Educators Mixed On Plan

[webfact]

Educators mixed on plan

By The Nation

Educators yesterday expresed mixed reaction to a resolution of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to change semester dates for universities.

A recent meeting of CUPT agreed to change the universities' opening period of the first semester from June-October to September-December and the second semester from November-March to January-May in preparation for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

CUPT targeted implementing the plan from 2012 and most Asean countries have announced their adjustments for the opening period.

Sasithara Pichaichannarong, secretary-general, Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec), said Ovec would not change the school opening time of vocational institutions under its supervision as each country had its own style of education and Ovec had set out how it would prepare for AEC. She said the different opening times would not affect student exchange programmes and other joint activities as Asean countries could find times suitable to them.

Kasetsart University President Assoc Prof Vudtechai Kapilakanchana said the adjustment should be adopted by the whole education system, or at every educational level, not only higher education. The Education Ministry would be responsible for deciding on the issue.

He expected the proposal would not be implemented in 2012 as teachers and lectures would need time to adjust teaching schedules.

Some educators are concerned the adjustment of higher education's opening period would affect university admissions for basic education students.

Prasart Suebka, chairman of CUPT, said only Thailand had an opening time different to other Asean countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

He added the change would benefit student and lecturer exchanges.

"CUPT will propose the issue to each university council for consideration and discussion with the Office of the Basic Education Commission and National Institute of Educational Testing Service before concluding it and proposing it to the new education minister," Prasart said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

[SomTumTiger]

Amazed that no one has commented on this yet. lol

[Ijustwannateach]

The million dollar question is how to make the transition. Do they stop school for an extra few months one year and wait for the new opening time, or do they try to cancel all student and teacher holidays one year so as to cram in the new schedule?

Personally, I like having the 'different time' because it means my holidays aren't in the most crowded holiday season for everyone else.

But I won't look on it kindly if one year I'm told that my holidays- one of the few benefits of being as low paid as teachers generally are, and certainly necessary to recover from the real and extreme stresses the job entails- are cancelled so as to 'start next year early'. Neither will many other teachers... I imagine some pretty high bonuses will need to be paid that year.

I imagine this is one of those 'throwing the idea out so that we don't have to be the ones to tell the originator that it's bad news' situations.... once the reactions become clear, they can simply say it's too much trouble without it being their 'fault' for disagreeing with a VIP.

[Scott]

I don't think it's teachers and lecturers who need two years to adjust their schedule. I think it's the gov't, which won't do anything until the last minute. It's for sure they won't over think the situation.

[thunder30101]

Oh someone will say that by changing the schedule thailand will look like it has been colonized lol or wait a minute why not just the ole we are thai routine.

[richard10365]

We switched at Payap from the international schedule to the Thai schedule. We missed an entire summer break. It wasn't easy doing constant studying and suspect it will be the same if we do this again. We could end up having a very short or a very long summer.

[Firelily]

I thought Thai school terms are the way they are for a good reason.

Good luck to all those rural teachers and students who will have to stay in classrooms without air conditioning all through March and April, and literally swim to school in October.

[thunder30101]

The reasons for those months being school holidays is that they coincide with the planting and harvesting of the rice crop. Maybe 20 or more years ago that was a valid excuse. As there is much more mechanization and fewer rice farms today I think they could safely change without too much pain. I mean everyone else in se asia does just fine. But then again we are thai.