800,000 Thai Children Per Year At Risk

[Jai Dee]

800,000 THAI CHILDREN PER YEAR ARE AT RISK OF GROWING UP UNINTELLIGENT: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY MINISTER

Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook (วัฒนา เมืองสุข) has indicated that around 800,000 Thai children are at risk of growing up less intelligent due to improper caring during their first six years of life. In the meantime, he plans to improve the standard of babysitters, in order to address the problem at the cause.

Mr. Watana yesterday held a meeting with Social Development and Human Security Ministry's senior officials, and revealed afterwards that 800,000 Thai children per year are at risk of growing dim-witted. He said children aged between 1-6 years old are in an important stage, as the most rapid learning and development takes place at that age. He said 800,000 children are under the care of 11,000 nurseries under the jurisdiction of the sub-district administrations, while 1,500 private nurseries are opened for service.

Minister Watana said many children do not receive adequate care. For instance, their beds and rooms are too small and not very ergonomic. Certain toys have been found to be rusted. Furthermore, there are only 25,000 babysitters in the country, equivalent to 1 babysitter per 40 children. Mr. Watana concluded that children who are raised under such environment would have their intellectual developments hindered.

The Social Development and Human Security Minister said the ministry will engage the problem at 3 levels. The standard of babysitter will be revamped, by having exchange programs between nurseries and universities. According to Mr. Watana, the ministry will also attempt to raise the level of the babysitting profession, by designating qualifications of babysitters and subjecting them to license examinations like teachers. Meanwhile, private nurseries will have to be registered. Lastly, the ministry will arrange for toys that would promote skills and development of children. A total of 2.5 billion baht is expected to be used for these efforts. Mr. Watana said the money may be requested from the Government Lottery Office, and the project will be able to initiate next month.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันเสาร์ที่ 15 ตุลาคม 2548

[Iain]

they should stop these children watching Thai TV programs at early age, that makes them stupid and makes the babysitters stupid as well.

[chownah]

A childs intellectual development will be hindered because "toys have been found to be rusted."?

What about, ".....there are only 25,000 babysitters in the country, equivalent to 1 babysitter per 40 children." Most Thai children are babysat by family members. Is the author completely out of touch with Thai society?

Why is it that the Ministers in the Thai gov't are soooo good at undermining people's confidence in them?

[cclub75]

A childs intellectual development will be hindered because "toys have been found to be rusted."?

What about, ".....there are only 25,000 babysitters in the country, equivalent to 1 babysitter per 40 children."  Most Thai children are babysat by family members.  Is the author completely out of touch with Thai society?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Indeed... This paper is a collection of non sense.

They should speak about family environnement instead (poverty, health problems of parents with alcoolism, violence...). Those are certainly more important factors regarding "intellectual development".

As usual, the government like to give "figures". 800 000 childrens per year. Wouah. Amazing statisticians...

[Ijustwannateach]

It's not my fault! It's not my fault!

[The_Other_Mac]

We've got to look at this in proportion. How many Thai children are growing up each year?

800,000?

[richard10365]

I wonder if Mr. Watana Muangsook could give an example of how big a bedroom should be for a 1 year old. I hope he includes ergonomic details he learned from viewing 800,000 bedrooms across Thailand.

[Thaipwriter]

I would spend this 2.5billion baht developing some kind of safety equipment for use by parents who transport thier 1-6 year old around on motorcycles.

many kids wont see thier 6th birthday.

I would rather see dim kids than dead ones.

[carlthailand]

Doesn't help either when they are repeatedly told by Thai teachers that they are wrong in certain areas (read English. Can only say this as I have seen it happen) when in fact the child was right and the teacher was wrong. This is of course a Government school. Sad when all the good work done is unstuck by poorly educated Thai English teachers. This is only one small ripple in an ocean so large.

I feel sorry for the HAVE NOTS here. Yet, if we say too much its the typical " If you don't like it go back to your own country" mentality. Think perhaps to the government poorly educated voters = easy vote.

My 2bht coin worth.

Carl

[Smokin Joe]

800,000 THAI CHILDREN PER YEAR ARE AT RISK OF GROWING UP UNINTELLIGENT: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY MINISTER

Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook (วัฒนา เมืองสุข) has indicated that around 800,000 Thai children are at risk of growing up less intelligent due to improper caring during their first six years of life...

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันเสาร์ที่ 15 ตุลาคม 2548

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder if Khun Watana understands the difference between uneducated and unintelligent. The wold is full of educated dummies as well as many intelligent people with little education.