Thailand's Education Minister Suchart Backtracks On 'Tea Money'

[Reasonableman]

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

[Reasonableman]

So why should such schools receive taxpayer funding at all, if they are effectively private schools?

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

[whybother]

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

Whether it's under the table or over the table, it is a bribe, and it leads to poorer people missing out on education.

[sparebox2]

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

Whether it's under the table or over the table, it is a bribe, and it leads to poorer people missing out on education.

Poorer people missing out on education?

Perhaps you have not been in Thailand long.

Education for 12 years is FREE (and receive FREE cash top up from govt too), and 100% of the children gets a place in a school. NO EXCEPTION.

[whybother]

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

Whether it's under the table or over the table, it is a bribe, and it leads to poorer people missing out on education.

Poorer people missing out on education?

Perhaps you have not been in Thailand long.

Education for 12 years is FREE (and receive FREE cash top up from govt too), and 100% of the children gets a place in a school. NO EXCEPTION.

Do the government also pay the bribe?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Reasonableman]

In reality, parents who want their kids to get a good education will not send them to a FREE government school if they can avoid it, because of the perceived (actual?) low standards, poor teaching practices, etc., on offer there. Many parents want the education levels and future prospects for their children to be good. The poor and middle-income parents have smart kids who should get every opportunity, and not be kept under a systemic social thumb all their lives by lack of money.

Hahaha, that's pretty naive, I'm afraid. The rich will just throw more money at the problem and make it doubly expensive. You think donations will make bribery disappear ? Hahahaha....

It's no longer a bribe. That is the - entire - point of what the Minister is saying. He's anti-bribes. He wants the bribes they're currently paying now, to be transformed into transparent donations payable to the school to improve the facilities, pay higher remuneration to teaching staff and effectively improve the academic experience.

As opposed to the present situation. Where the principles are so corrupted, their outrage and greed was just...surreal. They're being bribed presently. Parents are paying bribes now, to the school administrators who funnel it into the 'luxurious' lives they've become accustomed to.

It's no longer a bribe when it's transparent. It's just an elite school for rich kids; albeit vastly more elite than the reputations these administrators will run into the ground over time.

Whether it's under the table or over the table, it is a bribe, and it leads to poorer people missing out on education.

Poorer people missing out on education?

Perhaps you have not been in Thailand long.

Education for 12 years is FREE (and receive FREE cash top up from govt too), and 100% of the children gets a place in a school. NO EXCEPTION.

Edited February 19, 2012 by Reasonableman