Higher Education System Needs A Dramatic Upgrade: Thai Opinion

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EDITORIAL

Higher education system needs a dramatic upgrade

The Nation

Institutions are not generating critical thinkers or great technical graduates

Thai graduates could easily fail to get a job if the people who interviewed them were Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs. Although Microsoft founder Gates and Apple's Jobs had a different view on the purpose of higher education, Thai students may well have failed either way.

Gates believes college students should be encouraged to enter "well-correlated to areas that actually produce jobs" to drive the economy, while Jobs had the view that "it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing."

Thai graduates may well fail both standards, based on the two gurus' philosophies. While Gates would demand graduates with specific skills to feed demand in industries, many Thai college graduates have found their curriculum too broad to enable them to excel in certain areas.

Critical thinking

At the same time, the curriculum does not provide an environment to promote critical thinking by students. Thus, they did not match the purpose of higher education that the visionary Apple icon spoke about. Jobs would want to see college graduates who are not afraid to think outside the box and have an ability to be resilient.

Unfortunately, these skills are not the focus of our higher education system. The Thai college system does not help to drive the nation, by preparing the best human resources so that the Kingdom is competitive in the future.

The failure of our education system was recognised recently in a report by the World Bank. The bank said that the education system in East Asian countries failed to produce graduates who could respond to the labour demands.

The report said institutions of higher education could realise their full potential by providing skills and research that spur productivity and innovation, which is critical to achieving growth in a competitive global environment.

Challenges for our country

The World Bank's comment was not a surprise. But it is relevant, especially for Thailand. Annette Dixon, World Bank country director for Thailand, said: "Thailand has grown rapidly over the last several decades, but still faces the challenge of sustaining growth and climbing the income ladder, requiring further improvement in productivity."

Even without the recent warning from the World Bank, there is a general consensus that the Thai education system has to be reformed to prepare our students to be competitive in the future. Although the world is changing fast, the format and content of our education system has hardly changed over the past half a century.

One does not have to look far to find out what kind of

graduates that colleges should strive to produce in the future. Based on his speech, Gates would want students who technically excel in the area they choose to pursue. Jobs, meanwhile, would want employees who can transfer their liberal arts knowledge across different industries and combine their passion and entrepreneurial spirit to create exciting innovations for the company.

Thai educational institutions, meanwhile, allow our students to graduate as mediocre employees who fear to make mistakes. They do not learn how to efficiently communicate by giving reasons and arguments. Thus, Thais generally don't take criticism well, as they tend to be shy about making comments, albeit constructively, because they did not want to offend their bosses or feared that their comments might easily be construed as a personal attack against others. This work culture does not support a spirit of teamwork or critical thinking.

Meanwhile, most of the curriculum in Thai colleges focuses on a classroom format, which does not provide situations for students in which they have to make critical decisions, as in real life.

This environment is not conducive to producing graduates with a fearless innovative spirit. In short, our education system is unlikely to produce iconic entrepreneurs like Gates or Jobs anytime soon.

-- The Nation 2011-10-17

[backtonormal]

They do not learn how to efficiently communicate by giving reasons and arguments. Thus, Thais generally don't take criticism well, as they tend to be shy about making comments, albeit constructively, because they did not want to offend their bosses or feared that their comments might easily be construed as a personal attack against others. This work culture does not support a spirit of teamwork or critical thinking.

I have been reading the Ministry of Educations literature with regards to the curriculum and the roles of teachers and students within setting and achieving those targets. When this gov. is still promoting Thai-ness (words use in the publication, not mine) how the hell do they hope to prosper. Along with nationalism and a large emphasis on religion too much time is wasted at school.

Thai-ness, to me, is part of the reason people dont question people that they perceive as of a higher social standing. Nobodys asking 'why' so dont expect an improvement anytime soon. Maybe a start to make wai-ing illegal apart from wai-ing certain groups -ie the monarchy, monks etc. The Wai is a class thing, the higher your social status is the higher up the wai will be. eg Wai friend on chest, big policeman wai about nose level. If I get to meet the president of USA I will shake his hand , come to think of it I shake the bin mans hand when I give him a tip at Christmas.

[pogal]

Don't agree with getting rid of Waiing as, supposedly it is the Thais Wai to greet someone BUT I am very confused about when to wai. My close friends ask me not to wai them saying that it is too formal. My younger friends still wai me but those of the same age ask me not too anymore, they tell me we are close friends now and don't need too BUT then again I have other close friends who always Wai me, even we are of the same age and both teachers. So then... what is a Wai for? And why do some people cringe when I Wai back a maid that wai's me? I am told a Wai is a Thai way to greet people but why do some people of perceived superiority not Wai other perceived inferior people? In that case it ceases to be a general greeting and become a show of superiority or inferiority. Others say it is out of respect but in saying that if I greet someone out of respect with a Wai and they do not Wai me back, they DIS-respect me? It's all very confusing.... Can anyone shed some light on the act of Waiing and how it should or should not be used.

Lastly, I think that education is stifled by those they call Ajarn AMATA (Immortal teachers) who stay on until they are old and wrinkled, reviling in the superiority. They come up with bizzare curriculum's and ideas and no one can dare say anything. Even the younger Thai teachers talk about how inappropriate their ideas are but have no choice but to follow and do as they are told.

The same can be said for the "Education" Ministry. It's just a no win situation with constant battle against face saving and trying to appear to be innovative, finally though, as can be seen by the education levels here, it has become destructive.

Edited October 17, 2011 by pogal

[jaltsc]

Critical thinking leads to questioning the status quo in order to obtain concrete answers which will eventually lead to change in the system. This is one of the impetuses driving the Occupy Wall Street movement. A situation I am sure the powers in Thailand never want to experience. The bottom line is that you can't have it both ways.

[wintermute]

The system is working exactly as it should. The elite send their kids to elite institutions around the world (Oxford, Harvard, etc..) to get a real education and are groomed to secure the positions of power back home whether in business or government. The Thai masses are taught to be nationalistic, religious, superstitious, and backwards thinking with minds that are only concerned with the present. Once you preserve the real education on the top then you don't have to ever worry about much competition or unrest from the bottom.

You may have a few people from the masses who manage to scramble their way to the top but they are the rare outliers in society and it's very rare in Thailand without connections.

[EyesWideOpen]

This is too easy.........Solution is to restrict all the hi-sos from sending their children overseas to school for higher education. You would then see the colleges here revamped overnight !!

[verywierd]

<br />Don't agree with getting rid of Waiing as, supposedly it is the Thais Wai to greet someone BUT I am very confused about when to wai. My close friends ask me not to wai them saying that it is too formal. My younger friends still wai me but those of the same age ask me not too anymore, they tell me we are close friends now and don't need too BUT then again I have other close friends who always Wai me, even we are of the same age and both teachers. So then... what is a Wai for? And why do some people cringe when I Wai back a maid that wai's me? I am told a Wai is a Thai way to greet people but why do some people of perceived superiority not Wai other perceived inferior people? In that case it ceases to be a general greeting and become a show of superiority or inferiority. Others say it is out of respect but in saying that if I greet someone out of respect with a Wai and they do not Wai me back, they DIS-respect me? It's all very confusing.... Can anyone shed some light on the act of Waiing and how it should or should not be used. Lastly, I think that education is stifled by those they call Ajarn AMATA (Immortal teachers) who stay on until they are old and wrinkled, reviling in the superiority. They come up with bizzare curriculum's and ideas and no one can dare say anything. Even the younger Thai teachers talk about how inappropriate their ideas are but have no choice but to follow and do as they are told. The same can be said for the "Education" Ministry. It's just a no win situation with constant battle against face saving and trying to appear to be innovative, finally though, as can be seen by the education levels here, it has become destructive.

Back home did you shake the hand of every waiter, maid, valet etc. that you met? Did you reach across counters to shake the hands of the staff behind them? Did you offer to shake the hand of a policeman whom you stopped to ask directions from? Did you shake the hands of little girls in the playground? (I'm assuming you are male.)

Would you consider a long, lingering handshake appropriate with a person of the opposite sex that you just met? Would you use a knuckle crushing grip with a woman? Would a (hetrosexual) man lift another man's fingers to his lips?

All physical forms of greeting have their own peculiar subtleties. They can be a simple greeting, a struggle for dominance, a romantic invitation, or even a put down. The Japanese, for instance, have very precise angles for their bows, depending on the situation and the person they are bowing to.

The Wai has the added dimension of also being used in prayer.

When uncertain, stick with your own familiar form of greeting, or just smile and nod your head. Use the Wai when you really know the message you are conveying.

[chinook]

We're dealing with a culture that translates the word

'worry' as 'think too much'. They prefer rote learning rather than risk the embarrassment of exposing their own conclusions or lack of. Just getting them to wire and plumb a house properly....good grief.

[chinook]

Don't agree with getting rid of Waiing as, supposedly it is the Thais Wai to greet someone BUT I am very confused about when to wai. My close friends ask me not to wai them saying that it is too formal. My younger friends still wai me but those of the same age ask me not too anymore, they tell me we are close friends now and don't need too BUT then again I have other close friends who always Wai me, even we are of the same age and both teachers. So then... what is a Wai for? And why do some people cringe when I Wai back a maid that wai's me? I am told a Wai is a Thai way to greet people but why do some people of perceived superiority not Wai other perceived inferior people? In that case it ceases to be a general greeting and become a show of superiority or inferiority. Others say it is out of respect but in saying that if I greet someone out of respect with a Wai and they do not Wai me back, they DIS-respect me? It's all very confusing.... Can anyone shed some light on the act of Waiing and how it should or should not be used.

Lastly, I think that education is stifled by those they call Ajarn AMATA (Immortal teachers) who stay on until they are old and wrinkled, reviling in the superiority. They come up with bizzare curriculum's and ideas and no one can dare say anything. Even the younger Thai teachers talk about how inappropriate their ideas are but have no choice but to follow and do as they are told.

The same can be said for the "Education" Ministry. It's just a no win situation with constant battle against face saving and trying to appear to be innovative, finally though, as can be seen by the education levels here, it has become destructive.

It's pretty straight forward.... wai older people first, waitresses etc a quick wai or nod of the head, never wai younger people first, brings them bad luck. People own age group and social status; wai.

[scorecard]

We're dealing with a culture that translates the word

'worry' as 'think too much'. They prefer rote learning rather than risk the embarrassment of exposing their own conclusions or lack of. Just getting them to wire and plumb a house properly....good grief.

Not quite that simple.

It's true that in many areas of Thailand people are taught, from very young, that thinking is for the village pooyai / the high people etc., and the rest should just just follow instructions (and not think).

But, I have taught many bachelor degree programs and masters programs and coachesd Ph.D. students here in Thailand (all in English), when you push the students to think and to talk (hard at first) and give the students lots of interesting case studies etc., they do quickly start to think and analyse and to talk up. Plus some rules; 'no contribution whatever in class work, you cannot get an A grading for the semester', etc., helps.

Here's a twist - a couple of years ago in a Bachelor of Business program, we had a long chapter on 'Problem Analysis and Problem Solving'. I invented a case study which had lots of complications including the factory burning down and a requirement that all services to all customers still be fulfilled on time. The students, in small teams had one week to develop an answer and then make a 30 minute team presentation of their analysis points, resolution ideas plus SWOT analysis, final resolution strategy to be adopted, etc.

One of the students asked me: "Do you have the correct answer to give us at the end of the case study presentations?"

I answered "No, there is no perfect / correct answer, your challenge is to make a detailed analysis and then create the best possible solution. The team which creates some very clever 'out of the box' strategies will get the highest grade, but there is no guarantee of an A grading, that depends on how clever the strategy is and it must be a strategy which ensures that all promises to all customers are fulfilled on time."

The student (an outspoken young man) was shocked that I did not have a perfect correct answer and told me so, and he was shocked that to get an A grading, the teams did not have to have an answer which mirrored the perfect / correct answer to the case study. He told one of his Thai lecturers about this and she (lecturer) complained to the dean about my unprofessional work. The dean disagreed with the criticism and told the Thai lecturer to sit-in on my classes and learn how to get some discussion and thinking started (but she never did).

Edited October 17, 2011 by scorecard

[Abduljabbar01]

I believe most educators and teachers feel the same way, after they've been here for awhile. The same issue facing Thailand's Education system for Higher Education is about the same in the U.S.

In the U.S. most students freshly out of High School are ill-equipped with the challenges that Colleges and Universities require. Most students as commented from a few of my fellow professors. Students have to be retrained in the basics of Math, Science, English and so on, just to rise to the level of 3rd and 4th year studies.

Thai students who study in Government schools and have a desire to go abroad and have not prepared or seen what other Universities abroad require. They are doomed to coming back to the nest and starting over here. We tell the safe or the administrators. “We know what to expect in Universities abroad, the demands and standards of University life, and we can help them prepare and not kill themselves in the process. “

Though, Thai don't listen the realities of the real world.

Basically, as stated before. Thai government needs to have a shared cooperation between education bodies from abroad. People who know what to do and how to reform or add new perspectives. Not to waste time doing the same style of education as before. Completely pointless.

Curriculum design is something which should be performed by a combination of Thai teachers, parents, community groups, local foreign teachers and lastly outside experts. To help Thai students be put on the right direction to success and to help them accomplish their goals.

[Tanaka]

I believe most educators and teachers feel the same way, after they've been here for awhile. The same issue facing Thailand's Education system for Higher Education is about the same in the U.S.

In the U.S. most students freshly out of High School are ill-equipped with the challenges that Colleges and Universities require. Most students as commented from a few of my fellow professors. Students have to be retrained in the basics of Math, Science, English and so on, just to rise to the level of 3rd and 4th year studies.

Thai students who study in Government schools and have a desire to go abroad and have not prepared or seen what other Universities abroad require. They are doomed to coming back to the nest and starting over here. We tell the safe or the administrators. “We know what to expect in Universities abroad, the demands and standards of University life, and we can help them prepare and not kill themselves in the process. “

Though, Thai don't listen the realities of the real world.

Basically, as stated before. Thai government needs to have a shared cooperation between education bodies from abroad. People who know what to do and how to reform or add new perspectives. Not to waste time doing the same style of education as before. Completely pointless.

Curriculum design is something which should be performed by a combination of Thai teachers, parents, community groups, local foreign teachers and lastly outside experts. To help Thai students be put on the right direction to success and to help them accomplish their goals.

The Real World? You miss the point. To Thais, Thailand is the World so it is not necessary to be concerned about other countries.

[scorecard]

<br />Don't agree with getting rid of Waiing as, supposedly it is the Thais Wai to greet someone BUT I am very confused about when to wai. My close friends ask me not to wai them saying that it is too formal. My younger friends still wai me but those of the same age ask me not too anymore, they tell me we are close friends now and don't need too BUT then again I have other close friends who always Wai me, even we are of the same age and both teachers. So then... what is a Wai for? And why do some people cringe when I Wai back a maid that wai's me? I am told a Wai is a Thai way to greet people but why do some people of perceived superiority not Wai other perceived inferior people? In that case it ceases to be a general greeting and become a show of superiority or inferiority. Others say it is out of respect but in saying that if I greet someone out of respect with a Wai and they do not Wai me back, they DIS-respect me? It's all very confusing.... Can anyone shed some light on the act of Waiing and how it should or should not be used. Lastly, I think that education is stifled by those they call Ajarn AMATA (Immortal teachers) who stay on until they are old and wrinkled, reviling in the superiority. They come up with bizzare curriculum's and ideas and no one can dare say anything. Even the younger Thai teachers talk about how inappropriate their ideas are but have no choice but to follow and do as they are told. The same can be said for the "Education" Ministry. It's just a no win situation with constant battle against face saving and trying to appear to be innovative, finally though, as can be seen by the education levels here, it has become destructive.

Back home did you shake the hand of every waiter, maid, valet etc. that you met? Did you reach across counters to shake the hands of the staff behind them? Did you offer to shake the hand of a policeman whom you stopped to ask directions from? Did you shake the hands of little girls in the playground? (I'm assuming you are male.)

Would you consider a long, lingering handshake appropriate with a person of the opposite sex that you just met? Would you use a knuckle crushing grip with a woman? Would a (hetrosexual) man lift another man's fingers to his lips?

All physical forms of greeting have their own peculiar subtleties. They can be a simple greeting, a struggle for dominance, a romantic invitation, or even a put down. The Japanese, for instance, have very precise angles for their bows, depending on the situation and the person they are bowing to.

The Wai has the added dimension of also being used in prayer.

When uncertain, stick with your own familiar form of greeting, or just smile and nod your head. Use the Wai when you really know the message you are conveying.

Another point. I recall during my studies of human behavior something called 'the mask of politeness', meaning that some societies are very polite in terms of an initial greeting but it is a mask over the real everyday level of politeness, and it can obviously be a small mask or a big mask.

[Emster23]

My wife recently got her master's degree from a certain "hi so" university. I was not impressed and also got angry from time to time due to the stories she would tell of how things are arranged.

Even though many if not most of the ajarns have degrees from foreign universities, they seemed to have missed the important lesson of just what an education is about in terms of climates that encourage thinking and questioning "conventional wisdom" and authority.

Her advisor ran his department like a third world dictator.

He spent more time criticizing and insulting students for errors in punctuation and form rather than content of their work.

He told them to dedicate their theses to him (not ask, tell).

He told one male student to go and tuck in his shirt (this is graduate school, no uniforms). Imagine a professor doing that in the USA!

Students were never taught to "think outside the box", but rather were slammed if they ever questioned him or his methods.

He would waste whole classes telling students about how great he was and his accomplishments.

I was a teacher for many many years in the USA. My main focus was in teaching students how to think, locate information and apply it to whatever problem might come their way. Memorization is a waste of time in the age of the internet. Being able to find information that is relevant is what counts.

Thailand's system makes me think that it is similar to what may have happened when writing was invented.

"You must memorize this story, epic poem, whatever".

"But professor, this is already written down, wouldn't understanding the meaning be more important?"

This kind of upstart question would lead to a severe fail for lack of kreng jai.....

Edited October 19, 2011 by Emster23

[scorecard]

Critical thinking leads to questioning the status quo in order to obtain concrete answers which will eventually lead to change in the system. This is one of the impetuses driving the Occupy Wall Street movement. A situation I am sure the powers in Thailand never want to experience. The bottom line is that you can't have it both ways.

Also, when you have experienced 12 years of Primary and High school education in a Thai Govt., school, never been allowed to ask a question and told by your teachers that that you don't need to ask questions / never been prompted to anaylze, then forming a question is not easy.