This Government Does Our Children No Favours: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

This government does our children no favours

The Nation

Short-term populist policies in education will leave Thai students at a serious disadvantage in a highly competitive new world

BANGKOK: -- In a fast-changing world and the challenges that come with it, many people in Thailand - from parents to business leaders - are wondering if children are getting the right kind of education needed to face these difficulties.

It is really sad to say that we have not seen any meaningful effort by the government to address this very important issue.

The fact that Woravat Auapinyakul stayed at the helm of the Education Ministry for just five months is testimony to the fact that this government is more concerned about helping its own people - Pheu Thai Party lackies who are waiting in line to be rewarded for their contribution to the party's election victory - than it is about the education of our young people.

Over this past decade, five administrations under the direct and indirect leadership of Thaksin Shinawatra have led the country. The post at the Education Ministry has always been given to the Thaksin camp. Unfortunately, nothing has improved. This is despite the fact that the government allocates a massive budget to finance educational programmes every year.

What we have witnessed over the years are short-term policies aimed at ensuring the incumbent government is re-elected.

Prior to coming to power in 2001, Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party came up with the "One District, One Scholarship" project. The idea was to give students from rural schools a better chance to obtain a scholarship to study overseas. Cultural orientation was not taken into consideration, and one student committed suicide because of culture shock. The Lab School project sounded interesting at first, but when it came to implementation and handing over the needed resources and technical assistance, many began to have doubts about the sincerity of the government. There have been growing complaints from head teachers in rural areas who cannot find the money to maintain computers and IT infrastructure. The demands and expectations placed on these school directors were ridiculously high. One director in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district killed herself because she could not meet the expectations of the government, much less find the money to support the scheme.

Education was not exactly Thaksin's favourite political tool. He made a wise choice in 2001 by appointing Dr Kasem Watanachai as his first education minister, shortly after coming into power. But it didn't take long for Kasem to see the insincerity on Thaksin's part, and he decided to quit. Kasem was later appointed a privy councillor. After the resignation, Thaksin decided to take over the post. That lasted for five months. Over the next 18 months or so, Thailand would see three different education ministers - Suwit Khunkitti, Pongpon Adireksarn and Adisai Bodharamik, respectively. None of them are known as educators, although they are well versed in gutter politics.

Following re-election in 2005, the Education portfolio went to Adisai again, but soon afterwards it was passed on to Chaturon Chaisang, a man with a relatively better head on his shoulders than other Thaksin cronies previously appointed to the post. And then there was the coup of 2006, the dissolution of Thai Rak Thai, and the birth of its proxy, the People Power Party (PPP), which won the election in 2007. In line with past practice, PPP came up with populist policies that included high-speed Internet for schools and teachers' debt restructure.

After the court dissolved the PPP, the Pheu Thai Party, the latest Thaksin proxy, won a new mandate in late 2011. The Pheu Thai-led government announced a plan to hand out computer tablets to all students and revive the One District One Scholarship scheme.

No one doubts the popularity of these initiatives, but they will not address the shortcomings of our education system or improve the quality of our teachers. Our political environment is simply failing to help students face the challenges of the future.

Unless the government stops thinking about the ballot box and begins to focus on the real educational needs of our children, we can be certain that Thailand's youth will not be prepared for a more challenging tomorrow. And this includes the immediate future, with the advent of the Asean Economic Community in 2015. Thailand is now in serious danger of being left behind in the field of education. The most worrying part is that the longer we continue with short-sighted populist policies, the harder it will be to catch up with our neighbours and the rest of the world.

-- The Nation 2012-02-02

[noitom]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail.

The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

[OzMick]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education?

The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

[noitom]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education?

The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

"Sorting" out the problems or better, making effective changes is a government function. Governments respond to media and public opinion and critical examination. This government is no more culpable than any other of the Thai governments for the general state of educational deterioration. This government didn't create the failed educational system, tea money, graft, corruption, inept teacher qualifications, and illegal copying and distribution of intellectual property such as software and textbooks. The newspaper "being quite kind" is exactly at the foundation of the problem. The Thai media is controlled by the establishment that actually discourages learning and thinking because it is not in their financial and social interest. It is not a newspaper's role to be "quite kind." They are to tell the truth, establish basis and fact, and represent public opinion for developmental change. The press continually covers an issue from a delusional out touch with reality point of view

[Jerrytheyoung]

A cancer is destroying the Thai Society from inside: it is the lack of ethical behaviors, egocentrism: everybody looking for its immediate wellfare.

• It is true for the politicians (I have heard some comparing their politician engagement as a "business")
  
• it is true for the administration
  
• and it is true for the Educational staff more interested by their own career than by teaching improvements.
  

missing at all levels, the notion of superior general interest superseding own interests.

[E1717007]

"Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure."

i see a lot of thai students in singapore for education ^^

[hellodolly]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail.

The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

I agree with you about the press failing to follow through with meaningful non biased news.

What has the past governments got to do with what this government is doing. They do not have to keep up the same old charades of their predecessors. They can throw politics out the window and get a qualified minister for the job. The only thing holding them back is the fear that if they do give Thailand a decent education system they might not get reelected.

That is part of the problem the public is happy to say the government never did it before so it justifies them not doing it now.

[OzMick]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education? The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

"Sorting" out the problems or better, making effective changes is a government function. Governments respond to media and public opinion and critical examination. This government is no more culpable than any other of the Thai governments for the general state of educational deterioration. This government didn't create the failed educational system, tea money, graft, corruption, inept teacher qualifications, and illegal copying and distribution of intellectual property such as software and textbooks. The newspaper "being quite kind" is exactly at the foundation of the problem. The Thai media is controlled by the establishment that actually discourages learning and thinking because it is not in their financial and social interest. It is not a newspaper's role to be "quite kind." They are to tell the truth, establish basis and fact, and represent public opinion for developmental change. The press continually covers an issue from a delusional out touch with reality point of view

So the govrt that has done nothing for most of ten years gets a pass - its all down to someone else. Blaming previous govts works for about 6 months, after that it starts to get petty, after 10 years when you have achieved SFA, it is a joke.

Face it, Thaksin has a support base of the poor, uneducated and illiterate, and he likes it that way. As soon as people start to count past 10 without taking off their shoes, they might start to count his money and work out how he got it.

And the "quite kind" example hs been raised in the press any number of times, but they refrained on this instance.

[Moruya]

_{The ATM party has the perfect solution for Thailand's children.}

_{A million useless tablets}

[scorecard]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education?

The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

"Sorting" out the problems or better, making effective changes is a government function. Governments respond to media and public opinion and critical examination. This government is no more culpable than any other of the Thai governments for the general state of educational deterioration. This government didn't create the failed educational system, tea money, graft, corruption, inept teacher qualifications, and illegal copying and distribution of intellectual property such as software and textbooks. The newspaper "being quite kind" is exactly at the foundation of the problem. The Thai media is controlled by the establishment that actually discourages learning and thinking because it is not in their financial and social interest. It is not a newspaper's role to be "quite kind." They are to tell the truth, establish basis and fact, and represent public opinion for developmental change. The press continually covers an issue from a delusional out touch with reality point of view

So your saying that this (or any governemnt) is not responsible to take the lead, it should just wait until there is some form of public / media pressure.

[sparebox2]

Giving out iPad to kids will only make them stupider.

Because they will just use to to multiply 2 by 2.

[renaissanc]

Thailand may not shine in teaching school and university subjects, but Thailand is one of the global leaders in teaching how to be corrupt, devious, and dishonest. You can even become Prime Minister with these qualities.

[noitom]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education?

The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

"Sorting" out the problems or better, making effective changes is a government function. Governments respond to media and public opinion and critical examination. This government is no more culpable than any other of the Thai governments for the general state of educational deterioration. This government didn't create the failed educational system, tea money, graft, corruption, inept teacher qualifications, and illegal copying and distribution of intellectual property such as software and textbooks. The newspaper "being quite kind" is exactly at the foundation of the problem. The Thai media is controlled by the establishment that actually discourages learning and thinking because it is not in their financial and social interest. It is not a newspaper's role to be "quite kind." They are to tell the truth, establish basis and fact, and represent public opinion for developmental change. The press continually covers an issue from a delusional out touch with reality point of view

So your saying that this (or any governemnt) is not responsible to take the lead, it should just wait until there is some form of public / media pressure.

I'm saying that the educational system deterioration requires a shift in society's attitudes. There are too many issues at the core of the problem for any one "tenuous" Thai government to act on. They can barely keep the army off their backs let alone, change the tea money, teaching standards, and graft systems. It is the media that can create a "sea change shift" in society by teling the truth, exposing problems, being fair and objective, avoiding denial, and providing information about choices to the people. And sticking to it until changes get demanded by the people and then acted on by the whatever tenuous government is on watch.

[moe666]

A few good post here absolving the government responsibility and blaming the press. How about the government start taking responsibility for what is there job., ensureing a decent education, and the PTP supporters stop shifting the blame.

The post shifting the blame was done very skillfully maybe N should be in charge of the Education Department.

[Rammstein]

Short and simple answer, knowledge is power,and that's the last thing any Thai government wants the masses to have

They want Thai people destitute so they can throw them a couple of hundred baht to write their name down for an election or put a colored shirt on an demonstrate against anything they are told to

[Gweiloman]

So your saying that this (or any governemnt) is not responsible to take the lead, it should just wait until there is some form of public / media pressure.

I'm saying that the educational system deterioration requires a shift in society's attitudes. There are too many issues at the core of the problem for any one "tenuous" Thai government to act on. They can barely keep the army off their backs let alone, change the tea money, teaching standards, and graft systems. It is the media that can create a "sea change shift" in society by teling the truth, exposing problems, being fair and objective, avoiding denial, and providing information about choices to the people. And sticking to it until changes get demanded by the people and then acted on by the whatever tenuous government is on watch.

I agree with pretty much all that you have said. Give up trying to convince the Thaksin haters that this is a much more deep rooted issue dating back decades. They are so blinded by their hatred (God knows why) that they can't see beyond their noses.

[virtualtraveller]

Since a well educated offspring in Thailand is your ticket to a prosperous retirement stipend it's alarming that the masses at the ballot box don't realise how they are being short-changed; they're too uneducated that's why, and that is the key to a Peua Thai type political party sustaining its popularity. When the masses finally wake up and start voting for a party with a sensible and genuine plan to overhaul education in this country, they will finally break their bonds of poverty. Pity so many see 'a tablet for every 6 year old' as a clever idea for making your kid smart.

[Gianni77]

Kill themselves because of bad education policies, sorry, a bit extreme, they must have been some other reasons. But yes, I agree in general with the idea, there has been more efforts to help Thaksin than to help improve education.

Populist policies can win elections, but they are doing nothing for these kids to improve. Come on!!! A tablet for these kids? There are more important things to do with money than a tablet PC. Start with better books and better teacher, more training for teachers and more focus on quality rather than toys. I'm sure you will see these tablets going around with kids playing angry birds and not really learning english or history, dumb... can't find another word.

Have a nice day everyone.

[belg]

hey, thailand is a rice farming land, who needs well educated people anyway ?

[harryfrompattaya]

hey, thailand is a rice farming land, who needs well educated people anyway ?

Most of the world has two much edcation for the jobs.

Look at Europe and US they are losing jobs to countries with cheap labor cost.

[LomSak27]

Noitom posted:

"The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof"

Unfortunatly that is the big problem of The Nation and The Democratic Party in general. Great carping but when they are in power they don't give a dam about education in Thailand and, of course, in rural Thailand. They then wonder why they get beaten like a leperous waterbuffalo at elections.

When Thaksin and PT have enemies like this no wonder they keep winning

[jeffcool]

Short and simple answer, knowledge is power,and that's the last thing any Thai government wants the masses to have

They want Thai people destitute so they can throw them a couple of hundred baht to write their name down for an election

Can you believe the masses being educated???? Red as Yellow would dissappear as they would be understood by their "peasant"...

Thailand is still a very much feudal system..... Why educate the masses???? They would lose their power overnight.....

[Reasonableman]

Giving out iPad to kids will only make them stupider.

Because they will just use to to multiply 2 by 2.

and "len internet", if they possibly can

[TackyToo]

Let’s keep it simple.

As long as the ruling class has no interest in educating the masses as they are much easier to handle, nothing will change. It shames to witness Thai kids are taught only on subjects that secures the status quo and even this only to a convenient level. The elite just occupy the positions to keep it this way while they send their own spoiled brats to universities accepting money for degrees and diplomas of these future “influential persons.”

“Depriving the youth from education in combination with censorship is the living confession of the ‘privileged elite’ that they are only capable to govern stupefied slaves, but not free humans and nations!”

In the case of Thailand- doesn’t it work perfectly for those in charge? After generations living under these rules the parents, teachers and students don’t even know about how to improve their situation anymore because critical reflection and common sense is not welcome in class rooms. And who of them even have a clue of the true meaning of the word democracy? That’s what you get when you take 300 Bt for your vote and get ripped off hundredfold after the “elected” harvest their crop!

The politician’s motto in Thailand seems to be: Let’s keep them simple!

[BigJohnnyBKK]

A cancer is destroying the Thai Society from inside: it is the lack of ethical behaviors, egocentrism: everybody looking for its immediate wellfare.

• It is true for the politicians (I have heard some comparing their politician engagement as a "business")
  
• it is true for the administration
  
• and it is true for the Educational staff more interested by their own career than by teaching improvements.
  

missing at all levels, the notion of superior general interest superseding own interests.

This is absolutely true, but I would be very surprised if the situation has ever been different, not just here but in any country.

I think it is very rare for those with the wealth and power (ie the ability to make major changes) to genuinely care about those that need the help the most, or even the "community" as a whole.

The elite of Thailand sends its children to private schools, often overseas. This fact combines with an economic system that isn't fully competitive, doesn't reward on merit and performance as much as family/social connections.

The end result is that an incompetent public education system is just another way to ensure their family empires will continue to dominate the Thai political/economic system into the future.

The fact that the country as a whole is put at a relative disadvantage - the "whole pie" doesn't grow as fast and well as it should - is much less important to them than the welfare of their immediate network.

The same reason is behind the everlasting endemic corruption.

Real change will only come from strident organized revolt at the grassroots level, but I'm afraid such a scenario seems very unlikely for myriad reasons, at least within our lifetimes. . .

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Most of the world has two much edcation for the jobs.

Look at Europe and US they are losing jobs to countries with cheap labor cost.

Education's purpose isn't economics, more the other way around. There's nothing wrong from a social POV to have PhD's driving taxis and waiting tables, a much less harmful waste of resources than drugs, military waste and corruption.

And as globalization tends to equalize conditions, those developing nations with more-developed quality education for the masses will do much better than those that base their strategy on low wages.

[whybother]

Unfortunatly that is the big problem of The Nation and The Democratic Party in general. Great carping but when they are in power they don't give a dam about education in Thailand and, of course, in rural Thailand. They then wonder why they get beaten like a leperous waterbuffalo at elections.

When Thaksin and PT have enemies like this no wonder they keep winning

What has Thaksin or his proxy parties done for education in the years that they have been in power? The Democrats made education cheaper during their term. PTP changed this so they could pay for the tablets.

[scorecard]

So your saying that this (or any governemnt) is not responsible to take the lead, it should just wait until there is some form of public / media pressure.

I'm saying that the educational system deterioration requires a shift in society's attitudes. There are too many issues at the core of the problem for any one "tenuous" Thai government to act on. They can barely keep the army off their backs let alone, change the tea money, teaching standards, and graft systems. It is the media that can create a "sea change shift" in society by teling the truth, exposing problems, being fair and objective, avoiding denial, and providing information about choices to the people. And sticking to it until changes get demanded by the people and then acted on by the whatever tenuous government is on watch.

I agree with pretty much all that you have said. Give up trying to convince the Thaksin haters that this is a much more deep rooted issue dating back decades. They are so blinded by their hatred (God knows why) that they can't see beyond their noses.

I repond to your last sentence:

- There is no doubt at all that this subject should have been addressed decades ago and all past governments have some resposnibility for the current poor education system and more importantly, the lack of quality of teachers and the poor quality of results.

- There is also a valid point that thaksin lead governments have had approx. 10 years to start to effect change but they have done nothing at all. Zero.

- ...'blinded by their hatred (of thaksin), God knows why'... For me we come back to the crux of this matter. I have worked in Thailand for around three decades, I have children born her, now adults with their own young families. I had hoped that by now my son would have seen a better Thailand, much less corruption, better qaulity of life for a large % of the population etc., and capable and moral people running the country with good focus on matters like education and more.

It didn't happen and it won't happen until the public at large realise the severe downside of people like the paymaster and the long-term damage he and his immoral / no values 'get rich quick' cronies and leeches have done to this wonderful country.

Therefore I will continue to make my feelings known about this man and his ruthless immoral hangers-on in the hope that it helps to educate others to what is wrong, and helps in terms of stopping the current situation, and helps to move towards something better.

The thread is actually about education. My son is a fully qualified teacher (graduated here in Thailand) but for some time he went to school in Singapore. And after graduating in Thailand he has gone back to S'pore for further short-term education in his chosen field.

He often tells me about discussions with others teachers / discussions with the headmaster of his (Thai) school etc. He wrings his hands in utter frustration for the lack of focus by administrators, lack of planning, lack of knowledge about education theory, childhood development etc etc., and the lack of proper teacher training, poor materials, lack of equipment, lack of up to date teaching aids, lack of focus on credible results (very much coming from his S'pore experience), the lack of pressure on teachers to perform, and more.

He did try a few times to carefully share the positive education experiences he had in Singapore, he quickly stopped doing it because of the very negative responses from the other teachers.

Change will take a long-time, it should have started a long time ago.

Edited February 2, 2012 by scorecard

[Bakseedaa]

The deterioration of the Thai educational system, the poor quality and abilities of its students, and the appalling quality of Thai teaching has been going on for decades. The current government can't be held up as anymore culpable than the dozens of governments before it. They are merely falling in line with the "tradition" and the concept that Thai education is masquerading as some sort of true learning experience and preparation for students. Thai educators and parents have done nothing to change the course of its failure. They buy their way in, don't have any interest in seeing that the students actually take away learning value, and it is generally set up to fail. The newspaper continues to carp and whine about this day after day, month after month whenever they have an axe to grind about some politician who can be woven in to the education thread. The newspaper has never taken up this education banner seriously with a commitment to affect change. It has never been relentless in attempting to root out graft, corruption in the teaching system, student learning skills or lack thereof. How many students or parents for that matter, actually read newspapers Thai or English in Thailand? This is a major learning problem. Ask any student or parent where the nearest library or book store is and you get dumbfounded stares. The newspaper should face the facts and call a spade a spade and start pointing out the true issues and pounding the table relentlessly on the real issues. Not doing so and remaining in denial is enabling the continued deterioration of Thai education.

The Thaksinistas have been in power for most of the last 10 years - why do they not bear most of the culpability for the current state of education?

The Nation is pointing out (factually) that there are minimal achievements by them in this area, and that the ministry has been used as a payoff for cronies. Sorting out the problems is a function of the government, not a newspaper. In fact, it was quite kind of them NOT to mention that one of the few positive policies (subsidised/free texts and uniforms) has been abandoned for a pie-in-the-sky tablet scheme.

"Sorting" out the problems or better, making effective changes is a government function. Governments respond to media and public opinion and critical examination. This government is no more culpable than any other of the Thai governments for the general state of educational deterioration. This government didn't create the failed educational system, tea money, graft, corruption, inept teacher qualifications, and illegal copying and distribution of intellectual property such as software and textbooks. The newspaper "being quite kind" is exactly at the foundation of the problem. The Thai media is controlled by the establishment that actually discourages learning and thinking because it is not in their financial and social interest. It is not a newspaper's role to be "quite kind." They are to tell the truth, establish basis and fact, and represent public opinion for developmental change. The press continually covers an issue from a delusional out touch with reality point of view

Duhhh ..............!

[Soi Sauce]

You only have to look at the appalling University Entrance Exam scores, published yesterday, to see how terrifyingly bad the education system here is.

I've worked in 3 so called decent universities here and must say that the brightest kids do not have the mental abilty, general knowledge, or analytical skills of an average Brit 10 year old.

The future is grim , but that is the way the politicos want it. Imagine if skools taght what corruption really does to a country and that their leaders are among the most corrupt in the World.

Then again, you cannot expect too much when the populace lauds,and the country is run, by a convicted thief with an appalling human rights record. "Way to go", sez their system. And still some half wits reckon Thaksin did anything for this country, not himself and his gang That is because they are the products of an education system which can, at most, only produce halfwits.

Arguments in favour of the fugitive, acting, at the time of the coup, PM, only prove that the Thai education system is <deleted>. Some idiots actually call him PM in exile. Heain't,he's on the run. If they had the power of thought, they would know this and soon realise that they have been, and are continuing to be had.

You only have to look at the current brainless PM to know that education and intelligence mean nothing here. She has neither yet is "in charge" of the gov. Please don't say that she's got a doctorate as she got it at an American Uni but cannot speak English. Bought is obvious. When someone like her can get to the pm position with no brain and no education, how do you expect Thais to value either, or give it any sort of priority?

Edited February 2, 2012 by Soi Sauce