Experts back bill’s ban on exams, extra protections for young kids

By Chularat Saengpassa 
The Nation

 

Some of the tutorial books designed for young children who will compete for seats at popular primary schools.

 

THE EARLY Childhood Development Bill is expected to significantly impact the lives of young children if and when it is passed.
 

Last year, some 100,000 children were born to teenage mothers – 30 per cent of whom were found to be either depressed or smokers/drinkers. A survey also found that seven out of every 10 children in the Northeast live with their grandparents, not parents. Most of these children were found to be malnourished and misunderstood due to the vast age gap between them and their grandparents. 

The survey also found that there are some 1.5 million single parents nationwide.

 

All these facts prove that the government needs legislation for solid protection and support for children, so they can have a proper childhood. 

 

“When this bill becomes law, five ministries will work together in upholding the well-being of Thais in early childhood,” Assoc Professor Daranee Utairatanakit, a member of the Independent Committee for Education Reform, said. 

 

The Early Childhood Development Bill sailed through the Cabinet last Wednesday, and is now with the Council of State.

 

“This crucial draft will then go to the National Legislative Assembly,” Daranee said. 

 

The bill defines early-childhood as the stage from foetus to eight years old – changing the current definition of children aged between three and six. 

 

Daranee said the enacted bill should mean authorities will work together in more integrated ways with up-to-date information on pregnant women, so that better advice and care can be provided to them. 

 

Daranee

 

According to Daranee, the Labour Ministry should also strive to provide paternity and maternity leave that is long enough for parents to care for their newborns for at least the first six months. 

 

“We are also thinking about providing childcare at workplaces,” she said. 

 

The bill would also ban exams for young children with a Bt500,000 fine as penalty for violation. Daranee is not so concerned by that proposed move. “Not many schools hold entrance exams for kindergarten or primary school anyway,” she said. 

 

Dr Suparat Ekasawin, a specialist at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute, said he totally supports the move to prohibit exams for young children. 

 

“During early childhood, children should focus on life skills rather than academic study,” she said.

 

She added that children at this age should be taught responsibility, discipline, independence and social interaction. 

 

“Don’t pressure children to focus on academic stuff at this age. They should not be required to do lots of homework either. They can do that when they are older,” Suparat said, adding that pressure at a young age can make children aggressive and uncooperative. 

 

“These are signs of stress,” she said. 

 

Daranee noted that the Education Ministry had set up more than 100 benchmarks for Prathom 1 students to move to the next level. 

 

This is too many in her opinion, even though many schools allow failing students to repeat exams. 

 

“Instead of using so many indicators in the exam, it would be better to embrace a competency-based curriculum,” she said. 

 

Meanwhile, Suparat said young children should be evaluated on their development, not their academic performance. 

 

“Check what your child should be able to do at a specific age in the child-development guidebook,” he said. 

 

Daranee added that the Education Ministry will have to adjust how it evaluates students from kindergarten to Prathom 2, because some children will already be in Prathom 2 by the age of eight. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30357613

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-01

"...Last year, some 100,000 children were born to teenage mothers – 30 per cent of whom were found to be either depressed or smokers/drinkers. A survey also found that seven out of every 10 children in the Northeast live with their grandparents, not parents. Most of these children were found to be malnourished and misunderstood due to the vast age gap between them and their grandparents. The survey also found that there are some 1.5 million single parents nationwide..."

 

The paragraph above is truly horrifying. And, the paragraph above is a reflection on how Thai society has failed these people. Yes, there are issues of personal responsibility in regards to pregnancy and parenting, but the sheer scale of the problem elevates it to a societal level.

 

The article is skimpy on details, referring to 'ministries working together' and that could mean anything or nothing; it is not worth commenting on.

 

Regarding the specific issue of testing, the idea that a pre-schooler should be tested is crap, pure and simple. A cynical person (such as myself) would think that the 'tests' are simply a way to screen out 'undesirables' and make a little cash on the side, but I have no evidence to support that.

 

"...Daranee noted that the Education Ministry had set up more than 100 benchmarks for Prathom 1 students to move to the next level. 

This is too many in her opinion, even though many schools allow failing students to repeat exams..."

 

100 benchmarks/indicators? Are you kidding me? If a kid can get through grade 1 without eating chalk, that is likely okay.

 

Overall, it is a good thing to see government acknowledge that young kids need some attention; all modern research shows that what happens during these formative years likely sets the stage for all that comes after; yes, that sounds obvious, but is actually a quite modern notion in educational circles.

 

Lets hope, for the sake of Thailand's future, that this is not another bureaucratic piece of idiocy, but rather a serious attempt to make a difference in children's lives.

 

Time will tell...

 

PS getting rid of Prayut's 'Twelve Pieces of Stupidity' would also help. Imagine what a child would learn if they didn't have to waste time on that singular piece of idiocy.

 

 

 

Edited October 31, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh

Yes....experts.

 

We could certainly use a few more of these types. 

 

Experts.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

She added that children at this age should be taught responsibility, discipline, independence and social interaction. 

Well, I don't agree there, children at this age should learn they owe the country, they should crawl on the floor for teachers and parents and anybody who wears a uniform, and they should blindly obey and never think for themselves.

nice in theory. some thais with 1st world education and understanding implement things to improve society that are highly unlikely to be effective due to the culture of feudal patronage, non lateral thinking, lack of reason-logic, corruption and greed aka peasant society.

When I was a lad growing up in a working class environment, dad was usually the breadwinner while Mum stayed home to give their youngsters the material and the emotional support they needed, plus basic life skills that schools fail to teach.

 

Fast forward to today and, almost invariably, both parents are working, not just to keep body and soul together but to acquire the latest goodies and gizmos that help them abreast of the Joneses or Somchais.

 

The disastrous results of what amounts to involunatary mass child neglect are all too plain to see in the rise in dysfunctional families and the explosion of mental health problems among the young not just here but across the developed world.

 

The best way to "protect" Thai children is not by tinkering with the brain-washing system we call state education, but through social and economic policies which will enable and encourage more parents to stay home and nurture their and our most valuable assets.

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by Krataiboy