South Korea helps Thailand improve science and math education

[webfact]

South Korea helps Thailand improve science and math education
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 22 -- Thailand and South Korea have joined forces to improving science and mathematics education in Thailand using the Thailand Educational Development Evaluation Test.

The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) and Edupark Company Limited on Friday agreed to implement the Thailand Educational Development Evaluation Test (TEDET) to raise academic standards of science and technology teaching in Thailand.

TEDET is a database system that stores science and mathematics exercises and tests.

IPST director Dr Pornpun Waitayangkoon said the system, first developed by South Korea and successfully implemented in schools there, aims to improve Thai students’ understanding and performance in science and mathematics to prepare them for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and to reduce the urban-rural gap in Thailand’s educational system.

TEDET will be applied in more than 90 schools under the supervision of the Institute across the country.

Meanwhile, the latest PISA result shows the average score of Thai students at 427 points while South Korean students finished fifth among 60 countries with an average 554 points. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-08-22

[Lingba]

This is all fine and good but unless there is the desire coming from a student to want to learn, then scores will remain low.

[noahvail]

90 or so schools, eh? How many schools are there in Thailand? Two years ago, it was reported that more than 2,000 Thai scools did not have electricity. Anyone know how many schools still don't have electricity?

[trainman34014]

So; in a gazzilian years time when i buy something for 199 Baht and give the girl 200 Baht she will not have to use a calculator to find out what change i should get ! I'll believe it when i see it, but i won't because i will have long since turned to ashes.

[hanuman2543]

And the Thai students with their remarkably ( in fact this means several years behind the best ) low score finished at position Nr? out of the 60 countries?

[h90]

This is all fine and good but unless there is the desire coming from a student to want to learn, then scores will remain low.

But you can make a few schools with this standard first. You'll have immediately companies that offer the double salary for everyone who can finish it. As well the universities will want these people.

You drop all the nonsense (school uniforms, being a good buddhist, singing the national anthem). For every half year passed Thailand gives a 5000 Baht and the top 30% 10000 Baht. (The total won't be much).

And of course you kick out everyone who fails. Some Indian and Chinese will pass.

Next you make a watered down version and technical colleges with the same standard.

Next you expand it to the universities.

Than you try to broaden everything.

Everything of course for free as long as the people pass. It will need generations. But it will work.

[h90]

90 or so schools, eh? How many schools are there in Thailand? Two years ago, it was reported that more than 2,000 Thai scools did not have electricity. Anyone know how many schools still don't have electricity?

I would say for a primary school electricity isn't important. In my first 8 years of school there wasn't much that would have need electricity.

BUT if they don't have electric what else is missing? The stories of appointed English teacher who can't speak English and ask Farangs in the train/bus if they could help a bit as they know that they have no clue....

[FangFerang]

I teach Science in Thailand. Out of over one hundred students, I have ten that actually learn anything. Everyone passes the course. When I was a child, if anyone told me that I could do nothing and still advance, that is exactly what I would have done.

Nothing.

The reason is not Thainess, it is business. Private schools want to keep students. And they are allowed to do so -- at any cost.

Corruption in plain sight the junta will not alleviate whatsoever. That's why the education budget is so high compared to other countries. Thailand subsidizes academic failure. The schools get 30 k baht per student per year, so they keep those students even if they assault someone -- and take in special needs students too and throw them into a program the 'average' kids can barely comprehend..

Even the Chinese think it's funny, and Buddha knows they're not corrupt......

Yellow goggles...anything to say? Red goggles...a word...just one?

Nah, I didn't think so.

[monk213]

haha sorry I cannot stop laughing, the headline alone is too much! ayyyy lmao!! Seriously, help from SK, I know they need it but to make it so public... hahaha wow this has made my night complete. Thank f*#^ I am leaving this place soon

[noahvail]

90 or so schools, eh? How many schools are there in Thailand? Two years ago, it was reported that more than 2,000 Thai scools did not have electricity. Anyone know how many schools still don't have electricity?

I would say for a primary school electricity isn't important. In my first 8 years of school there wasn't much that would have need electricity.

BUT if they don't have electric what else is missing? The stories of appointed English teacher who can't speak English and ask Farangs in the train/bus if they could help a bit as they know that they have no clue....

With respect, I must disagree with your stance on electricity. I started in primary school 59 years ago. Electricity gave us light on the dark days and when we had evening activities. It provided hot water for proper hygiene. It provided fans for when we were warm, and heat for when we were cold. It ran the movie and slide projectors. It gave us a P.A. system so we all got the same message at the same time, and intercoms to individual rooms. I'm quite sure I'm leaving out lots of stuff like fire alarms and running pumps for sprinkler systems, and the exhaust fan in the science lab (we really did some noxious-smelling experiments back in the fourth grade).

Even though electricity is important (without utility poles the school has no common internet), that's not my point. I absolutely agree with you about the quality of the Thai-educated English teachers. We're friends with a fair number of them. Those whose degree was in English education speak and teach much, much better than the "liberal arts" types who are chosen, seemingly at random, to fill an English teaching slot.

[Benmart]

So; in a gazzilian years time when i buy something for 199 Baht and give the girl 200 Baht she will not have to use a calculator to find out what change i should get ! I'll believe it when i see it, but i won't because i will have long since turned to ashes.

Perhaps it would be better to forget the 1 baht and forego waiting for nature to take its course.

I've found that negative thinking ages one and makes life a bit less enjoyable.

[Maroon Watcher]

In my (and I quote) "Detention center" skool

The Japanese class (with certificate) is full of, on time (ish) learners, who listen, learn, and take part... (I had to see it for my own eyes)

In the morning English class (No certificate) - they stay in bed or enjoy a conversation breakfasts...

(Head teacher said, " don't do too much, or they won't turn up")

In the Thai class opposite, they have to be on time, to write notes, or copy from the board -

whilst the teacher sits in the office for 30+ minutes, having breakfast...

Good Luck to anyone who tries to break the mold - it's still on the Potter's wheel...

[tonbridgebrit]

http://www.thailawforum.com/blog/thai-immigration-crackdowns-on-tourist-visas

Thai Immigration Crackdowns on Tourist Visas

by admin on May 26, 2014

The chief of the Thailand Immigration Department has explained that the recent crackdown on border runs is predominantly aimed at preventing South Koreans, Russians and Vietnamese for working illegally in Thailand, but warns that discretion may not necessarily be exercised on other nationalities reports The Bangkok Post.

Immigration has explained that if someone wishes to work or retire in Thailand then they must apply for the correct visa, according to The Bangkok Post. The difficulty for many working illegally in Thailand is they are working in jobs that under Thailand labor laws are supposed to only be carried out by someone with Thai nationality, such as a tourist guide.

Since the policy was enforce, the main target has been South Koreans, with many people of that nationality being denied entry into Thailand on a daily basis.

Read the full story here

[tonbridgebrit]

Those South Koreans, got to have a crackdown on those guys.

The North Koreans, they're probably okay. Leave them alone. How many North Koreans are there in Thailand ??

[BillyBobThai]

It is encouraging to see an asian who does not die their hair jet black.

[Roadman]

This is all fine and good but unless there is the desire coming from a student to want to learn, then scores will remain low.

The issue is not the desire in the students to want to learn. The issue is the desire in the education system to teach.

I see heaps of thai kids brought out of Thailand in their childhood and early teens. They are average students in Thailand but put them into a western school with support and believe in them from their parents and teachers (and that is Thai kids from middle class thai families schooling them in western countries, excluding the rich brats, and kids who have inherited a western dad and citizenship in western countries) and have seen heaps of them flourish through school and into university as long as they can pick up English at a reasonable rate.

That suggests along with all the corruption and needless other garbage that goes on in thai society and likewise into its education system that the desire to learn from students does not have a chance to flourish let alone get a foot hold when the system is so flawed. I read somewhere that Thailand out of all the ASEAN countries spends the most on education per head but has the lowest achieving students. Also under the last Pheu Thai government that was in power for 2 and a half years there were four different Ministers of Education - more interest in rewarding crony policy backers than education of their people being set as standards right at the top. No wonder most teachers and administrators when they see that corruption going on and they bow and kow tow to the pathetic patronage system that bounds the rich forever rich and the poor forever scheduling their daughters to whore houses, also partake in the garbage and assist that the system is failed.

Nothing will change until both the education system is massively overhauled, corruption is stifled and the pathetic patronage system which is the biggest curse today on Thailand is thrown into the trash bin where it should have been in Thailand's first successful coup in 1932 when Thailand was given its first stiff of democracy. 82 years on hopefully this coup will start that process in motion.

Edited August 22, 2014 by Roadman

[Scott]

The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) and Edupark Company Limited on Friday agreed to implement the Thailand Educational Development Evaluation Test (TEDET) to raise academic standards of science and technology teaching in Thailand.

Since when did implementing a new test raise actual learning?

[joshstiles]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I teach Science in Thailand. Out of over one hundred students, I have ten that actually learn anything. Everyone passes the course. When I was a child, if anyone told me that I could do nothing and still advance, that is exactly what I would have done.

Nothing.

The reason is not Thainess, it is business. Private schools want to keep students. And they are allowed to do so -- at any cost.

Corruption in plain sight the junta will not alleviate whatsoever. That's why the education budget is so high compared to other countries. Thailand subsidizes academic failure. The schools get 30 k baht per student per year, so they keep those students even if they assault someone -- and take in special needs students too and throw them into a program the 'average' kids can barely comprehend..

Even the Chinese think it's funny, and Buddha knows they're not corrupt......

Yellow goggles...anything to say? Red goggles...a word...just one?

Nah, I didn't think so.

What???

[DinoSabanovic]

Nothing will change. Why?

Because children are allowed to stay at home and there is no law to force them in school.

Also they are very lazy to learn, especially here in Isaan.

Son of my brother in law one morning was all in tears and crying "I don't want to go to school", father allowed him stay at home.

Hasn't been in school ever since. Last time in school he was 13, now he is 15.

Amazing Thailand.

[BestBitterPhuket]

This is very positive an much needed!

[seajae]

I teach Science in Thailand. Out of over one hundred students, I have ten that actually learn anything. Everyone passes the course. When I was a child, if anyone told me that I could do nothing and still advance, that is exactly what I would have done.

Nothing.

The reason is not Thainess, it is business. Private schools want to keep students. And they are allowed to do so -- at any cost.

Corruption in plain sight the junta will not alleviate whatsoever. That's why the education budget is so high compared to other countries. Thailand subsidizes academic failure. The schools get 30 k baht per student per year, so they keep those students even if they assault someone -- and take in special needs students too and throw them into a program the 'average' kids can barely comprehend..

Even the Chinese think it's funny, and Buddha knows they're not corrupt......

Yellow goggles...anything to say? Red goggles...a word...just one?

Nah, I didn't think so.

have to agree, our daughter goes to after school classes to learn science , english etc because her school classes simply dont teach them properly. She is in a class of 30 that had to sit special exams to gain entry to the class as it is the only one in the southern area that teaches the subjects needed to be a doctor etc, she gained a very high entry position but she still needs to go to night classes to maintain the learning necessary. It seems that only private teaching is designed to produce a knowledgable student, the average teachers at the schools just dont care, time that teachers were made to earn their pay and students had to pass their exams to advance to a higher class.

[ABCer]

A typically vile anti-Thai post.

Thailand does not need Korean help.

Thai students are not inferior to Korean.

Thai Education is on par with the best in the World.

Thailand is a Hub of everything good including Maths.

Obviously there is a plot to undermine Thai Patriotism.

[umbanda]

A good example it is important in any professional field. In teaching...the history of Jaime Escalante, a math teacher in the US in the 70s and 80s. The 1988 movie "Stand and Deliver" about his work, says everything...not only about students potential. Mr. Escalante was an "alien", an Hispanic migrant with a teaching degree from his country...only able to get a teaching job in the worst school possible in Los Angeles worst area.

In some US public schools the film about his work is played to students and teachers.

Mr. Escalante becomes California Secretary of Education in the late 90's

1. Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutierrez was a Bolivian educator well known for teaching students calculus from 1974 to 1991 at Garfield High School, East Los Angeles, California. Wikipedia
3. Born: December 31, 1930, La Paz, Bolivia
4. Died: March 30, 2010, Roseville, California, United States
5. Movies: Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
6. Education: Pasadena City College, California State University, Los Angeles

   http://youtu.be/ncSwOkOhz-8 Have fun!

Edited August 23, 2014 by umbanda

[belg]

so a test is going to raise the education ? do they mean, they will also provide all the answers to the students taking the test, so they will score higher and everybody gets face for better results (on paper) ?