PM Prioritizes Higher Education and Innovation

[webfact]

    
BANGKOK (NNT) - The Prime Minister recently chaired the first meeting this year of the National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation.

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing education to create a highly skilled workforce, meeting current market demands and elevating the country’s income levels.

 

The Prime Minister noted that from meetings with international investors, a primary factor influencing their investment decisions is the skill level of the workforce. However, Thailand faces challenges, particularly in industries related to science, engineering, and mathematics, with workers often unable to meet expectations.

 

He referenced the 2022-2023 university rankings, where Thai educational institutions ranked lower than their counterparts in neighboring countries.

 

He thus expressed his expectation for Thai universities to develop curricula, improve facilities, familiarize students with new technologies and advanced programs, and collaborate with the private sector and foreign universities.

 

The Prime Minister opined that startups, relying on creativity and in-depth knowledge, are another business sector capable of generating income now and in the future. He believes Thai youth have the potential to become "unicorns" if universities can discover and nurture their creative thinking.

 

Prime Minister Srettha stressed that the government already has supportive measures, such as the Matching Fund, to attract major companies to invest in Thai startups.

 

Regarding future research, he expects to see studies aligning with government policies, focusing on electric vehicles, nitrogen energy, clean energy, renewable energy, green economy, AI technology, and computer-related technology, becoming a technology hub and a future center for food technology.

 

by Tanakorn Sangiam

 

Source: NNT 2024-01-06

 

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[peter zwart]

The Prime Minister noted that from meetings with international investors, a primary factor influencing their investment decisions is the skill level of the workforce....................That is a correct bingo. And dont forget their Work ethic. Thas also needs a big improvement. 

And if you want to improve your education system, start with the teachers. A lot of them are unmotivated and very lazy. 

[mfd101]

So that's all splendid (in theory) for the offspring of the Upper Middle Classes & the wealthy, almost the only ones who (currently) get near a tertiary education institution.

 

But for the other 95% of the population, you have to start with the 5- and 6-year olds first along with their teachers, then work your way up from there.

 

It's gonna be a long haul!

[fondue zoo]

 

hah, they're snookered, can't keep what they have if they make the people smarter, can't make more if they keep the people dumber.

[Pouatchee]

before prioritizing higher ed he should focus on getting it right at the primary and secondary levels. to do that he needs to offer better conditions to recruit good teachers. the system is rigged now... we regularly read of the debt level of teachers in thailand... reason for this is crappy wages.

 

next thing this clown sretta will prioritize is technical college cos the workforce is insufficient to meet the demand for blue collar workers.,

 

gotta watch this one... hilarious and kinda answers some societal questions... 555

 

https://www.primewire.tf/movie/1490692-south-park-joining-the-panderverse

Edited January 6 by Pouatchee

[ChipButty]

I didnt see corruption on his list,  

[ChipButty]

9 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

before prioritizing higher ed he should focus on getting it right at the primary and secondary levels. to do that he needs to offer better conditions to recruit good teachers. the system is rigged now... we regularly read of the debt level of teachers in thailand... reason for this is crappy wages.

 

next thing this clown sretta will prioritize is technical college cos the workforce is insufficient to meet the demand for blue collar workers.,

 

gotta watch this one... hilarious and kinda answers some societal questions... 555

 

https://www.primewire.tf/movie/1490692-south-park-joining-the-panderverse

They were my thoughts, start at the grass roots level, 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, peter zwart said:

The Prime Minister noted that from meetings with international investors, a primary factor influencing their investment decisions is the skill level of the workforce....................That is a correct bingo. And dont forget their Work ethic. Thas also needs a big improvement. 

And if you want to improve your education system, start with the teachers. A lot of them are unmotivated and very lazy. 

Only those who do not understand point the finger at teachers. How about classrooms with 40+ students. Do you blame the teacher? What about classrooms where the most modern tech are fans, lights a blackboard and chalk. Do you blame teachers? What about the mountains of paperwork the teachers have to do. Do you blame the teachers? No fail policy. Do you blame the teachers? Let's not forget the massive corruption within the system that takes money out of education rather than putting it in. Do you blame the teachers? Maybe starting with the teachers to "improve your education system" isn't the best starting point.

Problems within the Thai education system are complex and extensive. Funny how so many point the finger at the teachers.

Edited January 6 by dinsdale

[ChipButty]

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Only those who do not understand point the finger at teachers. How about classrooms with 40+ students. Do you blame the teacher? What about classrooms where the most modern tech are fans, lights a blackboard and chalk. Do you blame teachers? What about the mountains of paperwork the teachers have to do. Do you blame the teachers? No fail policy. Do you blame the teachers? Let's not forget the massive corruption within the system that takes money out of education rather than putting it in. Do you blame the teachers? Maybe starting with the teachers to "improve your education system" isn't the best starting point.

Problems within the Thai education system are complex and extensive. Funny how so many point the finger at the teachers.

I don't point the finger at teachers, it's the system, I'm not a teacher but I've been here long enough to know what goes on, Ive never understood that "No Fail" so if my kid came home and said she got an "F" in maths, we have a problem here but she didn't fail.

[nobodysfriend]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the government’s commitment to enhancing education to create a highly skilled workforce, meeting current market demands and elevating the country’s income levels.

In a politicians mindset education translates only into making money , profits .

A higher education helps critical thinking as well ...

That is why the thai education level is so low .

Only the kids of rich parents have the chance of getting a god education , because they are expected to become a part of the future ' Elite ' .

A good education should become available for every kid willing to learn , but that is not wanted by the government .

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

I don't point the finger at teachers, it's the system, I'm not a teacher but I've been here long enough to know what goes on, Ive never understood that "No Fail" so if my kid came home and said she got an "F" in maths, we have a problem here but she didn't fail.

The thing is your kid will not come home with an F. No student does. If a kid fails then their grades are manipulated so they don't. Some schools insist on a GPA >2.5 or 3. If a student falls below this then their grades must be changed accordingly. Basically a student can fail every subject and pass and students know this. Education has in the past had the largest federal budget yet teachers are underpaid, classrooms are packed and there is little to no tech in classrooms (private and international schools are different) so 21stC teaching which is what is needed is virtually impossible.

[VinnieK]

2 hours ago, peter zwart said:

The Prime Minister noted that from meetings with international investors, a primary factor influencing their investment decisions is the skill level of the workforce....................That is a correct bingo. And dont forget their Work ethic. Thas also needs a big improvement. 

And if you want to improve your education system, start with the teachers. A lot of them are unmotivated and very lazy. 

..and how do you motivate the teachers?

They are already overpaid imo.

Most are dumb as rocks.

You can't remedy that.

 

 

Edited January 6 by VinnieK

[Chris Daley]

He can't speak English why should the students.

[Tarteso]

😂

[spidermike007]

This is totally fake news there's no question that the powers that be and the elite both want to keep the educational standards low here it helps when it comes to lower wages any protestations of the contrary are completely fake and all the years have been here I've never seen anything in the way of a sincere effort to improve the educational standards. 

 

Also how do you improve innovation when you're doing everything in your power to stifle curiosity? Students are not even allowed to question their teachers, so how do you establish innovation without curiosity? 

[bamnutsak]

The PM knows of what he speaks, that's why he attended university in the U.S. and sent his sons to universities in the U.S. and England.

 

 

The Thai educational system is working exactly as designed. Keep them dumbed down, indoctrinated, respectful of their betters, in debt, and drugged up on meth and lao khoa.

 

Effectively changing it would require a complete restructuring of the Thai hierarchical social system. And you can forget about that ever happening.

 

 

 

 

[Pouatchee]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Let's not forget the massive corruption within the system that takes money out of education rather than putting it in.

 

good points that i also decry. but... dont forget the 500 000 000 000 that they will use for the 10 000bht populist scam. wouldnt that money reap a better harvest if it were invested in education?

 

gvt always says no money for education... where will they get the 5oo billion then?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister recently chaired the first meeting this year of the National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation.

[bradiston]

I wouldn't be surprised there was an undeclared quota system for the primary schools. They're streamed into manual labour and low paid jobs from an early age. Essentially, written off for skills training or anything requiring an intellect. Kids from Issan are just factory fodder.

[charleskerins]

3 hours ago, VinnieK said:

..and how do you motivate the teachers?

They are already overpaid imo.

Most are dumb as rocks.

You can't remedy that.

 

 

you certainly haven't found the remedy

[soalbundy]

Of course he does......right, that's one box ticked now let's get on to something important that gets votes.

[Mavideol]

what are the standard working hours/days in Thailand or does it depend on / varies from each province

This morning contacted Samsung Support as their website doesn't allow completing a transaction,   and was told to call back on Monday, their staff doesn't work on Saturdays and/or Sundays....... the PM hopes are too high

Edited January 6 by Mavideol

[couchpotato]

3 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

what are the standard working hours/days in Thailand or does it depend on / varies from each province

Minimum 9 hrs (including a lunchbreak of 30 mins to 60 mins). Some workers work much longer due to unfinished work, wanting to impress the boss etc, and some companies really expect their employees to work many unpaid overtime hours during the week.

[HuaHinNew]

If you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig!

 

It's just like the driving attitude here by many Thais; absolutely clueless.

 

The education system will never change here as, like driving, getting from point A to point B via the fastest method is the only criteria.

 

The education system is the same, get in.....get out, again clueless in many cases.

 

The Thai education motto is, "leave no one behind", everyone passes the education system here, either through, money, manipulation or makeup exams and in universities plagiarism.

 

First-hand knowledge.......

[Barnet1900]

22 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Only those who do not understand point the finger at teachers. How about classrooms with 40+ students. Do you blame the teacher? What about classrooms where the most modern tech are fans, lights a blackboard and chalk. Do you blame teachers? What about the mountains of paperwork the teachers have to do. Do you blame the teachers? No fail policy. Do you blame the teachers? Let's not forget the massive corruption within the system that takes money out of education rather than putting it in. Do you blame the teachers? Maybe starting with the teachers to "improve your education system" isn't the best starting point.

Problems within the Thai education system are complex and extensive. Funny how so many point the finger at the teachers.

I agree with everything you say here. The working conditions in government schools are shocking. The fact that just about all public buildings have AC yet these schools are made to work  with fans is pathetic. 

 

I "believe" that the financial package, as a whole, is pretty decent however, depending on experience and time in the job. I'm not certain of the exact amounts but it's a good job to get, if you're Thai. The problems start when the politics and poor conditions are encountered. So, yes, that's where it has to start, then address teaching standards. Build the ship then look for the staff.

 

The one point I'd raise difference to is the attitude of some teachers at these schools, both foreign and Thai. There are good examples but there are some awful, lazy, corrupt individuals who make it easy for the government to continue to underfund education. They need replacing outright, often top down.

 

It's a vicious circle. One the one hand people can point to lack of funding, low salaries, etc, yet on the other, there are so many incompetent lazy members of staff who do nothing to force change. If any new, young, vibrant teachers join and identify areas to change or show initiative or have a positive impact on the students, they're often penalized in some way in order to maintain the traditional, ineffective yet manageable status quo of Thai education.

 

This whole PM talk is just that....talk, talk, talk....he knows full-well it won't change. Politics.

[John Drake]

On 1/6/2024 at 10:57 AM, Pouatchee said:

before prioritizing higher ed he should focus on getting it right at the primary and secondary levels.

 

Those teachers are products of the university system, which is why the universities need to be the priority. Teacher training is a problem. So is overall curricula at universities, along with university hiring policies--especially of marginally qualified and essentially non-qualified foreigners.

[Pouatchee]

48 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Those teachers are products of the university system, which is why the universities need to be the priority.

 

well, those teachers will come from a failed primary and secondary level anyways. what your suggesting is to build the pyramid from the top down. the biggest problem is the heads of schools who shove down their old ways of doing things down any teachers' throat. no fail, no disciplinary support, no consequences. give this to the current teachers, flawed as they may be, and it will help significantly. 

[Barnet1900]

33 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

well, those teachers will come from a failed primary and secondary level anyways. what your suggesting is to build the pyramid from the top down. the biggest problem is the heads of schools who shove down their old ways of doing things down any teachers' throat. no fail, no disciplinary support, no consequences. give this to the current teachers, flawed as they may be, and it will help significantly. 

On the money there. Even if they get a good run of it through school, uni, teacher training, they'll eventually be brought into line.