Thai inmates earn their academic rewards

[webfact]

Inmates earn their academic rewards
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CELEBRATING its 30th anniversary of education for prison inmates, the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) hosted a graduation ceremony for 114 inmate graduates yesterday.

They included a summa cum laude, a magna cum laude and two multiple-degree graduates.

An inmate representative urged the Corrections Department to introduce education achievement as part of its consideration in granting pardon releases to inmates. He thanked the department and STOU for giving them the educational opportunity and helping them prepare for a new life in society after their release from prison.

The ceremony was presided over by department director-general Suchart Wongananchai at Nonthaburi's Bang Kwang Prison.

During the ceremony, STOU president Chailert Pichitpornchai presented a gold medal to the summa cum laude graduate Surachet Chanpraneet (with GPA 4.0) and a silver medal to the magna cum laude graduate Ratana Malila.

He also presented four bachelor degree certificates to inmate Suknetra Chanthapoon and three bachelor degree certificates to inmate Charoen Suwanpakdee.

Chailert said the STOU education management programme for inmates, established in 1984, had seen an inmate earn as many as seven bachelor degree certificates. As a result, the institute has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Corrections Department to provide master degree programmes at Bang Kwang Prison.

Suchart said that 3,378 inmates were currently studying with STOU (2,934 males and 444 females) and 1,932 inmates had graduated.The most popular fields of study were Management Science, Forensic Science and Agricultural Extension and Co-operatives.

During the celebration, the graduates' parents, teachers and other inmates joined in to congratulate the graduates. Former singer and drug inmate Worayos "Power Pat" Boonthongnoom said he had obtained a Bachelor Degree in Arts (Information Science) and was now studying for another Bachelor Degree in Arts (Thai Studies).


-- The Nation 2014-06-25

[NongKhaiKid]

Thailand really is a land of equality, even prison inmates can't fail exams.

[jaltsc]

"CELEBRATING its 30th anniversary of education for prison inmates, the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) hosted a graduation ceremony for 114 inmate graduates yesterday."

I suppose that's one way to avoid paying increasing tuition costs.

I can see the new posters: "Commit a crime. Go to university".

[IamNoone88]

Most popular fields including forensic science? Teaching how to get away with it in the future! Nothing like making sure you don't make the same mistake twice........

[harrry]

Well they may need a degree when they want to join the Police.

[chooka]

"CELEBRATING its 30th anniversary of education for prison inmates, the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) hosted a graduation ceremony for 114 inmate graduates yesterday."

I suppose that's one way to avoid paying increasing tuition costs.

I can see the new posters: "Commit a crime. Go to university".

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

[dddave]

The argument has been raging since the 18th century: should prisons be simply punitive or should they be corrective.

Every time a prison, or "correction" facility in the US opens an advanced education program, the cries go up from outside: "My son has never committed a crime but he can't get a free education!" and the politicians start going crazy.

Congratulations to the Thais for trying. Just reading the snarky comments from TV's keyboard elite show just how hard it is to make such a program successful.

[harrry]

Actually from some of the things I have been hearing about Thai Prisons it is not as draconian as people seem to think unless you make it be that.

[UbonRatch]

Why did Chailert Pichitpornchai present the degrees? ?

[harrry]

Why did Chailert Pichitpornchai present the degrees? ?

As the head of the University he probably deputises for the Royal Personages that normaly present degrees for those who through illness or other reasons were unable to go to the award presentation itself.

[jpeg]

It would be interesting to see what crimes these inmates were banged up for. I'm guessing it wasn't corruption

[Rykbanlor]

It would be interesting to see what crimes these inmates were banged up for. I'm guessing it wasn't corruption

Nope, I'm guessing the worst offenders of corruption already have university educations and hold positions of power

[technologybytes]

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

The thing is that prisoners are a burden on the taxpayer anyway, and statistically in most countires prisoners are about 70% likely to reoffend and end up back in prison.

OK so educating these prisoners is a further burden on the taxpayer, but if it helps to break the cycle of recidivism then it cannot be a bad thing.

Also, the prisoners who reform and stay out of trouble become a poitive role model for others..

[casualbiker]

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

The thing is that prisoners are a burden on the taxpayer anyway, and statistically in most countires prisoners are about 70% likely to reoffend and end up back in prison.

OK so educating these prisoners is a further burden on the taxpayer, but if it helps to break the cycle of recidivism then it cannot be a bad thing.

Also, the prisoners who reform and stay out of trouble become a poitive role model for others..

The above is true .. BUT they should still pay back a proportion of the costs on gaining employment just like other students have to.

My wife is still paying her education bill 10 years after graduating.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Frank James]

Congratulation to the graduates, and may the program long continue. Great to see such a positive story in the midst of what's on display in the "news" every day.

[soalbundy]

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

The thing is that prisoners are a burden on the taxpayer anyway, and statistically in most countires prisoners are about 70% likely to reoffend and end up back in prison.

OK so educating these prisoners is a further burden on the taxpayer, but if it helps to break the cycle of recidivism then it cannot be a bad thing.

Also, the prisoners who reform and stay out of trouble become a poitive role model for others..

Who is going to give these people a job at the end of their incarceration? Criminal organisations who need some intellectual muscle.

[UbonRatch]

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

The thing is that prisoners are a burden on the taxpayer anyway, and statistically in most countires prisoners are about 70% likely to reoffend and end up back in prison.

OK so educating these prisoners is a further burden on the taxpayer, but if it helps to break the cycle of recidivism then it cannot be a bad thing.

Also, the prisoners who reform and stay out of trouble become a poitive role model for others..

My wife is still paying her education bill 10 years after graduating.

You meanie.

[MMarlow]

The argument has been raging since the 18th century: should prisons be simply punitive or should they be corrective.

Every time a prison, or "correction" facility in the US opens an advanced education program, the cries go up from outside: "My son has never committed a crime but he can't get a free education!" and the politicians start going crazy.

Congratulations to the Thais for trying. Just reading the snarky comments from TV's keyboard elite show just how hard it is to make such a program successful.

Agreed, but "dregs" is not spelled e, l, i, t, e ("...comments from TV's keyboard elite...' )

[casualbiker]

Same in Australia, inmates can study for a variety of degrees and all free of charge , paid for by the taxpayer. The good law abiding people however go into debt to earn their degrees and will be persued by the authorities until they pay.

The thing is that prisoners are a burden on the taxpayer anyway, and statistically in most countires prisoners are about 70% likely to reoffend and end up back in prison.

OK so educating these prisoners is a further burden on the taxpayer, but if it helps to break the cycle of recidivism then it cannot be a bad thing.

Also, the prisoners who reform and stay out of trouble become a poitive role model for others..

My wife is still paying her education bill 10 years after graduating.

You meanie.

She earns more than me! Only 80baht a month more.. but it's the principal

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[TimCM]

Well, with the quality of a Thai degree, at least they will have something to use in the toilet

Before anyone complains, I worked at a uni in Thailand for one wasted semester. Most of the students would not pass a primary school exam in Australia but were passed regardless of my protests.

[belg]

all participants got a degree for attending .. the prison

5555

[Kasset Tak]

It's actually a good thing and it's working! I had classes in a provincial prison today, teaching Plant Science, Physiology and Anatomy of Domestic Animals and English conversation. These inmates studies for a Higher Degree in Vocational Education and from the point of being teacher it's easier with them than the students in the college because the inmates have so little to do so they actually study, do their homework and most of them can use logical thinking!

One of my best examples is that all my students knows what "How are you?" and "today" is in Thai but my students in the college don't understand when ad them together "How are you today?". I have used it and thought them this EVERYDAY since the start of the semester. For the inmates I needed 3 minutes because they understand that 1+1=2 and not 1+1=?

[DrTuner]

Given that the prisoners are likely to be motivated, they might very well blow the free range competition out of water with real skills. There's an idea for the entrepreneurs, hire them straight off the gates to work for a consultancy.

[Kasset Tak]

Well, with the quality of a Thai degree, at least they will have something to use in the toilet

Before anyone complains, I worked at a uni in Thailand for one wasted semester. Most of the students would not pass a primary school exam in Australia but were passed regardless of my protests.

I agree with you 100%. I thought a little extra last year at 2 unis teaching those studying for their master and doctoral degree to speak English, most of them came to class, drank coffee, played games on their phones and then went home. It was good money but then it came to the grading and the uni changed all the grades I gave the students 0-1, 1-2 and 2-3 or 4 (I didn't give anyone grade 3 or 4 and 25% got 0) and basically told me that my services was not needed any more!

One more thing, in Thailand the school, college or uni that don't pass the students get trouble from higher up and can basically lose parts of their budget if they have failing students. So even if the teachers are working their best but the students don't do any thing and are lazy they will not fail them because then you get in trouble as a teacher and there are many people all away from the teachers up all the way to MOU who are worried about this but still:

Thailand is quantity not quality.

And it's the same that most unis have tests in English that the students must pass to get their final diploma, most of them are just scams... the vise director in my old college took her exam for her doctoral degree and passed with almost perfect score. Then she needed a TOEIC exam for somthing international (I don't know) and scored 300 out of 990 points!