Literacy Of 30,000 Thai Third Graders Substandard

[webfact]

Literacy of 30,000 third graders substandard

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bureau of Academic Affairs and Education Standard has disclosed that over 30,000 Thai third-graders have reading and writing difficulties, falling below the national literacy standard.

Director of the Bureau, Dr Benjaluck Namfa, said the 2009 national assessment has indicated that the ability to read and write of more than 30,000 third-grade students is below the national standard. The figure, however, showed a little improvement, given the assessment conducted last year found that 50,000 students were unable to read or write well enough to express themselves.

The director nonetheless said students were not solely to be blamed for the poor result, adding that teachers in all 175 school districts and every related party must join hands solving the problems. She also recommended that authorities compile information relative to the matter, analyze why students under-perform, and come up with long-term solutions.

-- NNT 2010-07-28

[moe666]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

[zzaa09]

This is disturbing and distressing news.....not surprising, though. We all know how ill-fitted and ill-equipped the Thai educational system might be. Just the basics, we're talking. If one has ever experienced and observed the general overall educational practices by Thai teachers - you'd understand how such statistics from studies manifest. Nearly all teachers/instructors follow a prescribed practice that is instilled onto them from training to practice.....never deterring from anything else, except the manner in which they were taught. Without alternatives, unconventional and unorthodoxy.

[dumball]

'moe666' timestamp='1280325108' post='3779783']

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

That is not quite true , 3 of my 4 children had basic reading skills before they started school and most of my grandchildren have similar skills , the younger the child starts to learn , the quicker he/she is able to master the learning curve .

[Garry]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

That is not quite true , 3 of my 4 children had basic reading skills before they started school and most of my grandchildren have similar skills , the younger the child starts to learn , the quicker he/she is able to master the learning curve .

Same here with my young daughter (not even two years old, but not far away). I ordered baby learning material from the US and it's great to see her eyes light up when she sees the pictures and words in the specialised books and CD's and she starts coming out with the names etc.

[zzaa09]

That is not quite true , 3 of my 4 children had basic reading skills before they started school and most of my grandchildren have similar skills , the younger the child starts to learn , the quicker he/she is able to master the learning curve .

As have our girls...seem to slip through the cracks. But, most importantly, they've both caring and interacting parents whom watchdog their respective schooling. Not always, but there seems to be a case for private, as opposed to government, schools.

[JacknDanny]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

And by the looks of it, that applies to certain TV members!!

Edited July 28, 2010 by JacknDanny

[jayjay0]

Who says what the standard is.

Where I come from they had problems with that so they changed the standards. Also we are in Thailand are you people talking about Thai or English. I agree that the younger they start the easier it is to learn. I just hope it is not a hard and fast rule as I am 68 and considering lessons in learning to read Thai.

[Thaihog]

This story ties in with the rich and poor divide story today.

All the wealthy Thais (Education Ministers included) send their kids to private schools, so they are totally oblivious of the sub standard teaching in government schools. Every year a study shows that schools and teachers are under performing and the government spends more money on a further study.

Surely the problem must lie squarely at the Education Ministry making poor decisions with teacher training and the school curriculum.

At the end of the day nothing will change as the decision makers don't send their kids to government schools so why should they care.

[LaoPo]

Literacy of 30,000 third graders substandard

This kind of OP articles is irritating and completely misleading

30,000 third graders "substandard"....out of how many other students ?...1 million....2 million ?...more?

How on earth are we able to judge whether these 30,000 students are indeed substandard if we don't know if these kids are maybe dyslectic ?

In the West, between 5-15% of all people are more or less dyslectic and on a number of 1 million students that would be between 50,000 to 150,000 students.

Maybe Thai script is even more -or less- complicated to Thai students to learn rather than a Western language ? I don't know.

Are the words: Thai script easier for a dyslectic Western Student to read rather than his fellow Thai student in: Thai: อักษรไทย ??

I don't know, but what I DO know is that dyslexia is common in my family and my son and grandson both suffer from dyslexia as they inherited this uncomfortable handicap -for free- from their mother/grandmother.

That doesn't mean these people can't be successful in their lives; my son proved so and created a large successful business despite his dyslexia.

So much for substandard literacy....Albert Einstein is a fine example for a genius with dyslexia next to another -living- giant: Bill Gates and his fellow computer nerd.....Steve Jobs.

A few more? Nelson Rockefeller, Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, Henri Ford, Thomas Jefferson...

You see....substandard literacy doesn't mean a thing.

LaoPo

[IvanDobsky]

This kind of OP articles is irritating and completely misleading

substandard literacy doesn't mean a thing.

Very interesting post LaoPo. Dyslexia is no barrier to achievement, as you pointed out, although I doubt that a substantial portion of parents and teachers in Thailand would be able to recognise the condition.

This is obviously a report that is very close to many people's hearts, teachers and parents alike. There are many factors at play here, from the parameters that define 'substandard', to the paucity of good teachers and the poverty of rural schools.

The more time we are able to spend with our children, the better. Children learn from their surroundings, their brains are like sponges in their early years and they can easily learn vocabulary in any language before they are able to speak. Schools play their part but I believe parents are the key to a child's learning.

But:

How can a poorly educated farmer/grocer/driver/labourer etc afford to spend the time trying to teach their children when they are exhausted from their days work? Their child is probably asleep by the time they get home anyway.

How many people have a nanny who didn't graduate from M3? How well can they teach our children?

[Kilgore Trout]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

aparently some posters are not writing well either

[jayjay0]

Literacy of 30,000 third graders substandard

This kind of OP articles is irritating and completely misleading

30,000 third graders "substandard"....out of how many other students ?...1 million....2 million ?...more?

How on earth are we able to judge whether these 30,000 students are indeed substandard if we don't know if these kids are maybe dyslectic ?

In the West, between 5-15% of all people are more or less dyslectic and on a number of 1 million students that would be between 50,000 to 150,000 students.

Maybe Thai script is even more -or less- complicated to Thai students to learn rather than a Western language ? I don't know.

Are the words: Thai script easier for a dyslectic Western Student to read rather than his fellow Thai student in: Thai: อักษรไทย ??

I don't know, but what I DO know is that dyslexia is common in my family and my son and grandson both suffer from dyslexia as they inherited this uncomfortable handicap -for free- from their mother/grandmother.

That doesn't mean these people can't be successful in their lives; my son proved so and created a large successful business despite his dyslexia.

So much for substandard literacy....Albert Einstein is a fine example for a genius with dyslexia next to another -living- giant: Bill Gates and his fellow computer nerd.....Steve Jobs.

A few more? Nelson Rockefeller, Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, Henri Ford, Thomas Jefferson...

You see....substandard literacy doesn't mean a thing.

LaoPo

My thoughts exactly. I knew Albert Einstein had trouble with Math. I didn't realize he was dyslexia.

\

Edited July 28, 2010 by jayjay0

[LaoPo]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

aparently some posters are not writing well either

Well, maybe you are not familiar (yet) with the following:

3. If possible please proofread your post first, poor grammar and spelling can make the post difficult to understand. However be aware that not every member is a native english speaker and excessive posts regarding others spelling and grammar not only hijacks the topic but is poor netiquette.

from:

http://www.thaivisa....rum-netiquette/

I might add that dyslexia is also amongst TV members on this forum and therefore an excuse for not writing as properly and correctly as others are able to.

Dyslexia is a nasty handicap and not well understood by many, the same as those "suffering" from colour vision deficiency...me for instance.

Not nice but not a great problem either; people with dyslexia and colour vision deficiency learn to live with their shortcomings but others could be a bit more understanding before pointing at those who make mistakes.

LaoPo

[Eureka]

Most third graders anywhere were are not reading and writing very well.

My nephew, a second grade student, has just recently visited Thailand. He was given an school assignment to keep a daily journal during his time in Thailand. Each day's entry consisted of a short story with illustations which was then assesed for grammer, creativity and spelling on his return to Australia.

He is not in an excellerated program or attending a prestigious private school rather he attends a government primary school in a small country town.

Maybe you would like to clarify you statement to fine tune locality.

[dom samui]

"adding that teachers in all 175 school districts and every related party must join hands solving the problems"......

join hands.....praying?!

[notime]

Ohhh .. I'm also unable to read or write well enough to express myself .. sometimes I need to dance on the table ;-)

[olivier2553]

A couple of ideas:

- how do you expect to teach to a class of 40 or more students? It does not depends on pedagogy or quality of the teacher, it is impossible.

- how do you expect the student to properly do their homework when the TV is on, siblings are playing in the same room?

I have seen young, enthusiastic joint schools, but what can they do against the system?

[Anyse]

My sentiments exactly as I have read misspellings, improper word usage and run-on sentences. Doesn't anyone check their writing these days?

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

aparently some posters are not writing well either

[asiawatcher]

As with all Thai Media this report is mostly rubbish. It does not reflect their Thai PR of literacy rates in Thailand are the highest in Asia at 90+%. What a croc.

Thai's have a low level of literacy and 30,000 does not reflect the real figures - more like about 300,000 but perhaps the error was a typo (not)!

As to the comments about the rich and poor (yawn) yes maybe true but a lot of the wealthy kids and their schooling does not reflect the teachers. My kids get a middle level education at Bangkok Bilingual taught in 50% Thai/English mix using the New South Wales/Australian curriculum. At 4 my oldest daughter reads and writes both Thai and English very well and the cost is about Baht 60,000 a year incl uniform and midday meals. Many Thai's CAN afford this but many do not know there are alternatives to the wealthy institutions and 200,000 Baht a term garbage being offered.

Like all things - Thai's like to tell everyone of their peers the status of their kids education. Enough said! The accuracy of the report here is VERY questionable.

[h5kaf]

Why not become an "Education Hub" that should sort things out.

After all Thailand is a "Tourist Hub", an "IT Hub", soon to be an "Alcohol and Smoke Free Zone" so we seem to be going the right way and an "Education Hub" would solve the problem and fit right in with the way that matters are solved over here.

[JackSterling]

Why not become an "Education Hub" that should sort things out.

After all Thailand is a "Tourist Hub", an "IT Hub", soon to be an "Alcohol and Smoke Free Zone" so we seem to be going the right way and an "Education Hub" would solve the problem and fit right in with the way that matters are solved over here.

I like this idea.. Imagine a Thailand in the future where everyone can speak English as well as other languages as many people will want to send their kids to the new and improved Thai school system. Imagine a Thailand where they only speak TRUE and you never hear anyone lying to you... How good could it get??

Honest Thais... telling no lies...

a school system far beyond anything in the west...

An student exchange program that is the greatest in the world..

Oh to dream in paradise..

[fiercesnake]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

In defense of moe666 as many posters seem to disagree, he did say "most" as a general statement and was not talking about exceptional farang parents who give 3 or 4 kids extra help from extra materials or tutoring. 3 or 4 kids is just a slight discrepancy from millions across the world, of which I think Moe is alluding to! I don't know too many third grade kids that could read, interpret or accurately comprehend a local newspaper, even if it was in their local language.

;Of course as for this story, as usual with so many of these posts from local newspapers we don't have all the details, such as what is the standard, what is the rate they are comparing against, are these just kids with special needs, are they comparing in English, Thai or a combination and so many other relevant details which as always are missing and is typical hallmarks of poor local journalism. We are wasting our time to make accurate comments here as most posters have correctly pointed out-compared with what???

[paul50]

Literacy will only improve when they abolish the no fail policy. When they can't fail they don't have to try and when they don't try they don't learn but still pass.

[maamoot]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

Am I only the one that saw this and laughed at what was obviously a pretty funny post , well to me at least .

facetious

   

–adjective

1.

not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.

2.

amusing; humorous.

3.

lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.

[maamoot]

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

Thanks Moe , I got the joke if no one else did . lol

[Losangels]

"adding that teachers in all 175 school districts and every related party must join hands solving the problems"......

join hands.....praying?!

[Milo]

A couple of ideas:

- how do you expect to teach to a class of 40 or more students? It does not depends on pedagogy or quality of the teacher, it is impossible.

- how do you expect the student to properly do their homework when the TV is on, siblings are playing in the same room?

I have seen young, enthusiastic joint schools, but what can they do against the system?

Agreed; neither teachers nor students stand much of a chance under such conditions.

[Pakboong]

Who says what the standard is.

Where I come from they had problems with that so they changed the standards. Also we are in Thailand are you people talking about Thai or English. I agree that the younger they start the easier it is to learn. I just hope it is not a hard and fast rule as I am 68 and considering lessons in learning to read Thai.

I plan to do something much more enjoyable during my last years on the planet but learning Thai might do it for you.

[Firelily]

It's not only government schools that squeeze 40+ six-year-olds into one classroom with one teacher (no assistant, nothing). Parents PAY for this sort of privilege in famous private schools.

If I had more than 60 eyes staring at me at the same time, I would run away and never look back. It is not only impossible to get anything positive out of a situation like that - I think it borders on criminal negligence.