Thai talk: Low education standards = HIGH CORRUPTION LEVELS

[webfact]

THAI TALK
Low education standards = HIGH CORRUPTION LEVELS
Suthichai Yoon

BANGKOK: -- Two depressing stories that made the headlines last week should serve as a multiple rude awakening: Thailand's corruption record is getting worse, and the nation's education standards are heading in the same direction.

It's not hard to come to the conclusion that the two issues are irretrievably linked. When our schools fail to produce good, responsible graduates, the character of citizens is necessarily flawed. When the education system goes down the drain, the moral fibre of society inevitably breaks down.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng admitted last week he was "very concerned" over the latest World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report that called Thailand's education standards the worst of the eight members of ASEAN it assessed.

The minister was only reacting to the well-known fact that the country's much-hyped "school reform" had gone nowhere and it was his responsibility to try to draw up a new "national agenda on education" that would hopefully turn things around - admittedly an uphill task, considering the fact that he isn't sure how long he will remain in his post.

On that very same day, a nationwide anti-corruption campaign was being launched, with the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) chairman Pramon Sutivong declaring that graft plaguing the country was reaching "mega-critical" proportions.

The education minister didn't use exactly the same words to describe the state of the nation's education, but it was clear he was suggesting things had gone terribly wrong with the system.

"Our teaching method is wrong. Our curriculum is outdated. Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.

Anti-corruption fighter Pramon argued that the problem had worsened in the past three years because Thai society as a whole lacked awareness of the importance of tackling graft, while the government appeared not to take the issue seriously.

The "lack of awareness" to counter rampant corrupt practices obviously stems from an education system that fails to inject a sense of integrity and accountability in the minds of students from a very young age.

To blame some businessmen for lobbying hard to secure contracts for state mega-projects with "tea money" and certain media outlets for their failure to take up the issue seriously is probably futile if the businessmen and journalists weren't taught in school about the danger of graft and selfishness.

If our education system is rotten, we can't expect the output to be any better. The quality of our schooling system determines the quality of our politicians, policemen, judges, police and businessmen.

Chaturon has kicked off a series of brainstorming sessions, starting with his ministry's own people before reaching out to the private sector, to gather a wide spectrum of ideas to overhaul the education system. It won't be an easy task and any chance of success will require a strong dose of political will to even jumpstart the process of reform.

He might do well to start by reading proposals already made by various academic and non-profit groups. A good example is the group called Way Forward, whose members meet regularly to exchange ideas on a blueprint for the nation.

Some of their recommendations may offer the minister a launching PAD for his campaign:

- Set up a neutral body, the National Institute for Educational Policy Research, and a Curriculum Research Centre, to investigate all available evidence for use in future educational enhancement. It is crucial that these agencies be independent from political influence.

- Encourage cooperation among all stakeholders, such as private-sector groups, NGOs, parents, social communities and the like, to bring about changes in both micro and macro education systems and tackle the problems of the entire education system simultaneously.

- Create functional and practical means as well as strategies to support education reform.

- Seriously tackle "teacher education" in all aspects to produce qualified teachers. Establish an effective process for teacher-induction programmes.

- Work closely with the Teachers' Council of Thailand to create an innovative framework for teaching professionalism.

- Revise the current mechanism for the "Teacher Leadership" selection process so that competent school principals can be recruited on a regular and sustainable basis.

None of these is earth-shaking to start with. But they are the basic changes that need to be realised before the Thai public can lend any credence to the government's pledge to finally come to grips with unquestionably the country's most important issue: educating the next generation of citizens.

Unless groundbreaking progress is achieved in our schooling system, there is little hope that we can begin to see the battle against corruption, the country's cancer, being won at all.


-- The Nation 2013-09-12

[sirchai]

"Our teaching method is wrong. Our curriculum is outdated. Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.

I'd say the major problems are the "loss of face", that NO student is allowed to ask questions and the guys losing their faces......

How can you expect students to speak English, if the teachers can't do so?

How comes that there're so many Thai English teachers with a Masters major English, who can't speak one sentence without a mistake?

How would Thai English teachers score, doing a TOEIC examination, which is even a requirement for guys who want to become flight attendants?

Question over question. But never tell the truth, as you could lose face......

Then the "no fail" policy, again, a "loss of face" policy. Would the kids fail, I'd guess they'd actually learn.

Thought the new graduates teaching English next year would have a better command in English. Nope.

The hub of lost faces. And lost minds. Or was it the educational hub in SEA? I'm confused..-

Edited September 12, 2013 by sirchai

[Yooyung]

Dear god I hope SOMETHING positive happens....After teaching here now for nearly a decade, I dont know how may times I have read articles about how the educations system needs an overhaul etc etc etc. I will try to be optomistic, even though the realist in me says that its like shovelling sh*** uphill. There are so many really smart kids at the school I am teaching at the are being let down, that deserve so much better.....

Lets face it, its a real dogs breakfast. I cant really see that, after how ever many god damn years I have been trying to teach English conversation, that the level of English is really any better than when I got off the plane in 2001. The majority of the time the kids are stuck with an incompetent Thai English teacher that seems to undermine any work that has been done by me or any other native speaker. English, inspite of it being necessary for AEC communications is NOT taken seriously. They just dont seem to get it, or they dont care or...they dont actually want people to really be able to understand/speak English. Thailand is going to get walked all over by countries like Singapore, countries that get how important English is. There is really NOTHING significant on telly that is presented in English, all the movies are overdubbed...where is the incentive? Its so ridiculous you either laugh or cry. Thankfully I am beyond getting down about it anymore.

Its going to be the usual. Thailand will eventually get around to doing someting.. when the horse has bolted out the gate already! Its the same thing over, and over, and over....Its going to be kind of amusing when the AEC does kick off. The loss of face should kick start some action. Then again, they might spit the dummy and decide they dont want to play anymore..because its just NOT FAIR!

[Tatsujin]

When the education system goes down the drain, the moral fibre of society inevitably breaks down.

Too late, the "morals" of this country disappeared already some time ago.

[Tatsujin]

. . . an education system that fails to inject a sense of integrity and accountability . . .

That's society and the parents job primarily, not the schools . . . but when integrity doesn't exist here in the first place (or perhaps more fairly, rarely), then it's going to be hard to inject that into younger minds. In all fairness however, I do see a lot of the kids now starting to think more independently, being shocked at how the country treats foreign visitors and teachers, but the system itself beats most of that out of them by the time they leave.

[SlyAnimal]

I'm thrilled to know that some of my opinions are shared by the Thai media at least.

As cheating/copying/laziness are so ingrained in the Thai schooling system, that it's no surprise when people become adults, that they also look for shortcuts.

[klauskunkel]

as for improving English language skills, a 6 week internship in a nightlife establishment will improve that immeasurably

[JoeThePoster]

Some of their recommendations may offer the minister a launching PAD for his campaign

Any particular reason why "pad" is capitalized here?

[Estrada]

Some of their recommendations may offer the minister a launching PAD for his campaign

Any particular reason why "pad" is capitalized here?

A play on words "People's Alliance for Democracy".

[cup-O-coffee]

As I stated here, the above article comes a day later to substantiate my claims that the students and parents are also to blame; more so even.

When students rally and protest, it is invariably about something cosmetic, which adds, edits or deletes from their appearance and/or emotional and mental instability.

The information in the above article should be more than enough impetus for the students and parents to rally and protest to make immediate changes. But they don't. Why? Because they are ignorant and stupid. I use the terms ignorant and stupid because they know better and refuse to take seriously the things in life that are edifying and uplifting.

How ignorant and stupid are Thais? They are so stupid that they do not understand that if every student at every educational institution were to cancel payments and stop attending for even one semester, these institutions would go out of business.

They are so ignorant and stupid that they don't realize that attending these blatantly corrupt institutions is about as ignorant and stupid as providing bullets to the enemy who is shooting at you and laughing.

Protest about condoms? Protest about your skirts and shoes? Shoot, stab and murder each other because of colors or school pride? Protest about a school shutting down; not because it actually educates, but because it has been there a long time to serve as a glorified daycare?

No no no, you idiots.

Form a union of parents and students and threaten non-payment and non-attendance for one ot two semesters. Send a message that any Thai would understand; fix it or we quit! If we quit you don't get any money and you lose, not us, because we aren't getting what we pay for anyways at this level.

Isn't that true, after all? Aren't these idiots not getting an education yet they continuously feed bullets to the ones shooting at them and laughing?

When I think about it, this is really a legitimate option. I mean, it isn't as if the students gain anything when they do attend. In truth, they don't. It is simply a lunatics way of letting the devil deliver a beating to the head for a number of years simply to get a worthless and meaningless prize at the end; a Diploma; that piece of paper... that golden fleeced sheepskin which allows an idiot to attempt to deceive other idiots into thinking they have the abilities and skills to overcome, improvise and adapt at solving and accomplishing great things.
----------------------------------

Is anyone protesting? Parents? Students?

Nope!

So to hell with all of them, because that is how they are going to be feeling when the world gets a bit more crowded and job vacancies get a bit more selective.

Keep attending and doing nothing and whilst watching your parent's hard-earned money go to waste.

Keep letting the institutions take your money and watch the plate never get full with the things you say you are paying for, but really don't care that you aren't getting, because you are too upset about having to wear a uniform when you take a test instead of the fact that you did not study and don't know the answers to solving life's problems.

Ignorant. Stupid. Stubborn. Idiots!

Forgive my anger, but is there really any case in defense of people who pay tribute to those who waste their time and money and degrade the minds of their children and promote all the worst kinds of behaviors on human kind in said children?

I think not.

So to hell with them all, because that is exactly how I feel and believe.

Edited September 12, 2013 by cup-O-coffee

[Elfin]

Maybe if they are going to review/change things, they can look at the ridiculously low salary they pay Western teachers in Thailand (30K per month or less). How long has this been the standard rate of pay-12 years, 15 years????

[Bagwan]

Maybe if they are going to review/change things, they can look at the ridiculously low salary they pay Western teachers in Thailand (30K per month or less). How long has this been the standard rate of pay-12 years, 15 years????

I suspect that the prime motivation of many Western teachers for choosing to practice their occupation in LOS has nothing to do with furthering the education standards of Thai children. Given the increase in price of alcoholic beverages in the past few years a substantial increase in salary levels is totally justified.

[tubby johnson]

This alarm bell has been rung before, with much hand wringing and committees set up ... but very little action.

Thailand is a global embarrassment.

[cup-O-coffee]

Maybe if they are going to review/change things, they can look at the ridiculously low salary they pay Western teachers in Thailand (30K per month or less). How long has this been the standard rate of pay-12 years, 15 years????

Western teachers should not be the solution. They should be the exception.

Thailand never had an educational system with an eye to the future or to the world.

What they have is more in line with prison reprogramming than education and learning.

Inasmuch as Western teachers go, they do not fit in with this Machiavellian form of learning.

Yes! I am saying that this is by contrivance more than by stupidity, but the two exist and there is nothing else.

[CIHUAHUA]

Education is a funny word and many people do not equate it with learning. The times are changing but the process of learning is not. Learning starts in the home but when we expect an outside influence like a “teacher” to do the job of a parent then the going gets confused and turns into an institutional struggle of what is and what should be. If learning a language is the the criteria it needs to be taught in a way that is fun. Learning by rote is a struggle to say the least and does not promote critical thinking. For example, the system called (total physical response or TPR) should be the first course of action. Just like when we learn our first language when we are little motivation is based on satisfying needs that are important to us. Parents should be the ones that force the issues of the system and confront the individual educators to do the job and not let them blame the child.

We live in an increasing technical world that does everything for us like simple math and spell-check. When we text we use abbreviation or acronyms. We rely on the machines we produce to do the things we had to do for ourselves in the past. The problem with the educational system goes beyond Thailand in countries like the USA.

This article is an example of someone not proof reading their work.

'“ Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.”

Edited September 12, 2013 by CIHUAHUA

[lostmebike]

"Our teaching method is wrong. Our curriculum is outdated. Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.

This is very positive. At least a minister openly admits there is a problem. Now when is he going to make some real, noticeable changes?

[Mudlover]

It would be better if Way Forward's recommendations explicitly addressed the pupil-teacher ratio. This surely has to be one of the biggest obstacles to effective learning and teaching. There's plenty of money for tablets and iboards while teachers are expected to engage and connect to up to 60 cramped, confined teenagers. It's scandalous. In the West a ratio of 30:1 is considered high.

[rosst]

Dear god I hope SOMETHING positive happens....After teaching here now for nearly a decade, I dont know how may times I have read articles about how the educations system needs an overhaul etc etc etc. I will try to be optomistic, even though the realist in me says that its like shovelling sh*** uphill. There are so many really smart kids at the school I am teaching at the are being let down, that deserve so much better.....

Lets face it, its a real dogs breakfast. I cant really see that, after how ever many god dam_n years I have been trying to teach English conversation, that the level of English is really any better than when I got off the plane in 2001. The majority of the time the kids are stuck with an incompetent Thai English teacher that seems to undermine any work that has been done by me or any other native speaker. English, inspite of it being necessary for AEC communications is NOT taken seriously. They just dont seem to get it, or they dont care or...they dont actually want people to really be able to understand/speak English. Thailand is going to get walked all over by countries like Singapore, countries that get how important English is. There is really NOTHING significant on telly that is presented in English, all the movies are overdubbed...where is the incentive? Its so ridiculous you either laugh or cry. Thankfully I am beyond getting down about it anymore.

Its going to be the usual. Thailand will eventually get around to doing someting.. when the horse has bolted out the gate already! Its the same thing over, and over, and over....Its going to be kind of amusing when the AEC does kick off. The loss of face should kick start some action. Then again, they might spit the dummy and decide they dont want to play anymore..because its just NOT FAIR!

May I suggest they start by asking YOU for some suggestions, you at least seem to care and would appear to have first hand knowledge of the issues.

[tingtongteesood]

So this article says that Thai people are bad people because they have bad education. I would disagree strongly with this, they are bad people because they have bad role models, education is at most a secondary factor to this....When rich people and MP's, supposed role models are crooks, gangsters and criminals, what the heck do you expect ?!

[Just1Voice]

Vietnam did it right.

A few years back they closed all schools for one year.

Made it mandatory for all teacher to go back to school, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day.

Brought in teaching professionals from US, UK, Australia, Singapore to "reteach the teachers"

Made English a required 2nd language.

Romanized their alphabet.

Result?

Within 2 years all international testing scores showed significant improvements.

Romanizing the alphabet not only made learning English easier, it dramatically improved the ability to learn Vietnamese, their own language!

So, you have a Communist run country who recognized the problems, then took the necessary steps that will enable them to be a viable and valuable player when ASEAN kicks in. If the "we are superior" Thailand doesn't take the same type of "drastic measures" to overhaul their system, in 5 years time even Myanmar is going to leave them in the dust. They will be laughing stock of ASEAN.

Maybe - MAYBE - when they wake up to the fact that they simply can not compete and be a viable player in ASEAN, then maybe they will do something. Probably withdraw from ASEAN with some excuse like "We are Thailand, and we really don't need to be part of ASEAN, as we can do everything just fine on our own."

g

[kurnell]

The big Thai families that run this country don't care at all about the state of the country. They are interested in banking billions before it all falls apart then tomorrow is another day.

[myluckythai]

to me its just suprising how powerless the normal thai thinks he is. They just roll over and die in many cases that concern governing from the top.

It's like they don;t care or just don;t know that the power is with the people, but if they just do nothing about nothing, who will?

when i ask questions about things like the poor quality of healthcare, clean schools or in this case education , maybe trying to start their own initiative to get better teachers , cleaner dokters offices, dokters who actually really care for more than just selling more pills...etc.etc. I get the strangest looks, even from my wife. Like I can do something about this.

If millions of people see it like this......no one is able to change anything here for a long time i guess. every positive change in history, concerning political systems, came from the people and of course not from the authorities themselves.... wake up Thailand

Edited September 12, 2013 by jviersel

[DGIE]

Thailand is nothing compares to Corruption in the Philippines.

At least we can see some progress here even if some do corrupt.

[DGIE]

Few years from now, many Thais can speak English.

I still salute Thai government spending huge amount employing

foreigners to teach here in Thailand not only English subject but also ther subjects except

Thai

[gp2002]

The kids AND their parents are to blame.

I work at an International school in Bangkok and the parents could care less if their child attends classes. They have no problem if their child fails a class because they will either pay for them to attend Summer School or they'll complain to the school and we are told by the office to change their grade to a pass. The teachers TRY their best to get the kids to attend class but the kids look at us as if to say......."Why the hell are you talking to us?"

The main reason they send them to the school is so they know where they are during the day.

I've come to the conclusion that, for the most part, Thais DO NOT care.

[lee b]

I dont belive it!

[Just1Voice]

Thailand is nothing compares to Corruption in the Philippines.

Yeah, like that's something to really stand up and boast about.

[cup-O-coffee]

Maybe if they are going to review/change things, they can look at the ridiculously low salary they pay Western teachers in Thailand (30K per month or less). How long has this been the standard rate of pay-12 years, 15 years????

SInce it is an established fact that Western teachers make absiolutely zero impact in the productive outcome of the Thai educational system, then why not sack those Western teachers for leaching off the system and instead give 30K per month to parents to establish good morals, ethics, etc. into the minds of their children?

Fine the parents when the children do not perform to the established standard. Whip the kids into shape before they enter the educational system, rather than instead enrolling ferel spawn into glorified daycare centers that can't handle the little B@$t@rds, because the parents don't even care enough to bash the crap out of teachers who hit their students with metal rulers on the head that they draw blood?

Or, as I said prior, why bother? Why care about people who pay tribute to scumbags who waste the parent's hard-earned money and waste their children's minds either through neglect and suffering, or through nationalistic re-programming; ...that is, whenever these overlords can manage to tear the student's attention away from their iPhone, iPads, concern over their mascara, hairstyles, pimple popping and sexual pranking, etc?

I am being facetious to an extent, but their is a lot of legitimate truth here. It makes me feel like I am at the zoo, looking over the fence at a bunch of monkeys pandering around in the trees and grass.

[tingtong]

"Our teaching method is wrong. Our curriculum is outdated. Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.

This is very positive. At least a minister openly admits there is a problem. Now when is he going to make some real, noticeable changes?

he will be long changed/replaced/fired before (if ever) there will be any change in education here.

[sirchai]

I'm thrilled to know that some of my opinions are shared by the Thai media at least.

As cheating/copying/laziness are so ingrained in the Thai schooling system, that it's no surprise when people become adults, that they also look for shortcuts.

Gotta love your post. You said it in two sentences, while I wasted so much more time.-