No Change To 15-Year Free Compulsory Education Policy: Thai Govt

[webfact]

No change to 15-year free compulsory education policy

By Supinda Na Mahachai

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Development, competitiveness focus of reform: Vorawat

The new government will continue the current 15-year free compulsory education but make the policy more flexible to suit the differing needs of students and parents, Education Minister Vorawat Auapinyakul said yesterday.

Vorawat also intends to restructure ministerial responsibilties so that he and the two deputy ministers, Bunruen Srithares and Surapong Ueng-ampornvilai, can each take care of different regions of the country.

"The needs of each student vary. Some don't need uniforms while textbooks may not be needed after we have students use e-textbooks in tablet PCs. So, I will adjust the policy based on the situation. I will have to discuss the issue with parents and teachers before making changes to the policy," Vorawat said.

He said that subsidies for all students would not be less than what they were getting under the previous administration.

To ensure integrated management by agencies in charge of various educational levels, each of the executives would be in charge of improving education in different regions.

"I want them to boost collaboration among the ministry agencies. For example, they can coordinate with proficient university personnel and have them give a hand to improve basic education."

Vorawat will oversee the North, South and Bangkok; Bunruen will take care of the Northeast, while Surapong will be responsible for the Central. "Each of the executives will have the authority to order local educational agencies in the areas they are responsible for. They don't have to wait for my instructions but can make their own decisions. However, we will set up clear strategic and action plans for every agency to follow under central rules," he said.

Previous governments had their education ministers and deputy ministers oversee different main agencies.

The minister said that after he had meetings with the heads of five main agencies, the scope of both plans had been drafted from a combination of proposals of the executives and the heads. while projects to be done under these plans to finish within two weeks.

The government will also continue the second decade of education reform, but will adjust the goals to focus on educational development that would help develop the country, improve the country's competitiveness and create more employment, he said.

"Thailand's competitiveness will obviously increase within two years. The heads of main agencies told me they agreed with me. They said they wanted to push the issue for a long time, but some regulations came in the way. So, my team will help them get rid of the obstructive regulations."

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

"Before handing out the tablets, we will have to focus on two crucial factors - the students and the content. We have to ensure that the students won't use the tablets improperly, like playing inappropriate games," Vorawat said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-16

[siampolee]

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

"Before handing out the tablets, we will have to focus on two crucial factors - the students and the content. We have to ensure that the students won't use the tablets improperly, like playing inappropriate games," Vorawat said.

Superb stalling tactics under the guise of yet another myth regarding P.T.P. and its policies, one would presume that the matter would have been thought out prior to being sold to gullible voter's. Oh I forgot that a thought process takes, "honesty integrity and education, talents that seem to be missing from the I serve my master first his acolytes second and I don't forget myself either party. ,

What, the Thai people?

Who or what are the Thai people, what are they compared to our beloved brother no.1 ?

P.T.P.

Pillage The People.

Edited August 16, 2011 by siampolee

[siampolee]

We have to ensure that the students won't use the tablets improperly, like playing inappropriate games," Vorawat said.

Or by browsing around and suddenly discovering ," the truth" concerning Thaksin and the P.T.P. agenda regarding Thailand.

Edited August 16, 2011 by siampolee

[whybother]

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

Cool. 6 year olds will know English in 6 months.

[siampolee]

Cool. 6 year olds will know English in 6 months

I larf , I larf, I pee I self.

Interesting theory when there is no English input surrounding the child out of school.

[kamluan]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

[Thaddeus]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Or fifteen years for that matter.

[Nisa]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

[whybother]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

I think it is 12 years.

[Nisa]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

I think it is 12 years.

According to Wikipedia ... Education in Thailand is provided mainly by the Thai government through the Ministry of Education from pre-school to senior high school. A free basic education of twelve years is guaranteed by the constitution, and a minimum of nine years' school attendance is mandatory. http://en.wikipedia....ion_in_Thailand

But the main point being is the OP seems to be clearly misstating facts.

Edit: but even the Wiki sentence appears to be a bit misleading because I don't believe all of high school is free. If they pay for 12 years and this includes preschool years (as stated) then it would not be free to finish high school unless high school doesn't go to the 12th grade.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[SomTumTiger]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

I think it is 12 years.

K1, K2, K3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 = 15

[Nisa]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

I think it is 12 years.

K1, K2, K3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 = 15

It appears it may have been changed to 15 in 2009 ... the government announced the extension of a mandatory free education from 12 years to 15 years in 2009. http://www.unicef.or.../education.html

However, there are numerous credible sites online that say education is only compulsory to "the age" of 15 years old. Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old as I know many Thais who enroll their kids in kindergarten at 5-years old and they never attended preschool. This would mean that they need to attend school until 20 years old which I also know is not true as nobody made my daughter go to University at 19 years old.

Kids generally graduate highschool in Thailand at 17 or 18 years old as in most other countries. If 15 years of schooling is compulsorily then they are either being forced to go to school at 2 & 3 years old or the Thai government is now paying and requiring attendance for the first couple years of university .... or I am missing something.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[SomTumTiger]

It appears it may have been changed to 15 in 2009 ... the government announced the extension of a mandatory free education from 12 years to 15 years in 2009. http://www.unicef.or.../education.html

However, there are numerous credible sites online that say education is only compulsory to "the age" of 15 years old. Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old as I know many Thais who enroll their kids in kindergarten at 5-years old and they never attended preschool. This would mean that they need to attend school until 20 years old which I also know is not true as nobody made my daughter go to University at 19 years old.

Im glad we have you here, to sort out this most pressing and urgent problem.

[Phatcharanan]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Ususally down to some crappy 4 week course wonder who thinks they are a teacher.

[whybother]

K1, K2, K3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 = 15

It appears it may have been changed to 15 in 2009 ... the government announced the extension of a mandatory free education from 12 years to 15 years in 2009. http://www.unicef.or.../education.html

However, there are numerous credible sites online that say education is only compulsory to "the age" of 15 years old. Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old as I know many Thais who enroll their kids in kindergarten at 5-years old and they never attended preschool. This would mean that they need to attend school until 20 years old which I also know is not true as nobody made my daughter go to University at 19 years old.

Kids generally graduate highschool in Thailand at 17 or 18 years old as in most other countries. If 15 years of schooling is compulsorily then they are either being forced to go to school at 2 & 3 years old or the Thai government is now paying and requiring attendance for the first couple years of university .... or I am missing something.

"Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old"

They don't have to, but if they do, it's free.

[mca]

We have to ensure that the students won't use the tablets improperly, like playing inappropriate games," Vorawat said.

He might be better off getting the police sitting on their <deleted> doing Sweet FA in those little boxes at each traffic junction to go round all the internet cafes and shopping malls thronging with kids during study hours to ask " Why aren't you in school?" I was in Central Ratchaburi the other day at 10am and it was like walking round a giant classroom.

[Nisa]

K1, K2, K3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 = 15

It appears it may have been changed to 15 in 2009 ... the government announced the extension of a mandatory free education from 12 years to 15 years in 2009. http://www.unicef.or.../education.html

However, there are numerous credible sites online that say education is only compulsory to "the age" of 15 years old. Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old as I know many Thais who enroll their kids in kindergarten at 5-years old and they never attended preschool. This would mean that they need to attend school until 20 years old which I also know is not true as nobody made my daughter go to University at 19 years old.

Kids generally graduate highschool in Thailand at 17 or 18 years old as in most other countries. If 15 years of schooling is compulsorily then they are either being forced to go to school at 2 & 3 years old or the Thai government is now paying and requiring attendance for the first couple years of university .... or I am missing something.

"Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old"

They don't have to, but if they do, it's free.

Agree -- just odd the OP states a number of times, "15-year free compulsory education policy" It just adds to the lack of credibility and possible bias in the article. It makes it sound like Thailand has one of the best education policies of any country while then going on to make ridiculous excuses as to hint why nobody will be seeing any tablets soon that if and when they are purchased will surely be done through companies owned by people of power.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[Nisa]

It appears it may have been changed to 15 in 2009 ... the government announced the extension of a mandatory free education from 12 years to 15 years in 2009. http://www.unicef.or.../education.html

However, there are numerous credible sites online that say education is only compulsory to "the age" of 15 years old. Also, I don't believe kids need to go to school before they are 5-years old as I know many Thais who enroll their kids in kindergarten at 5-years old and they never attended preschool. This would mean that they need to attend school until 20 years old which I also know is not true as nobody made my daughter go to University at 19 years old.

Im glad we have you here, to sort out this most pressing and urgent problem.

Do you prefer to talk about starving children or global economic conditions in a thread titled. 'No change to 15-year free compulsory education policy"

[thequietman]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Ususally down to some crappy 4 week course wonder who thinks they are a teacher.

no, usually down to the fact that the students turn up 20 minutes late, there is no co-teacher to supervise behaviour of the students, the text books are older than the kids, classes are cancelled so the kids can learn to cheer lead, thai teachers have already told the students that the 1 hour class is not important, the thai teachers have no respect for farrang and so the students dont, they will pick a handsome, young backpacker before they will take a more experienced older teacher, money issued for improvement of the english pepartment is spent on pretty flowers and posters that are grammatically incorrect because the thai teachers dont want to lose face by asking a farrang who will know,

i could give you reasons all day. dont slag off esl teachers, they are doing the best they can with the limited resources available and having to deal with this "face" crap on every corner. :jap:

[sirchai]

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

Cool. 6 year olds will know English in 6 months.

And they'll find xhamster pretty fast.........:jap:

[siampolee]

thequietman

No, usually down to the fact that the students turn up 20 minutes late, there is no co-teacher to supervise behaviour of the students, the text books are older than the kids, classes are cancelled so the kids can learn to cheer lead, Thai teachers have already told the students that the 1 hour class is not important, the Thai teachers have no respect for farang and so the students don't, They will pick a handsome, young backpacker before they will take a more experienced older teacher, money issued for improvement of the English Department is spent on pretty flowers and posters that are grammatically incorrect because the Thai teachers don't want to lose face by asking a farang who will know,

I could give you reasons all day. dont slag off E.S.L.. teachers, they are doing the best they can with the limited resources available and having to deal with this "face" crap on every corner.

Sad to say, " exactly on target."

The Thai curriculum specifies 20, yes 20 hours per semester for foreign language learning, take out all the lost lesson time in how to march and clap, the learn how to grovel classes and the average Thai child in the Thai public school system probably achieves 10 hours learning time. No problem as the school like all other Thai schools has a , " No fail policy."

Edited August 16, 2011 by siampolee

[LJW]

Am I mistaken but is not school in Thailand NOT free and compulsory for 15- years but IS free and compulsory until AGE 15?

15 years of education would mean they are paying for 2 or 3 years at University level.

I think it is 12 years.

According to Wikipedia ... Education in Thailand is provided mainly by the Thai government through the Ministry of Education from pre-school to senior high school. A free basic education of twelve years is guaranteed by the constitution, and a minimum of nine years' school attendance is mandatory. http://en.wikipedia....ion_in_Thailand

But the main point being is the OP seems to be clearly misstating facts.

Edit: but even the Wiki sentence appears to be a bit misleading because I don't believe all of high school is free. If they pay for 12 years and this includes preschool years (as stated) then it would not be free to finish high school unless high school doesn't go to the 12th grade.

Plus 3 years of Anuban (kindergarten)

[mca]

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

Cool. 6 year olds will know English in 6 months.

And they'll find xhamster pretty fast.........:jap:

Repeat after me students

" Busty Japanese Secretary Bukkake Facial"

[culicine]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Ususally down to some crappy 4 week course wonder who thinks they are a teacher.

no, usually down to the fact that the students turn up 20 minutes late, there is no co-teacher to supervise behaviour of the students, the text books are older than the kids, classes are cancelled so the kids can learn to cheer lead, thai teachers have already told the students that the 1 hour class is not important, the thai teachers have no respect for farrang and so the students dont, they will pick a handsome, young backpacker before they will take a more experienced older teacher, money issued for improvement of the english pepartment is spent on pretty flowers and posters that are grammatically incorrect because the thai teachers dont want to lose face by asking a farrang who will know,

i could give you reasons all day. dont slag off esl teachers, they are doing the best they can with the limited resources available and having to deal with this "face" crap on every corner. :jap:

These are exactly the reasons why not one so called "western certified teacher" has lasted more than 6 months in my school. Treatment of teachers is abysmal. Imagine being docked pay for being 1 minute late - schools like this treat teachers like factory workers. Fine, so when it hits 4.30 I'm straight out the door - no extra school work or prep for me at home thanks. When schools treat teachers professionally, they might start to act professionally.

[arthurwait]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Ususally down to some crappy 4 week course wonder who thinks they are a teacher.

no, usually down to the fact that the students turn up 20 minutes late, there is no co-teacher to supervise behaviour of the students, the text books are older than the kids, classes are cancelled so the kids can learn to cheer lead, thai teachers have already told the students that the 1 hour class is not important, the thai teachers have no respect for farrang and so the students dont, they will pick a handsome, young backpacker before they will take a more experienced older teacher, money issued for improvement of the english pepartment is spent on pretty flowers and posters that are grammatically incorrect because the thai teachers dont want to lose face by asking a farrang who will know,

i could give you reasons all day. dont slag off esl teachers, they are doing the best they can with the limited resources available and having to deal with this "face" crap on every corner. :jap:

D-

Way too many punctuation mistakes.

I take it you don't teach full stops and capital letters.

Would you honestly want someone who comes to Thailand for girls a third of his age teaching your teenage daughter over soeone young who isn't here for that reason ? :jap:

[KKK]

All this is very well but tell the schools. A kid I knew after was thrown out at 13 years old after only 6 years of schooling.

[craigt3365]

An inappropriate post has been removed, along with 2 associated replies. Apologies to the members with the replies, but they don't make sense after deleting the reported post. Hope you understand. :jap:

[Heng]

A step in the right direction, but the masses here and everywhere else will always be outgunned by those who from birth to death are better fed, breathing better air, and have access to far more resources in terms of education.

[thequietman]

waste of money buying sencored tablest.....

Upgrading english skills...???before hand out the tablet..........well then you better stock the tablets for many years...most thai students can't speak english...even if they go to class for a year!!

Ususally down to some crappy 4 week course wonder who thinks they are a teacher.

no, usually down to the fact that the students turn up 20 minutes late, there is no co-teacher to supervise behaviour of the students, the text books are older than the kids, classes are cancelled so the kids can learn to cheer lead, thai teachers have already told the students that the 1 hour class is not important, the thai teachers have no respect for farrang and so the students dont, they will pick a handsome, young backpacker before they will take a more experienced older teacher, money issued for improvement of the english pepartment is spent on pretty flowers and posters that are grammatically incorrect because the thai teachers dont want to lose face by asking a farrang who will know,

i could give you reasons all day. dont slag off esl teachers, they are doing the best they can with the limited resources available and having to deal with this "face" crap on every corner. :jap:

D-

Way too many punctuation mistakes.

I take it you don't teach full stops and capital letters.

Would you honestly want someone who comes to Thailand for girls a third of his age teaching your teenage daughter over soeone young who isn't here for that reason ? :jap:

oh please, I am competent in punctuation. for the purpose of posting its easier to do it this way. capitals are discouraged by the forum mods. take some time to read the rules.

I cant believe that you are inferring that older teachers are kiddie feelers. what kind of intelligent response is that towards the esl teachers in thailand.

the mods removed a post just like this previously, i hope they choose to remove this slur on esl teachers in thailand. you are a moron. :jerk:

Edited August 17, 2011 by thequietman