Standardised Thai-language tests planned
Supinda na Mahachai
The Nation

Proficiency exams required to boost knowledge, education minister says

BANGKOK: -- THE EDUCATION Ministry is planning to create standardised Thai-language proficiency tests for native speakers.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said yesterday that he had already called on Chulalongkorn University (CU) to help design this test.

"The results of such tests will show how we should improve Thai-language teaching standards," he said, after meeting with CU president Dr Pirom Kamolratanakul.

Chaturon said standardised Thai-language tests were necessary, especially since standardised tests for other languages such as English and Japanese were already in place.

"Besides, we know that students are still not good at Thai language," he said, adding that overall results at the secondary level were unsatisfactory.

He said several teachers had also complained that many university students were still poor in Thai, especially when it came to writing and summarising.

Meanwhile, Pirom said all|first-year students at Chulalongkorn University were tested on their Thai, English and computer skills.

"And we have discovered that the students have low writing ability," he said, adding that he had now assigned CU's Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute to work on a standardised language test.

Chaturon said that once the test had been designed, he would consult with experts as to when students should be required to take it.

"We may require them to take the Thai proficiency test either before they graduate secondary school or before they complete their bachelor's degree," he said.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Educational Testing Service (NIETS) has said it was ready to design standardised tests in response to Chaturon's policy to cut down on the number of exams students are required to take when applying to educational institutions.

At present, several universities hold entrance exams separately and enrol students directly.

Chaturon is now encouraging these universities to consider using the central test scores as admission criteria instead so students won't need to attend many exams.

NIETS director Samphan Phanphruk said his agency was ready to work with universities in designing the test questions to ensure that the central tests respond well to their needs.

Thammasat University rector Somkid Lertpaitoon, who also chairs the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT), promised to raise the issue at the council's next meeting.

So far, he said, he believes it would be difficult to design a central test that responds well to the different requirements in different faculties.

"For instance, the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine have different needs," he pointed out.


-- The Nation 2013-11-21

"He said several teachers had also complained that many university students were still poor in Thai, especially when it came to writing and summarising."

A couple of days ago they reported that the English standards were awful.

Now they say that the can't cope with their own language.

We have reached an all time low here, methinks.

In order to write and sumarise well you need to be able to read and well practiced in reading. It seems to be another example of not enough real reading.

How often do you see Thai people reading? In our village I almost never see it - except for my wife. I see people napping often but reading????? No way.

How often do you see Thai people reading? In our village I almost never see it - except for my wife. I see people napping often but reading????? No way.

My nieces do..but not in my opinion enough or enough variety. Books are expensive here and although libraries exist they are not used enough.

Literacy standards would be higher if Thailand reformed the spelling of its language along the lines of the Lao reforms, removing silent consonants, eliminating consonants with duplicate sounds, &c.. In short, making the spelling match the pronunciation. There's no real need to reflect the original spelling of imported Sanskrit and Pali words in modern life. Such a reform was proposed by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram in 1942 and published in the Royal Gazette. (http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2485/A/035/1137.PDF - Thai language.) It never took off.

I disagree. Simplifying a language does not really yield higher literacy rates.

It's all about the quality of teaching and the interests of the pupils.

Maybe if there exams they could actually fail they might have some incentive to improve.

Thailand might as well give up and accept it is third world.

I disagree. Simplifying a language does not really yield higher literacy rates.

It's all about the quality of teaching and the interests of the pupils.

Can you read and write Thai proficiently?

If yes. ok

if no, how would have an idea what the previous poster was talking about?

I think the reforms of the language in Laos has also helped them to understand English better as well.. Just don't tell the Thais.

Disgraceful. Thais who can't be bothered to learn the local language should leave the LOS and go somewhere else.

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by bigbamboo

"He said several teachers had also complained that many university students were still poor in Thai, especially when it came to writing and summarising."

A couple of days ago they reported that the English standards were awful.

Now they say that the can't cope with their own language.

We have reached an all time low here, methinks.

You may be correct. The World is a work in progress.

How often do you see Thai people reading? In our village I almost never see it - except for my wife. I see people napping often but reading????? No way.

Lots of web surfing and phone texting, but not much prolific reading going on that I have observed from my perch here in Pattaya.

Thailand might as well give up and accept it is third world.

Sometimes we are all "Third World" in thought and deed.

Live and Let Live.

He said several teachers had also complained that many university students were still poor in Thai

Along with most other subjects.

What do you expect from a 'cant fail' education system?

I wonder if Thais would read more if they included spaces between the words like they do in comics and women's books. Helps a lot.

In order to write and sumarise well you need to be able to read and well practiced in reading. It seems to be another example of not enough real reading.

Is there anyting akin to Thai literature, as there is English literature to study.

If there is i have never seen it. No compulsory texts to read and particularly ANALYSE. i.e. provide an interpretation and an opinion on the text. My daughter was on stage performing Shakespeare a couple of days ago and had to write a couple of hundred words about the story and her day.

I have never seen my kids do such a thing in Thailand. It is really as though they are not interested in their kids learning to read and interpret ANYTHING.

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by Thai at Heart

They are thinking of, perhaps, testing them before they complete a Bachelors degree!!!!!

Did I read that right?? .

It is really as though they are not interested in their kids learning to read and interpret ANYTHING.

Analytical thinking is poison for governments. Rote memorization will keep 'em in line.

Thailand might as well give up and accept it is third world.

Thailand might as well give up and accept it is third out of this world.

In 30 years this country has gone from one where only a small percentage of the population finished 4th grade and now has a large percentage finishing Uni. Yes it can be better and will be as those who have been through the system and gained skills continue to go into the system so that every intake the teachers are more and more qualified.

The schools have done well by my niece who this year graduates from 6th form. a well rounded happy member of the community and keen to improve by heading to Uni.

Yes there are few Cambridges,Yales or Oxfords here but then that standard is not the norm in the West either.

I disagree. Simplifying a language does not really yield higher literacy rates.

It's all about the quality of teaching and the interests of the pupils.

Can you read and write Thai proficiently?

If yes. ok

if no, how would have an idea what the previous poster was talking about?

I think the reforms of the language in Laos has also helped them to understand English better as well.. Just don't tell the Thais.

I read and speak Thai (and Swedish) proficiently indeed.

Perhaps it's because English isn't exactly the first language for me. So I don't have the luxury of not learning a language simply because it's challenging.

I disagree. Simplifying a language does not really yield higher literacy rates.

It's all about the quality of teaching and the interests of the pupils.

Can you read and write Thai proficiently?

If yes. ok

if no, how would have an idea what the previous poster was talking about?

I think the reforms of the language in Laos has also helped them to understand English better as well.. Just don't tell the Thais.

I read and speak Thai (and Swedish) proficiently indeed.

Perhaps it's because English isn't exactly the first language for me. So I don't have the luxury of not learning a language simply because it's challenging.

Well your right about me and learning languages..oh and i'm lazy and working to much

I aked my GF to read that pdf that was posted, She said it would make it easier to read and write Thai just by the basic simplification of structure.

I disagree. Simplifying a language does not really yield higher literacy rates.

It's all about the quality of teaching and the interests of the pupils.

Can you read and write Thai proficiently?

If yes. ok

if no, how would have an idea what the previous poster was talking about?

I think the reforms of the language in Laos has also helped them to understand English better as well.. Just don't tell the Thais.

It would seem that any change that helps people to read and understand must be a positive result? It has worked very well for the Japanese, the Chinese and even the Americans and the Malay's modified English to help make it more understandable!

While I realise that Thailand has never been colonised (this is a central tenant of Thai pride) The Thai education department must consider some changes to the language!!