Thailand reduces school hours in major curriculum overhaul

[connda]

6 minutes ago, bob smith said:

if thais are incapable of doing it themselves then it stands to reason that foreigners would be better equipped to teach the Thais how to do it.

 

how else will Thailand be able to navigate the difficult waters of the 21st century?

if they can't fix their education system by themselves then let the westerners do it.

 

they need a farang helping hand!

 

bob.

never can tell if you are serious or sarcastic bob

[bob smith]

Just now, connda said:

never can tell if you are serious or sarcastic bob

I am deadly serious!

 

if they wont do it out of pride then it's their loss.

 

Thailand will always be a middle of the road economy.

up 2 them.

 

bob.

[lordgrinz]

Just now, Doctor Tom said:

The kids here, most especially in badly run rural locations, are hardly ever in school , doing serious learning.  Too much, play, dressing up for various functions and festivals, etc. Add various and numerous holidays and days off and they all lose valuable learning time in those early years.  I just don't get it, as Thailand has the examples of excellent education on their doorstep, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan , Korea. When my mixed race daughter was born, 24 years ago, we moved her to the West for her education, from primary, right up to and including University.  No way were we going to leave her in the clutches of the Thai education system. 

 

One of my biggest pet peeves about the education here, they are almost always celebrating something or taking multiple days off for the ridiculous amount of holidays here.....Drives me nuts! I asked my wife how the kids can get an education when they seem to be constantly on holiday or celebrating here, it never ends.

[bob smith]

1 minute ago, lordgrinz said:

 

One of my biggest pet peeves about the education here, they are almost always celebrating something or taking multiple days off for the ridiculous amount of holidays here.....Drives me nuts! I asked my wife how the kids can get an education when they seem to be constantly on holiday or celebrating here, it never ends.

agree.

 

same goes for the workforce.

 

are they unaware that there are only 365 days in a year?

it would seem that way.

 

every year the government of the day announces another national holiday for this or that.

it's ridiculous.

 

bob.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Robert Paulson said:

Yes. They just soak it in. It’s basically really expensive baby sitting with a smiling front man priest or whatever to convince everyone it’s all on the up and up

I'm not sure where Priests come into it?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

This step aims to modernise the educational framework to meet global standards.

That's a monumental ask.

[Andrewdownunder]

That makes sense.

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

No, its about taking money from education to feed other programs, but I see the propaganda is working.

utter drivel.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s Ministry of Education has announced an ambitious overhaul of the national curriculum, aiming to reduce school hours and incorporate more practical and tech-based learning.

Reduce school hours by all means, but make sure the hours in the classroom are practical, based on sound learning principles and teach skills that are in-tune with what the country needs to perform in the 21st century.

Stop the indoctrination, the secular learning about only Thailand and start to teach about global issues.

[geography/history would be a good start.]

As for activities such as scouts/guides etc these could be made voluntary.

 

[Kwaibill]

Sorry to hear this as Thailand is not currently setting records for academic excellence.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/education/40011703#:~:text=Education Council secretary-general Atthaphon,place and Malaysia in 39th.

[Neeranam]

Photo from 30 years ago. 

[Purdey]

Another excuse to dumb down The Children^TM while seeming to care.

Where are the educational opportunities for The Children^TM of poor families?

Where is the policy to improve the education of teachers while they have more free time?

Where is the attempt to improve PISA scores?

When will classes have just 15 students?

[Peterphuket]

There is a saying that goes,"you keep them stupid then I'll keep them poor"

[Muhendis]

 

Following on from the comments about including technical subjects I have a question for all you educators out there.

 

We, in the UK, had such lessons as woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing as well as the three R's.

Is this not something schools do in Thailand?

[Tubulat]

9 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Photo from 30 years ago. 

Believe me, nothing has changed in those 30 years, there are really only 3 things in which education is given and that is Budism, their own country, and number 3 I know but if I mention that I will be thrown off this site.

[Tubulat]

5 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

 

Following on from the comments about including technical subjects I have a question for all you educators out there.

 

We, in the UK, had such lessons as woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing as well as the three R's.

Is this not something schools do in Thailand?

Well you don't need to ask that question, you've been here long enough to know the answer to that.
Have you ever had a house built, or had a real technical problem, it doesn't matter if it is electrical or mechanical.
When I still think back to the plumber who did all the water work and drains, gawdily I am reminded of that man after more than 10 years, or the electrical in the house, what a tragedy.
So the correct answer to your question: no they have never heard of that here.

 

[Cabradelmar]

THA public edu is a joke. Anyone can already drop out at the age of 15 (after grade 9). What this country needs is more education, not less. Better teachers, better textbooks, better facilities, and better methods (rote learning is of little value)

[IamNoone88]

Thai kids generally have a stronger educational start in life vs western kids. The reason is simple - they play and socialise. Key factors now being recognised around the world in forming early development and now lacking in many western and increasingly some Asian societies. The Thai education system does need a complete revamp and facilities upgraded. That also means a huge change in teaching methods and teaching standards. A massive challenge and frankly education should be regarded as continually evolving requiring long-term investment and innovation. That requires capable government, commitment and funding.

[Muhendis]

7 minutes ago, Tubulat said:

Well you don't need to ask that question, you've been here long enough to know the answer to that.

Unfortunately being in Thailand as long as I have doesn't necessarily mean I would have knowledge of what goes on in the educational system hence my question.

Of course, you're right about the lack of educated craftsmen but that's due mainly to potential craftsmen, especially in the rural areas, not attending any formal tuition classes.

13 minutes ago, Tubulat said:

So the correct answer to your question: no they have never heard of that here.

Let us hope for a change for the better.

[Neeranam]

20 minutes ago, Tubulat said:

Believe me, nothing has changed in those 30 years, there are really only 3 things in which education is given and that is Budism, their own country, and number 3 I know but if I mention that I will be thrown off this site.

I was a teacher here for 25 years and quite a lot has changed, IMHO.

 

[Neeranam]

19 minutes ago, Tubulat said:

Well you don't need to ask that question, you've been here long enough to know the answer to that.
Have you ever had a house built, or had a real technical problem, it doesn't matter if it is electrical or mechanical.
When I still think back to the plumber who did all the water work and drains, gawdily I am reminded of that man after more than 10 years, or the electrical in the house, what a tragedy.
So the correct answer to your question: no they have never heard of that here.

 

That is taught at technical college, or vocational college.

[Tubulat]

6 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

Unfortunately being in Thailand as long as I have doesn't necessarily mean I would have knowledge of what goes on in the educational system hence my question.

Of course, you're right about the lack of educated craftsmen but that's due mainly to potential craftsmen, especially in the rural areas, not attending any formal tuition classes.

Let us hope for a change for the better.

Yes let's hope for it, but after living here for more than 25 years, I don't have much faith in that anymore.

[Tubulat]

6 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I was a teacher here for 25 years and quite a lot has changed, IMHO.

 

Okay, then regarding education you will certainly know more than me, my apologies.

[Butts]

The Average Thai I.Q say's it all- but is this by design keep em down run the sweat shop style work force? 

Wouldn't be easy to get a western citizen to work for Thai salary?

 

Having native speaking western teachers actually teaching English and more educational TV programs other than Thai Dram with constant fighting and crying on the television might help also.

 

My half Thai (Essan) son that I raised on my own is way ahead of most western 14 year olds his age, let alone Thai kids, due to my mentorship and encouragement of use of technical devises he always had the best phone and lap top that has helped his self education and confidence very much so.  There is a lot to be said about good parenting too.

Edited June 27 by Butts

[NoDisplayName]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

The budget for public schools here is over Bt200 trillion.

 

That's quite a magical feet!

 

Converting a GDP of US$500 billion, or THB 18.4 trillion, into a 200 trillion baht education budget.

 

Must be all those hours of Thai maff edumacation.

[JeffersLos]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Mathayom 1 to 3 (grades seven to nine) face no fewer than 1,200 hours a year. For Mathayom 4 to 6 (grades 10 to 12), the total amounts to over 3,600 hours across three years.

 

So the exact same, then. 

[JeffersLos]

Elementary school for me was 9:00-14:30 until 6th grade. 

 

Here it seems to be 8:00-16:00.

 

That's a long day for young kids, especially in a baking classroom. 

[NoDisplayName]

42 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

 

Following on from the comments about including technical subjects I have a question for all you educators out there.

 

We, in the UK, had such lessons as woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing as well as the three R's.

Is this not something schools do in Thailand?

 

Vo-tec students major in ping-pong ball bombmaking and machete-fu, with internships in motorcycle gang rumble time.

[Presnock]

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

By all means, cut back on education in a country with such a stellar educational system. Oh, and they save extra baht in the budget for the government too? Glorious!

Yes, very familiar with the local system...first they have the one of the highest number of "official holidays" ( just checked and this year there are 30 listed plus some particular ares also add a day or two and the govt might not officially do one or two so you get the idea anyway there are way too many as in the Thai schools my daughter studied, they also hold many practices to have celebrations of some of those

holidays and plus being excused on the holiday, they might do the celebratory activities during other schools days.  I also noted in the ENGLISH classes of some of the schools, not a clue what they were

being taught as the teachers had to teach what the owner/school head provided as lesson materials.  Teachers not knowing the languag well themselves are just a the mercy of their bosses.  We fought at every grade for 5 years, moved to a SATHIT (won't name the university) school which had a great reputation, into a new school - unfortunately nepotism ruled on management and selection of local teachers,

and within 3 years, ALL of the foreign teachers had left and ALL of the students except for the lowest grades (not sure how many remained after kindergarten) had  also transferred although the school had grades up to 12th.  We opted to leave after the first (grade 6) and went to an International School even though that school offered free (200K a year) tuition for us to remain.  Fortunately the international schools can do their own hiring/firing and curricula, and at our daughter's school all the classes are in English except for the Thai classes (mandantory for all full Thais after grade 6 I think it was) and our

daughter began a new phase of education in which she thrived (graduating with high levels of 4 different languages, great math and computer skills) and many friends from many different countries.  She

is in the #1 Univ in Thailand (liberal arts so not worried) in a program requiring even higher academic skills that the regular university entrance, and currently is in summer language school in the #1 university

in Seoul.  and doing exceptional work.  Loves school and learning and this spirit was shaped by the teachers at the International School.  As parents, my wife and I only tell her she is  limited strictly by her

own drive.  We help shape what she wants to do in life based on our life experiences and will support her in whatever she wants to do.  She is also on the Univ dance team, class badminton team, class advisory team for new students and loves K-POP dances and songs and knows all of the BTS songs by heart!  Sorry to drone on but wanted you to understand how and why I feel as I do about the

current Thai schooling.  Good luck to all who have kids in school nowadays.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

How very dare you ask a question! Are you implying I haven't taught you properly? Get out of my class I don't want to see you again.

Throw out teaching by rote and replace it by pupils asking questions. If the teacher does not know the answer it is the teachers job to find out the answer. That way the teacher AND the pupils learn.

 

If the school directors, the ministry of Education or OBEC don't like that, then sack them and replace them with younger and more progressive people.

 

Enter the 20th or even the 21st century and NEVER regress to the 19th or even the 18th century.

 

Only then will Thailand progress from the stagnation it is in now.