robsamui

Maybe so but point missed.

How many international Thai engineering patents are there? Do Thai engineers get invited to mastermind and establish overseas projects? Of the 'hundreds of companies' involved in auto projects in Thailand, how many of them utilised existing Thai knowledge and techniques - or were they provided with the specific skills simply for the job in hand ... making cars under a Japanese name and with Japanese direction?

It's all down to the value that's placed on education.

Overseas manufacturers have found that they can train Thai people to do just about anything. Thus Thailand might have the machinery but they need to be shown what to do with it.

R

PS - there was a long thread about Thai inventiveness here

It is enlightening to read this in the light of this current discussion!

R

I do respectfully disagree concerning Thailand's competitiveness , Thailand is indeed very competitive , just look at all the car manufacturers etc exporting to other parts of the world, I myself is in the Engineering sector and we have also been very competitive for years....

How many of those car manufacturers are Thai brands? Zero.

Various multinational companies set up brownfield factories in Thailand to assemble and manufacture labor intensive components to ship abroad under various well thought out tariff and trade schemes. They save a bundle by diversifying their factories abroad because of trade limitations and tariff rules. The cheap labor is all icing on the cake.

Thai Rung is Thai owned and manufactures huge numbers of cars per year, mostly for foreign brands, but also under their own brand. Regulations also encourage investors to take on Thai partners. There are hundreds of companies involved in the auto industry here and most of them are completely Thai owned or majority owned. Almost everything that goes in to cars in Thailand is manufactured in Thailand. Industry here has become very competitive.

Maybe so but point missed.

How many international Thai engineering patents are there? Do Thai engineers get invited to mastermind and establish overseas projects? Of the 'hundreds of companies' involved in auto projects in Thailand, how many of them utilised existing Thai knowledge and techniques - or were they provided with the specific skills simply for the job in hand ... making cars under a Japanese name and with Japanese direction?

It's all down to the value that's placed on education.

Overseas manufacturers have found that they can train Thai people to do just about anything. Thus Thailand might have the machinery but they need to be shown what to do with it.

R

E-learning is the way of the future and its great that the Thai Govt. is prepared to put funds into it. However, there are some questions about how to do it the best way.

Firstly, these tablets are basically e-readers as I understand them. They're good for reading but not much chop for other internet stuff. They're certainly not up there with an iPad or a laptop.

Secondly, obviously many teachers are not up to speed. Shouldn't computer literacy be a required skill for teachers?

Thirdly, there are competing technologies and its a problem when any government bureaucracy tries to dictate which technology is to be favoured, because they usually get it wrong.

Fourthly, any govt.-dictated content is going to be put of date before its released.

Why is the government bureaucracy being so paternalistic?

Why not simply allow any Thai schoolchild's parents to claim a tax refund for any computer used by the child at school. Let the students decide what works best for them. The bureaucracy could then produce whatever content it wants in common formats, and students could supplement it in any way they choose.

The internet is a wide open place for all kinds of learning. Those who try to control it are doomed to failure. It's no wonder so many Thai middle-class students go overseas to improve their education. Lets encourage innovation, not conformity.

E-learning is the way of the future

STOP right there!

Yes it is the way of the future.

But until Thailand is able to even be a part of the present, then the rest of what you say is abstract and won't pertain to Thailand for a long time yet!

R

Anything that can improve learning which I believe this could contribute to should be welcomed ... Thai curriculum will change over time ... try to look at your own countries , how it was 50 years ago and how it is today, how was the family structure 50 years ago and how is it today , how important was religion 50 years ago and how is it today , everything changes over time , also in Thailand, Thailand is not yet fully industrialized , it will be over time and then things will change to the better or worse.

Thailand doesn't want it to change. Thailand is doing everything it can to remain separate from the world outside, driven by obsessive nationalistic pride and a desperate clinging onto outmoded customs and traditions. Thailand doesn't want to learn from other countries - it fears them and their 'corrupting' influence. Thailand doesn't feel any need to rise above it's current low level of international competitiveness because it already believes that it's one of the finest countries in the world.

The government and administration of the Thai nation is purposefully keeping the country out of the mainstream of world educational and technological development - teaching about Thai culture and traditions in their schools and avoiding international awareness and integration.

All except for the children of the ruling classes - they are sent to school and university in America and Europe. Odd, that, isn't it?

R

Agree that the ruling classes, the upper echelon of society does not want to change anything, and since the state has a good grip on the available information to the citizens then they have been good at keeping status quo for years, I do however believe that nowadays there are other means of communication that the State cannot control, the social media we have today and which is bound to increase in the future .. so I think that over time common citizens will simply demand a better life and education...and then something will have to give in either peacefully or not, most other countries in the world have gone though such phases too.

I do respectfully disagree concerning Thailand's competitiveness , Thailand is indeed very competitive , just look at all the car manufacturers etc exporting to other parts of the world, I myself is in the Engineering sector and we have also been very competitive for years.... Thailand has also over the years been doing a great job in promoting Thailand as a tourist destination (Whether it is sustainable or not due to environmental destruction and greed is another issue), as a convention destination and even as a educational hub for expats both here and in other countries .... Thailand have even been quite successful in promoting itself as a medicare hub for people in the middle east...so there are a lot of capabilities and potential ... but the education system lacks quite a lot ... but as I still believe , hopefully over time it will improve.

After having stated that the education system here is lacking then all your points have their validity negated - which nation introduced the technology and know-how for the car-manufacturing plants? It wasn't Thailand. Did the Thai nation build the sky-train? No, I recall it was Germany. And where were the medical staff trained in this 'medicare hub'? - it wasn't in Thailand.

Tourism? I read somewhere this represents 8% of Thailand's income.

When the day arrives that Thai people - at all levels of society - gain humility, recognise and accept their limitations and are able to admit their failings without the insufferable and continual humiliation of losing face, then, yes, things will improve over time. The Japanese and South Koreans seized these opportunities like the drowning nations that they once were. But Thailand?

R

I think perhaps some of the posts above are kinda missing the real point...

It is likely that PTP know all of the above - they are far from stupid. Delivering on the campaign promise is the point here, whether it delivers better school based education or not is pretty much beside the point.

The parents don't have to buy the kids a computer, they are happy. The kids get a computer, they are happy. Happy people all round. The cost of 2.4 billion baht is pretty small when you think about like that - and if you consider what the armed forces spend each year on military hardware that never gets used it starts to look like a drop in the ocean.

This is not about educating kids - it's about delivering on a campaign pledge that nobody thought they would. If this new government make it to another election they can point back at this and say "Look at what we gave you - the Demorcrats never did anything like this for you". It's also in PTP's favour if the uneducated poor start to get educated (and internet connected tablets will bring allot of them more into the real World) - they might have a few things to say about how the countries resources have been used in the past few decades...

2.4 billion is very, very cheap for that kind or advantage over your political rivals when you have the kind of money PTP have.

Yes, of course tomster, you are quite right. I allowed myself to be sidetracked by more-basic humanitarian concerns. I was forgetting that this is all about show-boating!

Respect,

Rob

This is nothing but a bullshit gimmick that will improve nothing except access to porn.

What students in Thailand need are better quality teachers especially in the fields of math, science, geography, history and English.

Absolutely spot on.

This is case of the blind leading the blind. Of administrators who are themselves (comparatively) uneducated, making educational policy.

FOUR THOUSAND MILLION BAHT!

Just think how many trained and qualified teachers this could buy.

This is like issuing every student with a solid gold pen in the hope that it will make them all write better.

Another depressing and utterly foolish policy decision by a country which continues to try and mask its medieval ignorance with wild and hopeful statements and 21st century tinsel.

Sigh

R

(ex Deputy Principal of a BKK international school.)

R

Teachers don't appear to be having the desired effect......perhaps it is time for a change in approach......the most efficient economic way to give access to quality teaching methodology and materials could well be through IT

Erm - you have just made my point for me!

Teachers aren't having the 'desired effect' because they are so poorly trained in outmoded teaching methods that they could not get a job anywhere other than within Thailand. You can give the kids any amount of classroom gimmicks but it amounts to nothing without an enlightened teaching force to guide them.

R

Anything that can improve learning which I believe this could contribute to should be welcomed ... Thai curriculum will change over time ... try to look at your own countries , how it was 50 years ago and how it is today, how was the family structure 50 years ago and how is it today , how important was religion 50 years ago and how is it today , everything changes over time , also in Thailand, Thailand is not yet fully industrialized , it will be over time and then things will change to the better or worse.

Thailand doesn't want it to change. Thailand is doing everything it can to remain separate from the world outside, driven by obsessive nationalistic pride and a desperate clinging onto outmoded customs and traditions. Thailand doesn't want to learn from other countries - it fears them and their 'corrupting' influence. Thailand doesn't feel any need to rise above it's current low level of international competitiveness because it already believes that it's one of the finest countries in the world.

The government and administration of the Thai nation is purposefully keeping the country out of the mainstream of world educational and technological development - teaching about Thai culture and traditions in their schools and avoiding international awareness and integration.

All except for the children of the ruling classes - they are sent to school and university in America and Europe. Odd, that, isn't it?

R

This is nothing but a bullshit gimmick that will improve nothing except access to porn.

What students in Thailand need are better quality teachers especially in the fields of math, science, geography, history and English.

Absolutely spot on.

This is case of the blind leading the blind. Of administrators who are themselves (comparatively) uneducated, making educational policy.

FOUR THOUSAND MILLION BAHT!

Just think how many trained and qualified teachers this could buy.

This is like issuing every student with a solid gold pen in the hope that it will make them all write better.

Another depressing and utterly foolish policy decision by a country which continues to try and mask its medieval ignorance with wild and hopeful statements and 21st century tinsel.

Sigh

R

(ex Deputy Principal of a BKK international school.)

R

Oh my, the stupid, it hurts...

After the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a warning that people who used mobile phones too much could face the risk of brain tumour

No, they didn't, what they did is list cellphones as "potentially carcinogenic" in one of the lowest level, Group 2B of carcinogenic, which contains also:

• Coffee
• Traditional Asian pickled vegetables
• Talc-based body powders (perinal use of)
• Carpentry
• ...

Things like exhaust gas, or being a hairdresser are in Group 2A.

In other words: "We can't tell you there's no risk because we can't know for sure, so we put it there like that you won't try to sue us later"

Additionaly, these recommendations have been given by many health organizations for more than 10 years so I'm wondering what's new here.

Well the TCPI director has only just heard about it, and because none of his friends have, it must be hot news.

But I'd have more confidence in such spokesmen if they didn't put Band Aids on their face when they get toothache . . .

R

There used to be a lamp shop just past Tescos on the left going towards the Chaweng post office.

Don't see what Rob's difficulty is, seems a perfectly valid question.

I also need to buy some more shades but not the lamps.

Sorry - I misunderstood! I had it in mind that some particular type was needed as there are several places that just do the shades, Home Pro, I think, plus the one in Mae Nam that I can never remember the name of (HOME something). Plus Supot electrical has a big range, as mentioned.

R

ps - you might find that when you check the prices that there's hardly any difference between buying a lamp with shade and just the shade by itself? I was looking for a PIR movement switch that then would turn on a security light. The switches were around 800 baht. But for 550 baht I could buy a lamp with 300w halogen bulb PLUS built-in PIR (from the same shop).

Without some vague kind of idea of what you are on about you can expect no useful replies.

Any clues in the offering or do we all just shout TESCO?

(What time of night is it . . . ?)

Oh - 20 past 4. Want to expand a bit?

R

Without some vague kind of idea of what you are on about you can expect no useful replies.

Any clues in the offering or do we all just shout TESCO?

(What time of night is it . . . ?)

R

I heard of a band of gitanes roaming around Issan with elephants and fiddles on another thread .

what the hell u r going on about ? i think you have found your person that can supply french cigs !

If I really needed an acrid smoke I could go to the park and collect douts and save em in an old backy tin for to be rolled up .

Sigh

Hi.

Just so happens that I have a 17" tube lying around that you can have for free.

(If you/he doesn't mind looking uncool with a fat dinosaur on the table)

I have quite a few other bits going begging, too.

Interested? Better PM me if so.

R

I heard of a band of gitanes roaming around Issan with elephants and fiddles on another thread .

Well I suppose that if you have nothing whatsoever to say about French cigs then fiddling with elephants could pass the time for a moment or two . . .

R

ain't french cigs illegal

So I guess the answer is a no then? No have on Samui?

R

Suddenly had a kill-for lust for Galoises cigarettes - Gitanes, even.

I know Sampet in Nathon goes the rolling baccy but anyone know if they or anyone else has the cigs?

Sigh.

R

i have also noticed a few restaurants have yet again RAISED there prices.....

trouble with Samui is it is now CHEAPER to go to your local pub in the UK and get a slap up meal there including drinks....

Samui needs to look at its self and lower prices to the level they where in 2007, also rip off air really needs to address its prices as the people who would come here to spend money in the bars and resaturants are simply not coming here and going to phuket or pattaya

Yep thats right. The whole issue in the drop in tourism broken down into one word....greed!

That and desperation...very sad.

Yes - and sadly all the Thai-owned resorts and hotels will be putting their room prices up. I'm 99% convinced that Thai people think that there's some sort of 'nothing' out there past the borders of Thailand, from which nothing can happen to affect Thailand - and nothing Thailand does could possibly affect anywhere else . . . if you get my drift . . .

Which of course will create even less tourists, but that's beyond comprehension for many of the Thais.

Hey ho.

R

I think that BlackWolf is correct.

There are a lot more tourists around now.

Most of the villas that I look after have people in them and there are not many rental cars/jeeps on the parking lots of the rental people that I use.

However, one thing that is different - most of the bars are still empty. I guess that the tourists that are here don't drink out that much.

I think you are right,the bars in FV are empty and many restuarants doing ok,same in banrak which is pretty mucg a ghost town,dont know about chaweng or lamai.

there has been allot of accidents this month. dunno why. just is.A German fell down a water fall a few days ago.

I always wondered why they were called that. Now I know. (Water falls - not Germans)

R

Well there is a decreasing number of tourists these days . . . and there are just the same number of ambulances.

Seems that sitting on your balcony all the time is a bit boring . . .no?

R

at the bottom of the article;

"Have you been to Koh Samui? Do you agree with Jessica about the Brits abroad culture? Or is it your Eden? Have your say here..."

If the article was meant to be a comment on Brits abroad, why didn't she title it so and leave out The Beach malarkay?

posted a comment but it hasn't been posted

apparently:

"Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them"

I guess Jennifer did not approve my message

You're a bit out there mate - this is The Daily Mail - a UK national newspaper - and not some minor blog!

R

The roving reporter Ms Macdonald clearly didn't do any research before she came here on her expense account. She obviously drove straight to the part of the island to see the story that she wanted to report about, and then, as afterthought went a couple of miles either side.

Presumably she was just telling her readers what they wanted to hear, just like Murdoch and sons.

Nah - this is one of those students on a gap year who has found a way to make a bit of cash along the way . . . I reckon. She spotted a contentions angle, used 'The Beach' theme as a kicking-off point and cleverly managed to make enough money from this one article to pay for half the cost of her holiday.

Wish I had the same talent . . .

R

Mae Nam Soi 5. It's the first thing on the left.

R

Whats the point in a satirical post like this?

Ah... Thai visa does enjoy winding up the expats with antagonistic posts like the above

ive just wasted 10 minutes of my life again... thanks TV for another great informative post... sorry - satirical....

what is the point in wit? What is the point in sarcasm? Te point in satire is that . . . here it comes . . . it's satirical.

I have noticed that a significant number of people don't 'read' any more - they 'scan'. which doesn't say much for the overall quality of the responses on the more general topics!

R