Historic Floods Disrupt Thai Education

[webfact]

Historic floods disrupt Thai education

BANGKOK, November 23, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's university drop-out rate is likely to shoot up after devastating floods kept schools closed for weeks and affected hundreds of thousands of students, officials said Wednesday.

Thailand's worst floods in decades, which have killed more than 600 people, have also caused an estimated seven billion baht ($224 million) in damage to educational facilities, Education Minister Worawat Ua-apinyakul told AFP.

"Some 2,600 educational institutes -- both public and private -- and around 700,000 people (involved in education) have been affected," he said.

The floods have damaged millions of Thai homes and livelihoods and as a result are hampering students' ability to pay their fees, said Sukhum Chaleysub, who runs opinion polls at Bangkok's Suan Dusit Rajabhat university.

"Because of the floods, they have told us they can't afford to pay their tuition and said they may have to drop out to help their families," he said.

Sukhum said the number of students who have said they cannot afford to pay their tuition bills has shot up to between 10 and 15 percent -- more than double the usual rate of around 5 percent.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said late Tuesday that hundreds of schools across the capital will be closed for another week, with many in flood-hit outer suburbs likely to stay shut until mid-December.

Around 15,000 flood evacuees are sheltering in the empty school buildings, which did not re-open after a month-long holiday ended early November, and these people will have to be moved before classes can resume, according to the BMA statement.

Arunee Ninkaew, who cares for her 10-year-old grandson Pornpiphat Jaadbanterng in the Don Mueang district of Bangkok, said she was worried he would fall behind with his school still shuttered by the flooding.

"But the school said it will open on December 6. They will finish classes at 4:00 pm instead of 3:00 pm and students will have to go to classes on Saturdays," Arunee told AFP.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-23

[Thai at Heart]

What odds they have sports day within the first week of going back to school?

[Credo]

It's not like they won't pass.

I sure hope they didn't forget how to sing the morning song or how to march!

[Thai at Heart]

It's not like they won't pass.

I sure hope they didn't forget how to sing the morning song or how to march!

When is teachers day? I doubt they will cancel one single days holiday.

[Scott]

We have been informed that most of our holidays will be canceled. The schools, I am sure, will have to follow the gov't mandated holidays, but that is it.

[Payboy]

Historic floods disrupt Thai education

I must've missed those! When was it? early 1600's?

[culicine]

What odds they have sports day within the first week of going back to school?

Ours is almost certainly cancelled. Normally our students finish early March, while we hang around at school until the end of March. Then April is a Holiday. Apparently we will be teaching till the end of March, and lost the Xmas vacation (a week). There will also be extra classes per week. All in all not a bad result, as only a week of holiday will be lost.

Also note that the BOI Fair was moved to early January and school in Nonthaburi might be thus asked to close another two weeks! I think however with the floods, schools should fight against that ruling given that we have already lost so much time.

[Thai at Heart]

What odds they have sports day within the first week of going back to school?

Ours is almost certainly cancelled. Normally our students finish early March, while we hang around at school until the end of March. Then April is a Holiday. Apparently we will be teaching till the end of March, and lost the Xmas vacation (a week). There will also be extra classes per week. All in all not a bad result, as only a week of holiday will be lost.

Also note that the BOI Fair was moved to early January and school in Nonthaburi might be thus asked to close another two weeks! I think however with the floods, schools should fight against that ruling given that we have already lost so much time.

Well I admit I was being a little glib, but from what I have seen in Thailand, holidays for schools are extremely sacrosanct. Of course they need to catch up. Funny thing they talk about being in school till 4 and having Sat morning, just wait until the private tutoring schools get up and bitch about losing business on Saturdays.

[Thunder26]

Forget about Christmas holidays and be ready to work on Saturdays up to the end of March. That's the reality, be happy if you are going to be paid for November and December(for flooded areas) as you are the lucky ones! TIT!

[foolforlove]

At my school, holidays have all been cancelled (except of course national holidays).

I think Sports Day (which actually last 3 days) is cancelled.

Definitely we were told all field trips are gone. And any "camps" like English Camp, Science Camp...cancelled.

For reasons not clear to me.... teaching on Saturdays is seen as a "good idea" whereas adding some weeks to the end of the school term is "bad".

I still believe Saturday classes are unworkable because....

a) the school property is used for other seminars etc on weekends

b ) students won't want to come on Saturday, so they just wont

c) tutoring schools will kick up a fit... both about Saturday but also lengthening Mon-Friday days

d) students have other duties like looking after their siblings or helping with their family's business

e) teachers, both Thai and foreigner, have families and also tutor students on weekends... so they won't want to give that up

My money is on this Saturday thing will go on about 4 weeks and then just fade away... perhaps after New Years, everyone will suddenly have amnesia and forget Saturdays...

Edited November 23, 2011 by foolforlove

[givenall]

wonder if the teachers get pay while at home?

[Thunder26]

At my school, holidays have all been cancelled (except of course national holidays).

I think Sports Day (which actually last 3 days) is cancelled.

Definitely we were told all field trips are gone. And any "camps" like English Camp, Science Camp...cancelled.

For reasons not clear to me.... teaching on Saturdays is seen as a "good idea" whereas adding some weeks to the end of the school term is "bad".

I still believe Saturday classes are unworkable because....

a) the school property is used for other seminars etc on weekends

b ) students won't want to come on Saturday, so they just wont

c) tutoring schools will kick up a fit... both about Saturday but also lengthening Mon-Friday days

d) students have other duties like looking after their siblings or helping with their family's business

e) teachers, both Thai and foreigner, have families and also tutor students on weekends... so they won't want to give that up

My money is on this Saturday thing will go on about 4 weeks and then just fade away... perhaps after New Years, everyone will suddenly have amnesia and forget Saturdays...

I really hope you are right. But I'm really worried about the schools which were actually flooded, Western and Northern Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Phatum Thani which might have a different strategy, making March the full teaching month plus Saturdays.

[rkidlad]

If they cancel all the silly activity days, I'm sure everyone would catch up very quickly. So many days of education are lost because the school want the kids to dress up and show off in a massive photo shoot.

I'm having great difficulty in claiming all my wages for the month of November. I'm not breaching my contract, but they are. I've paid a fortune in hotel fees over this month. Am I being selfish in demanding 100% salary for this month? That's not a rhetorical question.

[Scott]

It is going to be interesting on the 1st of December to see who gets paid and who doesn't. It's also going to be interesting to see if people get paid for Saturday--especially if they don't get paid for the extra time off.

[foolforlove]

At my school, holidays have all been cancelled (except of course national holidays).

I think Sports Day (which actually last 3 days) is cancelled.

Definitely we were told all field trips are gone. And any "camps" like English Camp, Science Camp...cancelled.

For reasons not clear to me.... teaching on Saturdays is seen as a "good idea" whereas adding some weeks to the end of the school term is "bad".

I still believe Saturday classes are unworkable because....

a) the school property is used for other seminars etc on weekends

b ) students won't want to come on Saturday, so they just wont

c) tutoring schools will kick up a fit... both about Saturday but also lengthening Mon-Friday days

d) students have other duties like looking after their siblings or helping with their family's business

e) teachers, both Thai and foreigner, have families and also tutor students on weekends... so they won't want to give that up

My money is on this Saturday thing will go on about 4 weeks and then just fade away... perhaps after New Years, everyone will suddenly have amnesia and forget Saturdays...

I really hope you are right. But I'm really worried about the schools which were actually flooded, Western and Northern Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Phatum Thani which might have a different strategy, making March the full teaching month plus Saturdays.

My school is in western Bangkok. The school itself did not flood. But all the surrounding areas where students and teachers live were.

In addition, flood refugees are still staying in the school grounds.

We are opening Dec 6th, as all schools are apparently.

[foolforlove]

If they cancel all the silly activity days, I'm sure everyone would catch up very quickly. So many days of education are lost because the school want the kids to dress up and show off in a massive photo shoot.

I'm having great difficulty in claiming all my wages for the month of November. I'm not breaching my contract, but they are. I've paid a fortune in hotel fees over this month. Am I being selfish in demanding 100% salary for this month? That's not a rhetorical question.

I don't think you are being selfish. You have a contract. You can be sure if the "shoe was on the other foot", the school would be demanding that you fulfill your side.

[rkidlad]

If they cancel all the silly activity days, I'm sure everyone would catch up very quickly. So many days of education are lost because the school want the kids to dress up and show off in a massive photo shoot.

I'm having great difficulty in claiming all my wages for the month of November. I'm not breaching my contract, but they are. I've paid a fortune in hotel fees over this month. Am I being selfish in demanding 100% salary for this month? That's not a rhetorical question.

I don't think you are being selfish. You have a contract. You can be sure if the "shoe was on the other foot", the school would be demanding that you fulfill your side.

Thanks. They keep telling me how Thailand has suffered, and I should show more compassion. I have shown compassion, and I have been affected. I'm just going by the contract and the fact I do actually need the money.

They keep telling me that I've had over a month off so why should I get paid. I keep telling them it's not been a holiday. I think the problem is that the thought of me being paid a full salary for no work makes them feel physically sick. Heaven knows they hate paying me for holidays.

[surangw]

NO refunds from private schools for missed time?

[falangjim]

Historic? Didn't these floods just happen? Maybe a flood from the past disrupted the TV editor's education.

[wayned]

I would ask them if the Thai teachers are being paid full salary or are they "compassionately" contributing the the flood victums and not paying their bills!

If they cancel all the silly activity days, I'm sure everyone would catch up very quickly. So many days of education are lost because the school want the kids to dress up and show off in a massive photo shoot.

I'm having great difficulty in claiming all my wages for the month of November. I'm not breaching my contract, but they are. I've paid a fortune in hotel fees over this month. Am I being selfish in demanding 100% salary for this month? That's not a rhetorical question.

I don't think you are being selfish. You have a contract. You can be sure if the "shoe was on the other foot", the school would be demanding that you fulfill your side.

Thanks. They keep telling me how Thailand has suffered, and I should show more compassion. I have shown compassion, and I have been affected. I'm just going by the contract and the fact I do actually need the money.

They keep telling me that I've had over a month off so why should I get paid. I keep telling them it's not been a holiday. I think the problem is that the thought of me being paid a full salary for no work makes them feel physically sick. Heaven knows they hate paying me for holidays.

[Abduljabbar01]

What sort of education system does Thailand supposed to have?

[Abduljabbar01]

Two American women had a job lined up at a some private school. Their agency didn’t even pay them on THB for being on contract. So, after waiting for almost two months. One of the girls called her mother back in the U.S. wired some money for her and her partner to come back. Last night, both of them packed their bags and flew back home to the U.S. last night.

[needforspeed]

I would ask them if the Thai teachers are being paid full salary or are they "compassionately" contributing the the flood victums and not paying their bills!

If they cancel all the silly activity days, I'm sure everyone would catch up very quickly. So many days of education are lost because the school want the kids to dress up and show off in a massive photo shoot.

I'm having great difficulty in claiming all my wages for the month of November. I'm not breaching my contract, but they are. I've paid a fortune in hotel fees over this month. Am I being selfish in demanding 100% salary for this month? That's not a rhetorical question.

I don't think you are being selfish. You have a contract. You can be sure if the "shoe was on the other foot", the school would be demanding that you fulfill your side.

Thanks. They keep telling me how Thailand has suffered, and I should show more compassion. I have shown compassion, and I have been affected. I'm just going by the contract and the fact I do actually need the money.

They keep telling me that I've had over a month off so why should I get paid. I keep telling them it's not been a holiday. I think the problem is that the thought of me being paid a full salary for no work makes them feel physically sick. Heaven knows they hate paying me for holidays.

Not sure but i guess that i have to pay the full school fees and most likely they have this contiguously trick that student need to do extra lessons for various topics just to generate extra income.

Seems fair to me that they pay their teachers during their forced holiday.

But this is Thailand and it isn't as most of us would do sadly.

[Squigy]

Historic floods disrupt Thai education

I must've missed those! When was it? early 1600's?

Maybe they have to reprint the Thai history books to include the "Great Flood of 2054" and the half hearted attempt to seek a pardon for the Dear Leader in exile!

[needforspeed]

What sort of education system does Thailand supposed to have?

No system, " a la minute " planning.

[CosmicSurfer]

Historic floods disrupt Thai education

I must've missed those! When was it? early 1600's?

Actually this is the correct usage of English...

"Historic" is referring to a current event that will be remembered in the Future as an Historical occurrence.

CS

[Payboy]

Historic floods disrupt Thai education

I must've missed those! When was it? early 1600's?

Actually this is the correct usage of English...

"Historic" is referring to a current event that will be remembered in the Future as an Historical occurrence.

CS

I was actually referring to the one that disrupted Thai education. It was certainly not the recent flood.

[culicine]

No fear, teach your kid at home during this extended break - they will learn more. That's what I've been doing, as I can't get to my school anyway. Class size of 1 is better than 36 for my son:)

[DocN]

Again, please! What is disrupted by the flood? I am still laughing!!!

[BinDhumm]

What sort of education system does Thailand supposed to have?

No system, " a la minute " planning.

I worked at a local school and could NOT discover a system at all.