OPINION

Nothing to show

Re: "Myanmar poses Asian quandary", (Editorial, Feb 13).

Well, it has been a year and so far, Asean has nothing to show for in ending the crisis in Myanmar. We need to keep in mind that Myanmar and its immediate neighbours have a common history of being ruled by coups, authoritarian regimes, despots, and dictators. Hence, I do not see that Cambodia, or for that matter, any of its neighbours has any urgency or moral strength to restore democracy.

Democracy in Asean is like a balloon, it is easily burst with an instant coup, arrests and imprisonments of elected officials. As long as the military remains above the law, there is very little hope of creating a civic society in Asean. The region is prone to following the Chinese model of stability based on purge, pride and progress.

Re: "Covid surge spooks government", (BP, Feb 11).

Every person reading your article could be heard groaning in exasperation upon reading the headline. If it is true that the government is seriously contemplating tightening restrictions in the face of a surge in Omicron variant Covid-19 cases, then they are fundamentally misreading the mood of this country. The millions of people in Thailand whose business or livelihoods have been affected by the government's Covid restrictions are now physically, emotionally and financially exhausted. There is simply no appetite for renewed restrictions, when people can see from their own experience that there is no real and present danger.

Re: "Uniform rule needs review", (Editorial, Feb 11).

Our education system's among the bottom 13 in the world. But what upsets us most? Not its poor quality but the appearances of our students. Our priorities are upside-down and we think things can't change. But as Kenan Foundation Asia found, "countries as diverse as Poland and Malaysia made significant jumps between 2015 to 2018, dispelling the sticky myth that education systems cannot change. With smarter investments, a focus on developing quality teachers, and encouragement for students, education in Thailand can indeed improve".

I suggest that: (a) half of compensation for education staff, all the way up to the education minister, depend on gains in average scores from Pisa and other international tests of students under that person's charge (other things being equal). If his students have gone from 300 to 400 points, for example, he's accomplished more than if they've gone from 450 to 500 points. This will motivate the best teachers to focus on the underprivileged masses, for their low base means it's easier to make big gains. It'll make the rural millions more productive and help close our massive rich-poor gap.

(b) MOE expenditures to schools prioritise those making the highest average score gains (other things being equal), to motivate them. For example, a school whose students have gone from 200 to 300 points would get more per student than one whose scores have risen from 400 to 450.

(c) Schools charge what the market will bear -- with full scholarships available for half of each class, fully merit-based and gender-blind. This will greatly aid the disadvantaged and raise their education ambitions.

(d) Average test scores for Pisa etc be posted on the internet by school, teacher and subject area (but not by student), to aid parents' decision-making.

How do we improve on the above -- and get Prayut to fulfil his seven-year-old promise to fully reform education?