PM Abhisit Backs Student Council's Ideas To Help Children

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PM backs Student Council's ideas to help children

By The Nation

Children's representatives yesterday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cabinet to help find solutions to five critical problems facing Thai youth.

These problems are sex education, violence, weakness of the family institution and a shortage of mathematics teachers for the disabled.

The premier told the Thai Students Council that he would discuss with Cabinet members in tackling these issues.

"I am glad that we see the problems in the same way, and the proposed solutions are also in the same direction. I will bring these proposals to the Cabinet so that related agencies can push and support in the future," Abhisit said.

The proposals came from "brain-storming" by the Student Council in each province, whose 98 representatives convened from Wednesday to Friday to conclude their proposals.

Sasikarn Chittawana from Chakkham Khanathorn School in Lamphun said children deserved serious sex education, including about the impact of premature sex and pregnancy while the mother is a student.

Schools are currently reluctant to actively educate students about sex. The proposed solutions include increasing the role of educational institutions and parents in educating and sharing knowledge with children and involving the government and the private sector to take part in activities and campaigns on the issue. Sasikarn asked the government to urgently solve this problem.

Chittipat Markkaew from Decha Pattanianukul School in Pattani said a large amount of violence appeared in the media. There were video clips featuring sex abuse and brutality among teenagers. The Student Council has said it could take part in solving the problem by creating a network to reduce violence in families, schools and society. But the government had to enforce the laws clearly by strictly taking legal action against violators and rehabilitate the victims so they could live in society happily.

Banphot Karnkamol from Srichai Wittaya in Nakhon Pathom said most families faced economic problems or spent too much time at work to properly take care of their children. Kids then turned to the media and entertainment, especially television and websites, including some that could not be monitored by responsible agencies. Children also went to entertainment places to be accepted among their friends.

The Student Council has proposed working with parental associations to assist children. The Social Development and Human Resource Ministry should hold training for parents. Community media should accept complaints and provide advice to children in trouble.

The government must strictly enforce the law against media outlets that violated regulations, he said, plus help the private sector to produce programmes suitable for children regardless of media operators.

Sofiyah Yeelangu from Tha Pae Phadung Wit School in Satun said more rifts were now occurring in a society that previously seemed to be full of smiles. The proposed solutions include reinforcing people's mindset to give priority to public interest and to follow the law and normal standards. People from all walks of life should join seminars, training or other activities held regularly to promote unity.

The government should also give funds for children's camps, which should be held once a month to promote and integrate children's participation and contribution to society.

Suthipong Asavapoom from the School for the Blind in Chiang Mai said the disabled had more limitations and needed more educational media to help them understand the lessons. Moreover, there was a shortage of mathematics teachers specially trained to teach the blind. So, the government should give resources and support to enable more people with disabilities to join classes with normal children of every age.

-- The Nation 2011-01-09

[asiawatcher]

Acknowledgement of need for sex education and shortage of maths teachers for the disabled in one sentence! Then nothing further is stated for the disabled - nice piece of journalism!! It is also a subject that has been continually talked about and was supposed to have been tabled in parliament many times previously so was it? Was there a result? If so - what was the solution? Or are politicians still avoiding such a necessary subject?

[jayjay0]

"The proposals came from "brain-storming" by the Student Council in each province, whose 98 representatives convened from Wednesday to Friday to conclude their proposals."

Nice to see the students speaking out on there needs. I notice that they are not looking for learning English to save Thailand.

What they are asking for is

"These problems are sex education, violence, weakness of the family institution and a shortage of mathematics teachers for the disabled."

Maybe not every ones choice but four good points that defiantly need attention. Personally I would extend the Math. education to every one.

Well done students.

Let us hope people recignize the students efforts and input and not turn this into a Government bashing thread as so many people are willing to do.

[jaltsc]

"…help find solutions tofive critical problems facing Thai youth.

These problems are 1, sex education, 2, violence, 3, weakness of the family institution and 4, a shortage of mathematics teachers forthe disabled."

It appears that the first critical problem it the need to be able to count to 5.