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EDUCATION
The results from closing small schools should be evaluated
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA



The Education Ministry's policy to close down small schools stirred up a furore last week.

BANGKOK: -- On social media sites, opposition was strong. That was surprising for two reasons: First, this policy is, after all, nothing new. In fact, it has been implemented for over a decade, but last week even the former education minister joined the attack. Second, there are some good reasons, for the sake of our children in rural areas, to support this policy.

So, does this mean Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana failed to give a sound explanation for the policy, or have critics simply lost track of the historical reasons behind it?

Small schools are defined as schools having fewer than 60 students. Because the Education Ministry has allocated budget to schools based on the number of students, small schools have very limited resources. Because the ratio of teacher to stu?dents is set at 20:1, there are just a few teachers at each small school. In some cases, there is only one teacher to teach all subjects and conduct all classes for all students, who are often of different age and of different class levels.

Quality problems, as a result, have arisen.

According to the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, up to 32 per cent of small schools have failed quality requirements.

Some critics may say the government needs to find the resources to provide 12 years of free education for children in line with the Constitution, no matter what, and it should deliver quality education too.

I agree that quality educational services are what the country needs for the sake of children and the country's future. But the truth is that the country also has limited resources and budget, it is not able to install standard labs at all schools. Neither it is able to give them all great teaching equipment.

Records show each small school has received only between Bt20,000 and Bt40,000 in subsidy each year.

Phongthep has already announced that the policy to close down small schools aims to improve the overall educational quality.

He has also explained that not all small schools will be merged or closed down. He has insisted that if there is no nearby school in an area, the small school in that area definitely will not be abolished. He has even pointed out that the Education Ministry will provide travel assistance for children whose schools are closed down under this policy too.

Between 2008 and now, 700 small schools have faced closedowns or merging in response to the policy that was introduced many years ago.

Given that the implementation of this policy has already taken place, I really would like to call on all stakeholders to respond to the policy in a reasonable manner. They should call for an evaluation of the results of how the policy has been implemented.

What has happened to students whose schools have already been closed down? Are they happy learning elsewhere? Has their academic performance improved? Or are they now out of schools because they cannot travel further from home?

The results will determine whether the policy to close down small schools should go ahead, be adjusted or be scrapped.

Opposition politicians should not attack the policy simply because they want to shake the current administration. Do not forget that when their party was in power, this same policy was implemented also.

Teachers or directors of small schools should also give themselves a sincere answer. What do they have in mind in expressing opposition against the policy to close down small schools? Are they worried about their students' future? Or are they just afraid of losing their current positions?

If a good school is just a few kilometres away, why don't we send children to that place instead of having them stuck at small schools with very little resources?

There are now many well-equipped schools across the country. So, if we can put children at those places, we should do it.

Parents and community leaders who feel local schools - no matter how small - should continue to operate in their areas can make their voice heard. But more than that, they should take concrete actions in helping those small schools stay functional and useful.

Complaining alone won't help anyone. If small schools in their areas work wonders, I am sure the Education Ministry would not close those places.

At the same time, the ministry should also continue to show solid proof that after small schools are closed, children's academic performances really improve.

If the merging or closing down of small schools benefit children, all stakeholders should support it.


-- The Nation 2013-05-13

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School mergers unpopular with parents: Poll
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- More than half the parents surveyed by a Dusit Poll opposed the Education Ministry's plan to merge 17,000 small schools across the country in order to increase efficiency and save costs.

Of the total, 60.09 per cent of parents said students, teachers and parents would be adversely affected by the plan. For example, some students would be travelling further to schools, and others might have problems adjusting to new students, new schools and ties to their communities. Another 22 per cent said they were not sure if they agreed or disagreed with the plan because it had both disadvantages and drawbacks; while 17 per cent said they agreed with mergers because the ministry could manage schools more easily, and teachers could take better care of students. The poll was conducted among 1,292 parents from May 8-11.

Asked about what worried them most in the coming school semester, 38 per cent of parents said higher expenses for tuition fees, school uniforms, and equipment; and 24 per cent said they were concerned about their children's safety in travelling to school; 21 per cent were worried about their children adjusting to new classes.

On teachers, 37 per cent of parents said they wanted them to provide knowledge to students to the best of their ability and focus on instilling ethics and morality; 23 per cent said they wanted teachers to give as much time as possible to students; and 20 per cent looked to teachers to be strict with students.

Asked what they wanted to tell the Education Ministry: 41 per cent said they wanted improved Thai education, 39 per cent wanted good curriculums and teaching with high standards, 10 per cent said providing equal educational opportunity for students.


-- The Nation 2013-05-13

[thaicbr]

Between 2008 and now 700 small schools have been merged/closed. OK that's reasonable. But the Education minister was not talking hundreds he stated in the thousands. Obec have 30,000 schools. They want to close /merge over 14,000....

How. When. What time scale. Normal sound bite bullshit.

Why not come out with a clear concise description of what they plan. How they plan to accommodate the new merged students. Are the extending. Building new classrooms etc. They do after all keep to max 30 students per class

I have no doubt that some schools should merge.... but half the schools!!!!!!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[fxe1200]

Closing small schools at that scale means: more costs for transportation, wasted time on buses. It also means classes with up to 50 pupils, resulting in less time for the teachers to attend to individuals, thus it will negatively effect the learning ability of pupils.

For me it seems, that the true intention of the government is to reduce the cost of education, thus risking the quality of learning, which is already poor enough. However this attempt corresponds with the policy of the current government of providing the common people rather with "panem et circensis", than a decent education.

[Skylaer]

Thailand, Thailand...

We have a same situation in Russia. Some schools in small villages closed now, some on the way...

And many kids lose a chance to get an education - sometimes bus breaks, sometimes bus drivers drunk, sometimes bad weather.

In result, pupils can't come to 10-20% of lessons.

Quality going down

[Suradit69]

Thailand, Thailand...

We have a same situation in Russia. Some schools in small villages closed now, some on the way...

And many kids lose a chance to get an education - sometimes bus breaks, sometimes bus drivers drunk, sometimes bad weather.

In result, pupils can't come to 10-20% of lessons.

Quality going down

And those students with marginal interest in school will be less likely to attend regularly or to continue in school if long commutes become a daily necessity.

The problem as stated is reasonable, but it might be more positively productive for more students if enrichment equipment and teaching staff moved around to the schools or boarding facilities at magnet schools were offered.

The argument concerning the time each teacher has to give individual attention is somewhat deceptive. Teachers need to manage activities that engage many/all students simultaneously, quite often with support through peer tutoring that benefits both the giver and receiver. Even if a teacher spent all his/her time giving individual attention to students in a class of 30 students, which is unrealistic anyway, that would mean each student received on average 2 minutes per hour getting the teacher's undivided attention and 58 minutes per hour on his/her own and while one student was being attended to, the other 29 would be left to their own devices. That's not particularly efficient or productive.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Suradit69

[fxe1200]

Thailand, Thailand...

We have a same situation in Russia. Some schools in small villages closed now, some on the way...

And many kids lose a chance to get an education - sometimes bus breaks, sometimes bus drivers drunk, sometimes bad weather.

In result, pupils can't come to 10-20% of lessons.

Quality going down

And those students with marginal interest in school will be less likely to attend regularly or to continue in school if long commutes become a daily necessity.

The problem as stated is reasonable, but it might be more positively productive for more students if enrichment equipment and teaching staff moved around to the schools or boarding facilities at magnet schools were offered.

The argument concerning the time each teacher has to give individual attention is somewhat deceptive. Teachers need to manage activities that engage many/all students simultaneously, quite often with support through peer tutoring that benefits both the giver and receiver. Even if a teacher spent all his/her time giving individual attention to students in a class of 30 students, which is unrealistic anyway, that would mean each student received on average 2 minutes per hour getting the teacher's undivided attention and 58 minutes per hour on his/her own and while one student was being attended to, the other 29 would be left to their own devices. That's not particularly efficient or productive.

As equipment like computers and such are being used in a revolving manner, I do not see any advantage at all.

When teachers attend to individual pupils, they surely will not do it to those who aren't in need. So there is no need to do any calculations, how many minutes per pupil and so on, at all. And those who are in need will get an advise how to better their situation or performance. Besides these advices are not to be given during the regular class hours. A proven fact is: The smaller the class, the better is the proficiency of the pupils. It is also easier for the teacher to successfully implement methodological approaches.

[Scott]

It would be nice if very small schools could be kept open, but economically, it is probably not feasible. Younger students should have limited transport time, and hopefully the gov't will take these things into consideration as it plans closures.

I have seen some small schools that were just not functioning well any longer. The teacher had too many subjects for too many grades. There was a lack of resources, such as reference books etc.

How well students do depends on class size, but it also depends on the ability of the teacher and the interest and encouragement of the parents. A lot of variables go into who succeeds and who doesn't.

[Eddy B]

This is not good for students that live in rural areas. Normally a 5-10min drive to school by their parents or a ride on a bicycle will turn into a 40 to an hour drive in a 12 seater or an even worse transport. There will be more accidents with these types of transport. I feel sorry for the children and the parents that will have to pay more to cover this extra burden!