Thai Schools Too Hard, Says Minister

[george]

Adisai wants lessons cut to five hours a day

BANGKOK: Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik has asked the Office of Basic Education Commission to look at cutting down academic classes and offering more recreational activities to ease stress for students.

Schools require students to spend eight hours a day on core courses such as maths, science and social sciences. That leaves little time for other activities.

``It's too harsh,'' Mr Adisai said after his first visit to the commission to meet its executives.

One third of the classroom hours should go on arts, music and recreational activities.

``I think we must put the new requirement into the curriculum handbook,'' he said. ``Schools should arrange music classes for at least two hours a week. The same should apply to sports.''

Grading and exams for music and sports should be scrapped. Only ``pass'' and ``fail'' should be given based on student attendance. ``This will make students enjoy and relax while studying,'' the minister said.

He believed schools would face no problems if they could reduce learning on core subjects to no more than five periods a day.

The former commerce minister also urged schools under the ministry to end special tutoring for pupils after school on grounds that they ``took away students' time'' and placed them under even more stress. ``Many schools hold tutorial courses and charge extra from students.

``They impose another burden on students,'' he said.

``My policy is students should not get stressed and think only about competition. They should enjoy their life,'' he said.

Schools should arrange courses on Thai history and culture by emphasising patriotism and Thai identity after the early schooling years.

The minister also asked the Office of Vocational Education Commission to tackle low enrolments at vocational schools.

Only one-third of students completing Mathayom 3, or Level Nine, pursue further learning at vocational colleges. The rest want to go to high schools.

Mr Adisai was not satisfied with the ratio and urged staff to persuade more students to go to vocational schools.

Mr Adisai took over the job from Pongpol Adireksarn after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reshuffled his cabinet last week.

He said his first priority was meeting senior officials under the ministry.

He admitted he was surprised to get the job, and was told of the change only three days before the cabinet line-up was completed.

But Mr Thaksin expressed confidence in his leadership ability and believes he can drive the government's education reform policy.

The government believes the reforms have made slow progress under the previous two ministers, partly because of bureaucratic opposition.

--Bangkok Post 2003-11-13

[jayjay0]

Some things never change. Students are still not learning a lot.

[bangon04]

"Schools should arrange courses on Thai history and culture by emphasising patriotism and Thai identity after the early schooling years."

Yes lets keep our priorities straight - Patriotism is the willingness to continue subsistence farming for the good of maintaining the status quo.

The politicians and ruling classes can steal enough money from the ill-educated to afford overseas education.

It would be quite inappropriate if the common people learned to question their superiors and realise when they were being ripped off.

Be happy with your place in the great Thai society. Keep the sheeple in their place.

Thai Rak Thai at its very best. Sickening . It is an old thread, but you can still hear it being said again even now....

Edited November 22, 2010 by bangon04