Democracy awareness to be promoted in Thai education

[webfact]

Democracy awareness to be promoted in Thai education

BANGKOK, 3 December 2014 (NNT)- The Political Development Council (PDC) has introduced 12 democratic principles to Thai education to promote a better understanding of democracy among students.

The Ministry of Education has recently accepted the PDC’s proposal that suggests schools promote democracy actively through lessons and student treatments.

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education Suthasri Wongsamarn said school should be a place where democracy is practiced.

Everyone from the school’s top management to janitors should be a role model for students whether they are trying to resolve a conflict or delivering an instruction about democracy.

A lesson plan must be adjusted according to grade levels so it would not be too difficult for young students to grasp the concept. They should also be encouraged to study the constitution as it is the supreme law of the land.

Mrs. Suthasri added that the PDC would also focus on civic duties. More content would be incorporated into the curriculum to encourage students of all ages to be responsible citizens.


-- NNT 2014-12-03

[jpeg]

Oh, pleeze

[terryp]

whatever these fools believe there has never been TRUE democracy in thailand...and there never will be, too many elites control the game and tell everyone what to do say and think

[rasmus5150]

Thai Democracy 1 on 1.

The more money you have = The more rights you have.

Should rename it to "Thai Democrazy"..........

[Thai at Heart]

Lesson one

Thai democracy is different from farang democracy and needs coups every 6 or 7 years.

[lil fluffy clouds]

Educating only the "idea" of democracy....

[cmsally]

I believe these are the 12 principles they refer to:

(1) Love the country, religions, and the king (monarchy), which currently is the main institution of the country
(2) Be loyal, be altruist, be patient, and be equipped with ideology for public good
(3) Be grateful to parents, guardians, and teachers
(4) Keep on acquiring knowledge and learning both directly and indirectly
(5) Maintain Thai good cultures
(6) Be virtuous, loyal, friendly, and charitable
(7) Correctly understand and learn what democratic form of government with the King as Head of State is
(8) Be well-disciplined/ respect the laws/ youths respect elders (It implies that one with lower social rank respect another whose rank is higher)
(9) Be conscious, be mindful/ know what to do according to the king's words
(10) Know how to live in harmony with the philosophy/principle of Sufficiency Economy (of the king)
(11) Be strong both physically and mentally/ don't succumb to evil sides or to passions/ be afraid or ashamed when commit evil acts
(12) Public interest comes before self interest

Would someone (pleeeze anyone!) care to explain to me what these have in common with democracy.

One thing that I have noticed is on the Thai lit. I have seen it doesn't seem to use the word "democracy". It says more along the lines of social,religious,cultural understanding.

It find it rather irksome that they may have used the word democracy to make it more palatable to an international audience. In which case this is not a proper translation!

I might be wrong on this as I have read limited items on the details.

Edited December 3, 2014 by cmsally

[jaltsc]

"The Political Development Council (PDC) has introduced 12 democratic principles to Thai education to promote a better understanding of democracy among students."

That should be as successful as the "Peaceful Coexistence" program for Technical School students.

Edited December 3, 2014 by jaltsc

[deckape]

Will they be importing teachers...?

I think it is time for these buffoons to stop bandying the word democracy around. There seems to be very little respect for the idea at high levels.

Hey-- here's an idea. Have the schools hold student government elections, then require the leaders serve their full term. Then the students can go to the big Mango and teach 'them' what was learned.

[baboon]

Err, 'Political Development Council'? What is one of those, then?

[heybruce]

University seminars on democracy are banned, but "democracy awareness", meaning democracy as defined by an unelected junta, will be required.

This kind of government was described in a book by George Orwell, but I advise against being seen in public with it.

[Thailand]

"

(1) Love the country, religions, and the king (monarchy), which currently is the main institution of the country

(2) Be loyal, be altruist, be patient, and be equipped with ideology for public good

(3) Be grateful to parents, guardians, and teachers

(4) Keep on acquiring knowledge and learning both directly and indirectly

(5) Maintain Thai good cultures

(6) Be virtuous, loyal, friendly, and charitable

(7) Correctly understand and learn what democratic form of government with the King as Head of State is

(8) Be well-disciplined/ respect the laws/ youths respect elders (It implies that one with lower social rank respect another whose rank is higher)

(9) Be conscious, be mindful/ know what to do according to the king's words

(10) Know how to live in harmony with the philosophy/principle of Sufficiency Economy (of the king)

(11) Be strong both physically and mentally/ don't succumb to evil sides or to passions/ be afraid or ashamed when commit evil acts

(12) Public interest comes before self interest"

No doubt being turned in to a hit song and musical?

[DM07]

Yes...right!

[slygeeza]

not sure why Thailand is being laughed at when most of the Western countries these days are oligarchies in everything but name

[Thai at Heart]

"

(1) Love the country, religions, and the king (monarchy), which currently is the main institution of the country

(2) Be loyal, be altruist, be patient, and be equipped with ideology for public good

(3) Be grateful to parents, guardians, and teachers

(4) Keep on acquiring knowledge and learning both directly and indirectly

(5) Maintain Thai good cultures

(6) Be virtuous, loyal, friendly, and charitable

(7) Correctly understand and learn what democratic form of government with the King as Head of State is

(8) Be well-disciplined/ respect the laws/ youths respect elders (It implies that one with lower social rank respect another whose rank is higher)

(9) Be conscious, be mindful/ know what to do according to the king's words

(10) Know how to live in harmony with the philosophy/principle of Sufficiency Economy (of the king)

(11) Be strong both physically and mentally/ don't succumb to evil sides or to passions/ be afraid or ashamed when commit evil acts

(12) Public interest comes before self interest"

No doubt being turned in to a hit song and musical?

Of course this all falls down when little Somchai says,

Teacher, do you follow all of these rules?

[NongKhaiKid]

This is going to be a joy to behold and great preparation for the AEC.

Who is going to write the script is an obvious question but perhaps it won't matter too much as the final draft will need approval at the very highest level.

Other types of democracy may be used as examples of how it's done elsewhere but not for comparison or discussion purposes rather how everybody else is getting it wrong.

Just as well Thai students are not expected to ask questions, far less encouraged to do so, because it will be hard to mesh aspects of Thai history and democracy together especially in respect of older students. Imagine a question about the Thaksin era which is to be officially removed from history books.

[kotsak]

Democracy awareness while democracy is being suppressed and people are being gagged..

TIT style..

[Thailand]

Doesn't hold out much hope for a well written thought out "new" constitution?

[55Jay]

Every day , or nearly so, is a new adventure with obscure announcements by various government Minsters. They seem to come from out of left field and are non-sensical enough that they must sound completely reasonable in Thai language.

I enjoyed the part about students studying the Constitution "because it is the supreme law of the land". What's the Army working on now, Version #19?

Ah well, it is a good idea for students to be "aware" of democracy. Not sure how the school janitor fits into the overall picture, but hey ho, there ya' go.

[Laughing Gravy]

not sure why Thailand is being laughed at when most of the Western countries these days are oligarchies in everything but name

They are getting laughed at by people on here, as it seems daily, especially recently, more ridiculous announcements come out. Many people on these forums have had the opportunity to live in a democratic county, knowing what democracy means. Defending something that is truly opposite to what the meaning, means makes anyone look totally defensive and nationalistic. Although many countries from the west have issues and that is a very big discussion, they still get a vote, 1 person, 1 vote. Until that happens no matter how many lines and statements you put down, explaining about democracy, until you get that it doesn't count. It is that simple.

So that's why the statement is laughable.

[15Peter20]

Thai style democracy is not democracy at all.

[Ozziepat]

Perhaps educators should review the etymology of the word "democracy." From the Greek, it means rule by or power vested in the common people. Governments are put in place by (and are accountable to) the common people to represent them in certain national and international matters. Powers delegated to government, and absolute rights retained by the people, are spelled out in the contemporary "constitution" - a document intended as much to constrain government as empower it.

Various incongruities can be deduced from here.

[cmsally]

I wonder if we all started reading/rereading Plato's Republic, whether they would end up banning it?

[retsdon]

I'm beginning to think it's hopeless.

[outsider]

Principle No. 1: You are encouraged to openly voice your opinion over the platform of your choice, as long as those opinions make whoever is in power looks good.

Principle No. 2: Refer to Principle no. 1.

[whatawonderfulday]

Any thing they teach on this subject under the current regime will be purely coincidental if it has a single"jot" of Democratic principles

[Ragzilb]

There is no democracy anywhere in the world.

[tbthailand]

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education Suthasri Wongsamarn said school should be a place where democracy is practiced.

Teacher to students:

Alright everyone, today we're going to have an 'intervention'

[tullynagardy]

(1) Love the country, religions, and the king (monarchy), which currently is the main institution of the country

(2) Be loyal, be altruist, be patient, and be equipped with ideology for public good

(3) Be grateful to parents, guardians, and teachers

(4) Keep on acquiring knowledge and learning both directly and indirectly

(5) Maintain Thai good cultures

(6) Be virtuous, loyal, friendly, and charitable

(7) Correctly understand and learn what democratic form of government with the King as Head of State is

(8) Be well-disciplined/ respect the laws/ youths respect elders (It implies that one with lower social rank respect another whose rank is higher)

(9) Be conscious, be mindful/ know what to do according to the king's words

(10) Know how to live in harmony with the philosophy/principle of Sufficiency Economy (of the king)

(11) Be strong both physically and mentally/ don't succumb to evil sides or to passions/ be afraid or ashamed when commit evil acts

(12) Public interest comes before self interest

Can somebody email Prayuth number 7, he doesn`t seem to understand that bit.

[Monkeysee]

Thai democracy 101 - damned if you do, damned if you don't.