Thai Govt Panel Approves Bt1bn For Reading Promotion

[webfact]

Govt panel approves Bt1bn for reading promotion

A government committee has approved Bt1billion budget for a two-year project to promote reading.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, who chairs the government committee on the promotion of reading for lifelong learning, yesterday revealed that the budget would support the implementation of five key work plans between this year and next year.

Of the budget, Bt620.29million will go to efforts to boost Thais' reading ability.

"We will also spend Bt257.2million on campaigns to promote the love for reading," Chinnaworn added.

He said Bt55.9million would be allocated to the creation of environment conducive to reading while Bt76million would be invested in creating networks for reading.

"Moreover, we will have Bt44million to finance researches on reading," he continued.

-- The Nation 2010-10-17

[jayjay0]

One can always hope they carry through successfully with this program. With increased reading ability particularly in the more rural areas we should see a increase in knowledge. This may be a small step forward but it is a major one in my honest opinion.

[inmysights]

One can always hope they carry through successfully with this program. With increased reading ability particularly in the more rural areas we should see a increase in knowledge. This may be a small step forward but it is a major one in my honest opinion.

I agree. Get them off those bloody comics and away from the soaps. Unless of course it suits them to have a dumbed down populace.

In Burma there are second hand book stores everywhere. In Suan Plu, downtown Bangkok, just one. Every shelf laden with comic books.

[andrew55]

Is the allocation for these programmes additional funding or does it come from somewhere else in the education budget?

Will the money go to rural areas where the standard of education is so poor. Seems the city kids sure get a better deal. Or is it to be spent on areas where votes are needed?

The teachers need real training opportunities, manageable class sizes and a fair salary. Most/many are very dedicated but just don't have enough education themselves and become amotivated by seeing the poor results of their labours. Catch 22.

I've bought young teenagers to BKK from the Midlands to visit their parents working on the building sites. These kids can't read the simplest menu in Thai. They can download a copied game on to their thumb drive pretty quick. They're not stupid is my point. Gotta make 'em wanna learn...

It's going to need a lot more than money I'd suggest, but maybe it's a start.

Let's hope.

Inmysights - I'm 47 and remember knocking comics, soapies ( now It'd be computer games) with my daughter 20 yrs ago. And my father to me. And probably his to him. Ain't gunna change mate.

[inmysights]

Is the allocation for these programmes additional funding or does it come from somewhere else in the education budget?

Will the money go to rural areas where the standard of education is so poor. Seems the city kids sure get a better deal. Or is it to be spent on areas where votes are needed?

The teachers need real training opportunities, manageable class sizes and a fair salary. Most/many are very dedicated but just don't have enough education themselves and become amotivated by seeing the poor results of their labours. Catch 22.

I've bought young teenagers to BKK from the Midlands to visit their parents working on the building sites. These kids can't read the simplest menu in Thai. They can download a copied game on to their thumb drive pretty quick. They're not stupid is my point. Gotta make 'em wanna learn...

It's going to need a lot more than money I'd suggest, but maybe it's a start.

Let's hope.

Inmysights - I'm 47 and remember knocking comics, soapies ( now It'd be computer games) with my daughter 20 yrs ago. And my father to me. And probably his to him. Ain't gunna change mate.

Yes, but I'm talking about Thais in their fifties, not school kids. Good post by the way.

[Hawk]

This money won't go far, its just another way to pad one's bank account.

At one time there were many second hand Thai book stores dotted around but they have long gone as the video games took hold of the kid's minds.

So, it will end up as government employees win a billion and the common tax payer loses a billion.

[asiawatcher]

Unable as a kid to get many books, I remember reading mostly comic books even up to early teens. It gave me pictorial association with limited dialogue. It in fact helped a great deal in creative ability assisting my ability to draw and explain technical information later in life. I still use the 'skill' at this point so would be an advocate for them. This of course has been a horizontal market for animation and has developed accordingly.

The mindless poorly written soaps are another issue and are pathetic, unimaginative, uninspiring and a danger to any viewing audience in bahavioural common sense.

Reading to children too young to read themselves has millions of anecdotal confirmations in assisting understanding and reading in toddler years and up. It also sets a pattern to allow reading to become a self absorbing way to teach oneself and kids with the ability to pick up on that, excel in education.

Whilst the term 'Bn' in Thai Baht does not cause any hiccups, my only question would be how much of this will filter down to those in the communities and at what proportion to city Vs country? If it is like the do good 'charities asking us to support kids, it most likely won't be above 20 cents in the dollar and that is where this is flawed.

[rubin]

This money won't go far, its just another way to pad one's bank account.

At one time there were many second hand Thai book stores dotted around but they have long gone as the video games took hold of the kid's minds.

So, it will end up as government employees win a billion and the common tax payer loses a billion.

Well, I think you are wright. Such thing like promoting reading among population is very difficult to control. Will they be counting the number of citizens who have learnt how to read or how many people changed their comics for a book of ancient chinese poetry? Such unclear aims are a perfect ground for corruption schemes. IMHO

[elshaheen]

Unable as a kid to get many books, I remember reading mostly comic books even up to early teens. It gave me pictorial association with limited dialogue. It in fact helped a great deal in creative ability assisting my ability to draw and explain technical information later in life. I still use the 'skill' at this point so would be an advocate for them. This of course has been a horizontal market for animation and has developed accordingly.

The mindless poorly written soaps are another issue and are pathetic, unimaginative, uninspiring and a danger to any viewing audience in bahavioural common sense.

Reading to children too young to read themselves has millions of anecdotal confirmations in assisting understanding and reading in toddler years and up. It also sets a pattern to allow reading to become a self absorbing way to teach oneself and kids with the ability to pick up on that, excel in education.

Whilst the term 'Bn' in Thai Baht does not cause any hiccups, my only question would be how much of this will filter down to those in the communities and at what proportion to city Vs country? If it is like the do good 'charities asking us to support kids, it most likely won't be above 20 cents in the dollar and that is where this is flawed.

I agree with you 100%. Get these kids reading something real, train them to read a “book” not some stupid comic book. Comic books were good and fun to read when I was in school, but we learned to separate both. Though, you had the “Nerds” who just loved to collect any of them, now they live in a fantasy world.

A few weeks ago, I was coming home on the bus and asked a high school boy, do you ever read a “book” and pointed out the novel I was reading. Their comment, books are so boring and I like comics.

[edwardandtubs]

I agree with you 100%. Get these kids reading something real, train them to read a "book" not some stupid comic book. Comic books were good and fun to read when I was in school, but we learned to separate both. Though, you had the "Nerds" who just loved to collect any of them, now they live in a fantasy world.

A few weeks ago, I was coming home on the bus and asked a high school boy, do you ever read a "book" and pointed out the novel I was reading. Their comment, books are so boring and I like comics.

It might be that there just isn't the same interesting literature in Thai that there is in English. I've heard Thai books are mostly about rich men raping poor girls (who then of course fall in love with the rapist). Even educated adults seem to prefer comic books.

Whenever a Thai person asks me for advice about improving their English I always recommend the Oxford Bookworms or similar books which are a retelling of classic English books for English learners. Most Thais really get into those books, which suggests the problem isn't with a lack of interest in reading per se but the lack of quality literature that exists in Thai.

[jayjay0]

It is a start for you looking at it to solve the whole problem I have a bridge I will let you have cheap.

Surprise surprise there is a lot of Thais who work hard to feed there family and can not buy video games much less the equipment to play them on. This will help there a lot more than the world most of you live in. There is the haves and the have nots you are a have. Try to recognize these other people.

Yes there is going to be a lot of funny things going on behind the scene's but at least they admit there is a problem and have taken a step towards changing it.

[longtom]

So many millions to spend for rather vague activities, but zilch to make 'meaningful' books available for people that cannot afford them? E.g. send bookmobiles to remote villages or found more libraries.

[jayjay0]

So many millions to spend for rather vague activities, but zilch to make 'meaningful' books available for people that cannot afford them? E.g. send bookmobiles to remote villages or found more libraries.

Well we don't know yet how much money will reach the people or how it will be spent. But I do agree with you that getting the books out to the rural areas should be a priority. As for meaningful books not sure if I agree with that. At first the emphsis should be on getting them to read. Just my opinion. Not sure about comic books but I do admit I read them into my 30s.

[Tokay]

Their comment, books are so boring and I like comics.

Note the cartoon sound effects on almost all of their shows (non soaps).

[WitawatWatawit]

Clearly missing is the specifics of the program. Why aren't we being told exactly how this money is going to be spent? Or is this just another classic case of a poo-yai proposing a pie-in-the-sky scheme to make it seem like the government is actually doing something to reform the education system (which has been a critical priority for 25 years, and has never gone beyond the "critical" stage)?

Think about it:

*Of the budget, Bt620.29million will go to efforts to boost Thais' reading ability.

- Thai literacy standards among the young-ish are already pretty high, so what does "reading ability" mean? I'd love to hear the explanation from the minister for that one.The cynic in me suggests just another excuse to contract out worthless reading material.

* "We will also spend Bt257.2million on campaigns to promote the love for reading," Chinnaworn added.

-- Governments don't promote a love of reading -- parents and educators do.

* He said Bt55.9 million would be allocated to the creation of environment conducive to reading while Bt76million would be invested in creating networks for reading.

-- "environment conducive to reading" -- ??? -- Now that I would really like to see. Ergo: "Bt76 million would be invested in creating networks for reading" -- astonishingly stupid. This is meaningless in all its totality. Want to create a network for reading, Mr Minister? Spend the Bt620.29 million on efforts to boost Thai's reading ability in libraries.

* "Moreover, we will have Bt44million to finance researches on reading," he continued.

-- Can I have that contract? I've got nothing to do for the next couple of days.

Wit

[Buchholz]

Clearly missing is the specifics of the program. Why aren't we being told exactly how this money is going to be spent?

Because it's just a short and simplified news article. I would go elsewhere, eg. the Ministry of Education's website, to find the details and specifics.

Think about it:

*Of the budget, Bt620.29million will go to efforts to boost Thais' reading ability.

- Thai literacy standards among the young-ish are already pretty high, so what does "reading ability" mean?

There's over 5 million Thais (age 15 and above) that are illiterate and incapable of reading and writing Thai.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_literacy_rate_in_Thailand

One might presume that is what they are referring to.