Thai govt backtracks on education law

[webfact]

Govt backtracks on education law

By Chularat Saengpassa 
The Nation

 

 

Executive decree on reform abandoned as ministers, NLA members quit to join senate

 

EDUCATION reform in the country faces an uncertain future after the Cabinet backtracked on its decision to push for an executive decree on national education.

 

“You have to wait for the new government,” Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin said yesterday, referring to the new national-education law that is a cornerstone of reform. 

 

Dr Charas

 

“I can’t tell whether the new government will stand by the key principles of the education reform that have been endorsed during the tenure of this government.” 

 

Established by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in 2014, the current government is set to pass the torch on to the new administration soon.

 

The current government had reportedly been so determined to sanction education reform that it was preparing the executive decree to fast-track reforms in the education sector. 

 

Charas Suwanwela, president of the Independent Committee for Education Reform (ICER), applauded the government last month for preparing the draft executive decree.

 

Dr Jiruth

 

Assoc Professor Dr Jiruth Sriratanaban, a member of the ICER who chairs an ad-hoc panel on drafting the National Education Bill, said yesterday he was surprised to hear about the government backtrack. 

 

“Just late last month our president received a message that the government decided to introduce an executive decree and have the National Legislative Assembly [NLA] endorse the bill soon,” Jiruth said. 

 

He now believes the Cabinet might abandon its plans amid political transition that makes it difficult to push ahead with an executive decree.

 

“So many NLA members have resigned,” Jiruth said, adding that the education minister had also quit and was set to join the junta-appointed Senate soon. 

 

“Deputy Education Ministers Lt-General Surachet Chaiwong and Udom Kachintorn will soon do the same,” he said. 

 

Another ICER member, Assoc Professor Daranee Utairatanakit, said she was worried that the essence of planned education reform might be affected if the draft law had to be deliberated upon by the new Parliament. 

 

Controversial reforms

 

Reforms proposed by the ICER are controversial, namely its proposals to punish agencies that fail to provide integrated educational services and leave goals unmet, that school directors be referred to as headmasters or headmistresses, that teaching licences be replaced by certificates, that a curriculum institute be set up, and that entrance exams up to Mathayom 3 level be banned. 

 

Critics, including prominent educator Asst Professor Athapol Anunthavorasakul, have voiced opposition to the reform plans. 

 

“Do not stage any protests. I can tell you no such law will be passed during the remainder of the current government’s term,” Teerakiat said. 

 

Dr Teerakiat

 

The ICER will convene a meeting next Tuesday to discuss the Cabinet’s decision not to fast-track the new law. 

 

 Despite expressing her concerns, Daranee took heart in the fact that plans for national reform – which cover the education sector – have already been promulgated in the Royal Gazette. 

 

“In line with this, the Education Ministry will have to push hard for education reform. I also trust that the core essence of our planned reform will remain intact even if the law endorsing it is handled by the new Parliament or government,” Daranee said. 

 

She insisted that the planned reform focused on boosting the quality of education, reducing educational gaps and increasing Thai students’ competitiveness.

 

The ICER’s term comes to an end at the end of this month. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30369063

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-09

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[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

after the Cabinet backtracked on its decision to push for an executive decree

propose LOS be changed to LOT, land of talk; apparently good governance here is acquiring a position by any means save merit, saying something foolish in public insinuating you are doing something and care , then doing nothing and practicing excuses; never any results

[cornishcarlos]

As above, just a load of unfinished waffle... Biding their time until they can jump ship to the senate, where all they will need to do is vote when told to by the boss !!

Job for life ????

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Govt backtracks on education law

Don't you just love it when a plan comes to together!

[Sticky Wicket]

Thai Education = glorified babysitters

[PatOngo]

I think "education" is the wrong description, should be called "Indoctrination"

[Sticky Wicket]

3 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

I think "education" is the wrong description, should be called "Indoctrination"

Yeh that German TV show enabled us to see Thai's true 'brain washed' colours!

[marcusarelus]

2 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Yeh that German TV show enabled us to see Thai's true 'brain washed' colours!

What German TV show?

[Sticky Wicket]

21 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

What German TV show?

Can't post it, Article 112 prohibits. Just ask a Thai, lots were up in arms about it. Absolutely pathetic!

[Sticky Wicket]

49 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

deleted

 

[thailand49]

Once again " This is Thailand "

[Emdog]

Gone to senate? Is that along lines of volunteering to go to "inactive post"?

[Lupatria]

Who needs education when nepotism is paving the way to your dream job?

[marcusarelus]

7 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

Who needs education when nepotism is paving the way to your dream job?

I did.  Where I grew up all the kids took over dad's business or got favored status at colleges because dad went there or got into the best clubs because dad was a member.  

[JAG]

Business as usual, no need to change anything - well, perhaps some more drill exercises at the halt, and a couple more patriotic ballads, just to set the tone for where we are going...

[klauskunkel]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“I can’t tell whether the new government will stand by the key principles of the education reform that have been endorsed during the tenure of this government.”

I venture to tell that the new government will be as principled as they old government, so no need to guess or expect anything.

[geoffbezoz]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I think "education" is the wrong description, should be called "Indoctrination"

Pol Pot didn't waste his time for the 15 years he was given protection by the Thais obviously.  His teachings struck a chord with some.

[mok199]

When did ''teaching Cultural songs '' become so complicated...Stand down boys,the students get what they need from their phones...

[marcusarelus]

1 hour ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

From the same stock as the current mob (grovelling to unmentionables), albeit different political leanings, similar rhetoric and educated in the West (France).

 

I doubt many Thais are even aware of the genocide over the border,

Ask any adult from Surin.