I am a mathematics teacher with 30 years' experience and I see the problem as less about the teacher and more about a poorly worded question. It shows the importance of the construction of the question and the learning outcomes expected. The teacher simply mixed up Joy and Jo. If Natt and Ben, rather than Jo and Joy, had been used then this mix-up would not have happened.

Maybe the question could have been expanded to enrich the experience if we asked the question: "An answer of four mangoes was obtained. Can you explain what the error was?"

This would require investigative thought processes that are so important in today's society. A good question requires a lot of thought and investigation, and this does require time and resources that may be sadly lacking in schools (as in many countries). So I agree with Mr Wasant. Let's ensure that the most important asset to all our futures is well resourced and supported. A great investment in the future of a nation.

Re: "Prayut apeing Thaksin", (BP, PostBag, Oct 1).

In his Oct 1 letter, "Prayut apeing Thaksin", Somsak Pola might indeed be correct that the army boys who stole the nation from the Thai people by overthrowing Thailand's previously existing form of democratic constitutional monarchy are merely copying Thaksin; that would mean only that Thaksin might also be guilty of acting like Thaksin. It cannot excuse others who out-Thaksin even Thaksin's examples.

The current minister of defence and deputy PM general (retired), has explicitly stated that the devices had been tested and were found to work as claimed. Now, it is entirely plausible that Thaksin also set an example of lying among his various honest mistakes, but that does not make later lies by others any the less lies or any less excusable.

If the army signed off on the GT200s and persisted in their defence of the plainly indefensible, then they are guilty of, at the very least, gross incompetence that renders them unfit to serve as soldiers, let alone to dictate to the entire nation they have further corrupted by suppressing democracy and its healthy mechanisms in ways that Thaksin could never dream of. Thaksin, after all, did not amnesty himself as the politicians now dictating promptly did after giving themselves absolute power to, among other rewards of seized power, divert vast funds to the group that they have since officially retired from to become full time politicians in hyper-versions of Thaksin at his worst, absent the restraints of democratic principles and processes.

Whilst Thaksin will doubtless be pleased to note that there are those who still look backwards to his ways as exemplary, many of the the rest of us would prefer that Thailand move forward.

Innovation and an open market can often combine to create positive competition and improved services for the population.

In Buri Ram town, Grab has launched ride services as an alternative to the rather scant regular taxi presence. My sister-in-law used to call a taxi to cross town to say, the football stadium and would be charged between 250-300 baht. Absolutely no chance of a meter being switched on, and often she would be bumped off by someone who agreed to a little higher. Now, with Grab, the equivalent journey is typically 80 baht. And, Grab have offered four free rides as an introductory promotion.

I would like to hope the taxi drivers at Bangkok's airports take note of this, rather than regularly threaten strike or demand the right to not use the meter. When I return from business trips, in attire indicative of this, I am often greeted with the question "Pattaya?"

It insults me that a foreign male travelling alone can only be assumed to be here for sex tourism. My response of "No, Phahon Yothin Road" frequently disappoints the drivers who, for the journey duration complain about the cost of fuel, bad traffic or how few fares they have received. Some passengers use Grab for airport pickups, but the authorities actually try to resist it. In neighbouring Southeast Asian countries Grab has set up kiosks and pick up areas because of so many complaints about regular taxi rip offs and poor quality of service. Let's hope AoT can follow the example of happy passenger experience in Buri Ram.

Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email:

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