Prayut to lead 'super board' on education system reform

[Artisi]

If he is going to take personal charge of overseeing education reforms he has got his priorities right for education is one of the most important, if not the most important thing that needs urgent attention.

Not going to be an easy job though what with entrenched ministry, administration and teaching all having to be changed.

And his academic credentials are?

What academic credentials do you need to see that the train is off the tracks and an absolute wreck.

[heybruce]

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What can possibly go wrong?

That is the wrong question - the right question is - It couldn't possibly make things worse, so why not try?

But that would require a worldview that isn't quite so bleak.

"It couldn't possibly make things worse"

A man who gives names to his lucky rings and who stopped a planned university seminar on democracy is now going to lead a 'super board' on education reform. I can see things getting much worse.

[joesanunu]

He had 100% of the PM vote from the legislature so he must be doing something right.

[scorecard]

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What exactly is he doing? He is not competent to oversee changes to an educational system. He may have the finest intentions, but he hasn't the slightest clue when it comes to pedagogy. This is like a chap who fancies himself a handyman deciding he will now take on the service of a B787.

At least he is doing something ! Next to corruption this is probably the most serious problem facing Thailand

And your the guy who repeatedly over many years has scolded others for commenting before the facts come out.

Back to retirement for you.

[kaorop]

backward and downward he cried

first point of order: we must make it more difficult for farang to teach here, they are the ruin of our once great nation

all in favor of making the previous undecipherable, unpassable tests mandatory and doubling the cost.

eyeeyeyeeyeyeyeyeyeyeyyyeeeyeyeyeyeyeeeeee

the eyes have it

lunch

[falangjim]

At least he is doing something ! Next to corruption this is probably the most serious problem facing Thailand

What exactly is he doing? I've read the article and I can't see one thing he's actually doing to empower Thai kids to be more intelligent. Yes, he's making them more appreciative to his brand of Thailand by adding more civics courses, but what is he actually doing to help Thai students?He's not an educator. What right does he have stamping his foot all over the education system?

[Mr Somtam]

Patriotism as a subject? Utterly disgusting nonsense

More on the surface moral values and more revisionist textbooks on the agenda

Someone please show me a single qualification this guy has to be reforming the education system?

MUPPET

Reminds me of that guy, what's his name again, Kim Yong Something...

[Bob12345]

At least he is doing something ! Next to corruption this is probably the most serious problem facing Thailand

What exactly is he doing? I've read the article and I can't see one thing he's actually doing to empower Thai kids to be more intelligent. Yes, he's making them more appreciative to his brand of Thailand by adding more civics courses, but what is he actually doing to help Thai students?He's not an educator. What right does he have stamping his foot all over the education system?

Cannot agree more.

What he is doing is the exact opposite of what Thailand, and its education system, need: more independent thinking and questioning things. If you dont agree with him he will scold you in public, make threats to punish you, and "invite" you for re-education.

It is now not allowed to protest, discuss politics in a group, ask probing questions, or even do a poll to measure discontent. What is that for an example for students?

One thing is for sure: my kids will never go through the Thai educational system (or the North Korean one which shows large similarities).

[Bob12345]

If he is going to take personal charge of overseeing education reforms he has got his priorities right for education is one of the most important, if not the most important thing that needs urgent attention.

Not going to be an easy job though what with entrenched ministry, administration and teaching all having to be changed.

And his academic credentials are?

What academic credentials do you need to see that the train is off the tracks and an absolute wreck.

No credentials are needed to see it, huge credentials are needed to fix it.

Do you really want to bet the education of a generation on someone without credentials to fix this train wreck? Would you send your own kids to a Thai school where someone without any credentials has composed the curriculum?

[Tokay]

Lesson 1: You are different and superior to farang because you eat rice and they eat bread.

Lesson 2: Do as you are told, always. Do not ever, ever question anything.

Lesson 3: If you have a question, please see Lesson 2.

Class dismissed.

[geriatrickid]

And his academic credentials are?

If you really want to know do some research.

If not, you are just another troll in for a bash.

It was a legitimate question. The fact is that the general does not have any training or expertise in pedagogy.

In fact, as far as academic training goes, he comes up short to put it politely. Senior generals in Japan, USA, Singapore, UK etc. typically hold graduate and post graduate diplomas from top universities. For example, the head of medical services in the Japanese army is qualified in health administration, the head of the US Army Corps of Engineers is a qualified and experienced engineer, senior officers in the Royal Navy have qualifications and lengthy experience that ranges from naval architecture to engineering to psychology and of course war college certification. Your general is famous as much for his paucity of academic training as he is for his daily claims of expertise and abilities.

One of the traits of success is knowing one's limitations and knowing when to bring in the people who are right for the job. Apple did this, even though Steve Jobs stayed as supreme innovator and inspiration. General Eisenhower did this when he started the liberation of Europe and continued to shift his generals around when the jobs required the right man. The Thai general may indeed be a decent man with honourable intentions, but he is taking on too many responsibilities, spreading himself too thin, and wading in to quagmires where a specific set of skills is required. I'm sure the general may have been a good hospitality administrator overseeing the large numbers of golf courses, rest facilities and other business interests of the Thai military, but I don't think that experience is transferable to the field of education.

[jcisco]

If he is going to take personal charge of overseeing education reforms he has got his priorities right for education is one of the most important, if not the most important thing that needs urgent attention.

Not going to be an easy job though what with entrenched ministry, administration and teaching all having to be changed.

And his academic credentials are?

Either you are aware that question is a strawman and also aware that the answer holds no relevance to the subject at hand. Sounds intelligent like it means something but it doesn't, a better question would of been what is his prior experience and the outcomes of his performance.

[berybert]

Cha Cha Cha to lead. Red lights start flashing after those few words.

[heybruce]

If he is going to take personal charge of overseeing education reforms he has got his priorities right for education is one of the most important, if not the most important thing that needs urgent attention.

Not going to be an easy job though what with entrenched ministry, administration and teaching all having to be changed.

And his academic credentials are?

If you really want to know do some research.

If not, you are just another troll in for a bash.

Surprisingly little is written about his education. According to Wikipedia, the only source I found with anything, he has a BS from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, and he also studied at Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School, Command and General Staff College, and National Defence College of Thailand. He also attended Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses. There is no mention of any experience teaching.

I'm curious, how many people would want a person with this background in charge of the education system in their home countries?

Ok, those of you who answered yes, consider this from Time:

"If such dictates faintly echo the on-the-spot guidance dispensed by North Korea’s tyrannical Kim clan, then Prayuth’s growing superstitiousness is reminiscent of Burma’s former military rulers, who governed with the advice of numerologists, mystics and astrologers.

In a high-profile speech last week, Prayuth said, “Today, I have a sore throat, a pain in the neck. Someone said there are people putting curses on me.” His solution was to have so much protective holy water poured over him that he “shivered all over.”

Buddha statues and religious idols were deployed to Government House on Monday to ward off malevolent spirits, reports Reuters. And according to a junta spokesman, Prayuth’s desk has now been repositioned according to the Chinese geomantic art of feng shui." http://time.com/3315701/thailand-kittisak-soomsri-human-rights-southeast-asia-coup-general-prayuth-chan-ocha-superstition-bizarre/

People who care about education in Thailand should be very afraid. Unless they think a little feng shui will fix things.

Edited February 28, 2015 by heybruce

[simonuk]

What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.
If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?
It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

[Robby nz]

What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.

If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?

It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking.

What does he have to know about education to chair a panel ? A panel of experts.

The same as he has to know about rice to chair the group on rice, which he does.

All he has to know is how to get them into gear and kick their collective asses if they are not working, and kicking asses seems to be one of his specialties.

His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out.

There are plenty of people out there who know what is wrong with the system and have the expertise to put together methods of fixing it. These are the ones who will be brought together, who will be coming up with the ideas, the solutions, the methods from their collective experience.

His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army.

The difficult part will be getting the (as I read elsewhere) 'decades of entrenched attitudes' changed throughout the whole system.

[geriatrickid]

What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.

If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?

It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking.

What does he have to know about education to chair a panel ? A panel of experts.

The same as he has to know about rice to chair the group on rice, which he does.

All he has to know is how to get them into gear and kick their collective asses if they are not working, and kicking asses seems to be one of his specialties.

His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out.

There are plenty of people out there who know what is wrong with the system and have the expertise to put together methods of fixing it. These are the ones who will be brought together, who will be coming up with the ideas, the solutions, the methods from their collective experience.

His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army.

The difficult part will be getting the (as I read elsewhere) 'decades of entrenched attitudes' changed throughout the whole system.

Thai generals give orders. They do not engage in consensus building exercises. Your summary of a chairman's responsibilities simplify the role and demonstrate that 1) you have never chaired an organization or an important committee, and 2) you have no clue as to what pedagogy involves. This isn't the chairmanship of the local army golf course social club, but is a role that requires a knowledge of pedagogy.

Perhaps your general is a master of all skills and has great expertise. However, when countries who possess functioning high quality educational systems wish to review their systems and to implement change they use qualified educated people to lead the activity. Have a look at what Singapore and South Korea have done. When South Korea had a general participating in its educational review, that general had experience running the military colleges and officer continuing education programs. That's the defining difference. Your general probably hasn't the slightest clue as to how a university operates in Thailand.

[Stradavarius37]

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What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.

If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?
It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking.

What does he have to know about education to chair a panel ? A panel of experts.

The same as he has to know about rice to chair the group on rice, which he does.

All he has to know is how to get them into gear and kick their collective asses if they are not working, and kicking asses seems to be one of his specialties.

His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out.

There are plenty of people out there who know what is wrong with the system and have the expertise to put together methods of fixing it. These are the ones who will be brought together, who will be coming up with the ideas, the solutions, the methods from their collective experience.

His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army.

The difficult part will be getting the (as I read elsewhere) 'decades of entrenched attitudes' changed throughout the whole system.

Thai generals give orders. They do not engage in consensus building exercises. Your summary of a chairman's responsibilities simplify the role and demonstrate that 1) you have never chaired an organization or an important committee, and 2) you have no clue as to what pedagogy involves. This isn't the chairmanship of the local army golf course social club, but is a role that requires a knowledge of pedagogy.

Perhaps your general is a master of all skills and has great expertise. However, when countries who possess functioning high quality educational systems wish to review their systems and to implement change they use qualified educated people to lead the activity. Have a look at what Singapore and South Korea have done. When South Korea had a general participating in its educational review, that general had experience running the military colleges and officer continuing education programs. That's the defining difference. Your general probably hasn't the slightest clue as to how a university operates in Thailand.

For that matter, I doubt you know how a university operates in Thailand either...

[joesanunu]

Hey, The guy won 100% of the vote in the legislature to become PM.

He must have mega talents.

[geriatrickid]

For that matter, I doubt you know how a university operates in Thailand either...

I have not appointed myself as supreme leader to oversee the reorganization of any Thai universities have I?

[scorecard]

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If he is going to take personal charge of overseeing education reforms he has got his priorities right for education is one of the most important, if not the most important thing that needs urgent attention.

Not going to be an easy job though what with entrenched ministry, administration and teaching all having to be changed.

And his academic credentials are?

The good general didn't say he will personally design all thew changes, in fact he didn't say anything even remotely like that.

Repeated:

"So you think this guy is a one man band? What he is doing is leading a reform council with very many different departments surrounding himself with experts in their fields. A personal friend of mine who is a university chancellor and professor is one of several on the committee to reform education.Everyone knows the education here is terrible and the general is determined to fix it . It may take a huge effort but give the guy credit for putting the wheels of change on the road."

In business many CEOs realize that their company needs to change. They are personally not full experts at the areas that need change, they use / listen to those experts but play the role of change champion and use their power positional base to push hard / demand change as outlined by the experts.

[metisdead]

A post containing derogatory comments toward the Thai judicial system has been removed:

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[recycled]

Funny how a person who has spent his whole adult life in a closeted and privileged environment and makes it very clear every time he opens his mouth that he doesn't have a clue how the real world works is now an expert of education.

Lordy, lordy ...

He has children of his own and if you had kept up you would know they did go to public schools. From what I read they are pretty independent girls, into music and doing their own thing, with the encouragement of their parents.

From what you have read, very interesting statement indeed. Did you skip the bit about the chauffeuring to and from school, and the maids / cook that wait on them hand and foot and lets not forget the private tutors, surely you read about that. l'm sure they didn't have to walk great distances to & from school, then do 3 hours of chores at home, help loook after younger siblings and old grandparents as well as cook the evening meal in between washing the only one school uniform they can afford. Then when their parents get back from the fields late, I am sure they have time and the schooling to tutor their kids and help with homework. I have to wonder how many of you condesending know alls on TVF have ever been to a true rural village, let alone lived in one. It appears you also have not kept up. Snig27 you are right on the money.

[JAG]

Of course he knows all about education, went to school didn't he?

[casualbiker]

Funny how a person who has spent his whole adult life in a closeted and privileged environment and makes it very clear every time he opens his mouth that he doesn't have a clue how the real world works is now an expert of education.

Lordy, lordy ...

He has children of his own and if you had kept up you would know they did go to public schools. From what I read they are pretty independent girls, into music and doing their own thing, with the encouragement of their parents.

From what you have read, very interesting statement indeed. Did you skip the bit about the chauffeuring to and from school, and the maids / cook that wait on them hand and foot and lets not forget the private tutors, surely you read about that. l'm sure they didn't have to walk great distances to & from school, then do 3 hours of chores at home, help loook after younger siblings and old grandparents as well as cook the evening meal in between washing the only one school uniform they can afford. Then when their parents get back from the fields late, I am sure they have time and the schooling to tutor their kids and help with homework. I have to wonder how many of you condesending know alls on TVF have ever been to a true rural village, let alone lived in one. It appears you also have not kept up. Snig27 you are right on the money.

In your rural village are the rice farmers working 12 months of the year ?

What time do they get back from their fields ?

As for the one school uniform. Well that's Yingluck's fault her government stopped the uniform allowance that Abhisits government put in place, to help pay for cheap ( not so cheap to buy) Chinese tablets for P1 ( 6 year olds) that scheme was mired in problems and never completed! Probably ripe for investigation!

[heybruce]

What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.

If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?

It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking.

What does he have to know about education to chair a panel ? A panel of experts.

The same as he has to know about rice to chair the group on rice, which he does.

All he has to know is how to get them into gear and kick their collective asses if they are not working, and kicking asses seems to be one of his specialties.

His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out.

There are plenty of people out there who know what is wrong with the system and have the expertise to put together methods of fixing it. These are the ones who will be brought together, who will be coming up with the ideas, the solutions, the methods from their collective experience.

His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army.

The difficult part will be getting the (as I read elsewhere) 'decades of entrenched attitudes' changed throughout the whole system.

It seems the general has never been to a school outside the military (see my post #74), has no degree higher than a BS, has no education experience, and allows superstition to guide his actions--dousing himself with holy water to ward off curses, arranging his office according to some feng shui beliefs, wearing lucky rings with names, etc. I'll ask the same question I asked in my earlier post; would you want someone like this in charge of your countries education system?

"His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out."

You've never served in the military, have you? The head of Thailand's army hospitals probably has some medical training and experience, the top man in charge of helicopters is probably a helicopter pilot, the man in charge of artillery should have some artillery experience. At least that's how it works in a functioning military--they have people in charge of specialties that have knowledge and experience in these areas. If Prayuth were acting like a proper general he would find someone with impressive education qualifications and put that person in charge of the panel. Instead, Prayuth is acting like a politician, giving priority to headlines instead of progress.

"His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army."

Your management knowledge comes from watching movies, doesn't it?

"The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking."

I think people who are happy to let a man like this lead a 'super board' on reforming the education system are the ones who are intellectually lacking.

Edited March 1, 2015 by heybruce

[cgphuket]

Thank god they chose the most qualified person for the job.

[MaxLee]

It has begun,... The brainwashing procedure is on the move...

3 ABSOLUTE CORE VALUES:

1. Put up

2. Shut up

3. Do as you're told without questioning...

Edited March 1, 2015 by MaxLee

[whatawonderfulday]

It has begun,... The brainwashing procedure is on the move...

3 ABSOLUTE CORE VALUES:

1. Put up

2. Shut up

3. Do as you're told without questioning...

It started in 1952 when the powers that be at the time decided to change the National curriculum from what was almost an international framework to what you have now. Stalin would be impressed by the brainwashing that has allowed the Elite/Corrupt/Generals to steal billions from this country ever since. The latest round of punitive measures is made by despots, for despots. My worry is what will happen when the retaliation begins. What is needed is a consensual and organised democratic approach to a 21st century country rather than the 19th century approach we are seeing now.

This Nation deserves much better than the the corrupt Generals, bigoted Elite and others who have raped this country of trillions, wake up Thailand, nothing in this world is for free but much is worth fighting for by argument and the will of the people.

Edited March 1, 2015 by whatawonderfulday

[lildragon]

What the <deleted> does he know about education reforms. He should leave it to people with expertise and they should be consulting with the best in this area from all over the world.

If Thailand wants to compete on a world level they should recruit the best from all all over the world surely?

It's pretty clear Thailand is now just under a dictatorship.

The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking.

What does he have to know about education to chair a panel ? A panel of experts.

The same as he has to know about rice to chair the group on rice, which he does.

All he has to know is how to get them into gear and kick their collective asses if they are not working, and kicking asses seems to be one of his specialties.

His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out.

There are plenty of people out there who know what is wrong with the system and have the expertise to put together methods of fixing it. These are the ones who will be brought together, who will be coming up with the ideas, the solutions, the methods from their collective experience.

His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army.

The difficult part will be getting the (as I read elsewhere) 'decades of entrenched attitudes' changed throughout the whole system.

It seems the general has never been to a school outside the military (see my post #74), has no degree higher than a BS, has no education experience, and allows superstition to guide his actions--dousing himself with holy water to ward off curses, arranging his office according to some feng shui beliefs, wearing lucky rings with names, etc. I'll ask the same question I asked in my earlier post; would you want someone like this in charge of your countries education system?

"His experience is as a general in the army, do you think he did everything in the army himself, did he need the expertise of an army surgeon, a helicopter pilot, a bomb disposal man ? No he gave orders and if these orders werent followed look out."

You've never served in the military, have you? The head of Thailand's army hospitals probably has some medical training and experience, the top man in charge of helicopters is probably a helicopter pilot, the man in charge of artillery should have some artillery experience. At least that's how it works in a functioning military--they have people in charge of specialties that have knowledge and experience in these areas. If Prayuth were acting like a proper general he would find someone with impressive education qualifications and put that person in charge of the panel. Instead, Prayuth is acting like a politician, giving priority to headlines instead of progress.

"His job as chair will be to sit at the top of the table and tell them, right you have come up with these ideas now get it done, just the same as he used to do in the army."

Your management knowledge comes from watching movies, doesn't it?

"The absolute stupidity of most of the posters on here is breathtaking."

I think people who are happy to let a man like this lead a 'super board' on reforming the education system are the ones who are intellectually lacking.

Ouch.....