SURVEY: Will educational reforms result in significant improvements in the Thai educational system

[ausbeat999]

Fully understand what your saying, my sister in-law here has just worked all weekend at the school for no pay and I'm quite sure that wouldn't happen in most countries. you have obviously got a very dedicated wife to her profession. but it seems everybody on here has a bit say for their own personal reasons and well justified, we all look at things differently form other aspects and observances and most I would say come from a better educating system. So please don't get too upset for your wife it is not having a dig at her or others personally just the general picture, people wouldn't comment if it wasn't relevant to them, they are obviously concerned.

[AlQaholic]

Lemme see, what was the proposals from the esteemed leader again:

1. Teach grade 1 kids the Thai Alphabet.

2. more vocational education.

Edited June 15, 2015 by AlQaholic

[NongKhaiKid]

Any improvements in education have to be bettered by improving, in fact changing, the attitude of those involved in the profession.

Schools, school directors, teachers etc have a nice little thing going and most definitely oppose change which will affect them, forget the students.

How can changes work if application is left in the hands of the same people with the same attitudes ?

This may apply to some but not all. Would you like to explain what nice little things these people have going and will most definitely oppose any change that will affect them? My wife is a teacher, very well credentialed and she too has asked what you're on about? She also wants to know what position you hold within the education system that enables you to provide such criticism? 30 years of teaching, two university degrees and a lot of compassion for her students. They even ring her after hours and on weekends to get help when they do not understand the lessons. Pretty poor attitude wouldn't you say?

Are you aware that many Thai teachers not only work their required 5 days but also many hours after they go home and for no compensation, so they can provide the best education to their students. Again, a pretty poor attitude wouldn't you say? You'll also find that, out of their own pockets, many teachers provide food, clothing, shoes for the poorer students and also teach them how to socialise and provide behavioural lessons, which many do not receive at home. Again, a very poor attitude.

Since the announcement by the education department, she has been required to attend meetings three days a week, Friday to Sunday, where she is provided details of the additional curriculum that she is required to provide other teachers in her group so they can provide more detailed lessons to their students. She also works into the early hours of the morning, most nights, in order that she gain further knowledge that will enable her to provide the necessary education to her school's students. So yes, given all of the above she has to be one of those whom you seem to think have a poor attitude and do not care for their students. Is that right?

And yes, it will take time but with the dedication of many teachers that I know, it will eventually come to fruition. Unfortunately, the problem is not only with some teachers, not all, but also the parents, many of whom are poorly educated and cannot assist in the education of their own children, unlike many of us westerners, who had parents who could. It seems many forget that education not only relates to schools but at home and amongst one's peers.

I'm not saying all teachers are no good, feathering their own nests etc and it's wonderful your wife is so dedicated.

I taught here for many years including at university level and I know what I saw and heard affecting me, other teachers and students. I'm not going to list examples as anyone with knowledge of the educational system, be it teacher or parent, will have a good idea.

Your wife may well be one of the exceptions to the rule in the profession but is she saying there's absolutely no wrong doing ?

[bangon04]

Thai elite society, from the very highest levels downward, can afford to educate their kids overseas, and frequently do so. The middle classes can pay for the pale copies know as "international" schools.

Getting into Chula and a few other elite universities almost guarantees social respect, but also usually requires social connections.

So where is the incentive for the elite to significantly improve the general standards of public education for the masses in Thailand?

[little mary sunshine]

Any reform, if structered with the students in mind can be positive.

[Daniel Boon]

I left school at age 14; I perceived the 'educated' as people who had a piece of paper they believed made them better

I went to Uni and know my perception to be largely true ... I just passed the grade, because I refused to reference work I knew to be out dated and or incorrect.

Having a differing opinion was not encouraged nor discussed (to consider the merits of an opinion) ...

Tutors do not take kindly, to those that question them ...

[Saan]

Stop teaching Thainess and there might be some chance of improvement.

[kannot]

There may be improvements, but I doubt they will be significant. The country is way too concerned with making sure that students turn out to be good Thai citizens. To do that, they really can't be educated.

And the results are plain to see, a nation of "sheeple" blindly telling the emperor about his new clothes kowtowing to the higher ups.

[Sydebolle]

The official Thailand's elite ensured, that nothing happened on that front for the last +/- 100 years. Hence reforms are not only very much overdue and very very urgent but would have to be undertaken by non-Thai experts. Thais have, after all, proven that they cannot/do not want it.
This would result in a ASEAN-wide more competitive Thailand and her people but would likewise mean, that the domestic "fun and games" routine is over and out. And latter will not happen anytime soon if things go according to the elite.

As long as education is tied to status and financial means you will find rich kids having no clue sitting at the switch boxes of Thailand while the smart, witty kids of poorer rooting will ...... stay at root levels without any chance whatsoever to enter a fair-for-all-chanced life of theirs. Sad, and hopefully I am completely wrong with all this.

[fred Kubasa]

Inasmuch a Thais will be reforming the system that some of the very same Thais originated I see

only changes that will actually WORSEN the so called education system. They still haven't learned that

" Throwing more money at a problem NEVER solves the problem" it only placates the public into thinking

something is really taking place.

[zyphodb]

Any improvements in education have to be bettered by improving, in fact changing, the attitude of those involved in the profession.

Schools, school directors, teachers etc have a nice little thing going and most definitely oppose change which will affect them, forget the students.

How can changes work if application is left in the hands of the same people with the same attitudes ?

The kids said it nicely, But don't forget the education ministry bureaucrats etc. they don't wanna lose their slice of the pie or have it reduced, And then does anyone in power or pulling the strings really want an educated populace?

Of course nothing will change, mores the pity.....

[zyphodb]

There are many fundamental issues that need to addressed before change can happen.

Kids need to be:

Encouraged to ask questions

Allowed to fail

Discouraged from copying

Encouraged to be creative and to have unique ideas

Teachers need to:

Encourage critical thinking

Begin teaching history and the success and failures of other cultures/ideologies

Learn and teach English

Take a scientific approach

Stop getting their self esteem from empty ceremonies where the children are forced to honor them.

Most of this can be achieved without increasing the budget.

Totally right but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen...

[VIPinthailand]

they should create jobs first.

ladies do prostitution to help poor families in Isaan.

education reforms won't help if no job and no money after school . they will all finish in a bar looking for the few rich farangs maintained by nany States, but for how long?

when nany States will cut retirement benefits, Thailand will be deep in the ground like the worse African countries.

Edited June 16, 2015 by VIPinthailand

[gemguy]

When I first came to Thailand in 1979 I read newspaper articles about how the Thai government was launching nation wide English language programs.

Now think about how successful that educational program was....36 years later ....lol

Cheers

[wolfmanjack]

There are some good schools here.

The school my kids went to P1-6 at taught critical thinking and how to do research. They scored well in the national tests and the principal went to Bangkok many times times to teach the teachers how to teach. After a while they moved him to a larger school and his replacement was pretty much not interested in running the school.

Now my kids are in M 1-6 and this school will give the kids a big fat zero for missing 1 piece of homework. They are given a chance to make it up but if the kid doesn't he does not advance. Also according to my kids there are a few kids that have taken the same grade over twice. So not all schools have a no fail policy.

However i am aware of teachers at other schools that give extra learning classes that cost money and give higher grades to kids that attend even though they do not deserve the higher grades. i sat in on one such class and the "teacher" simply read the answers from the book to the kids. The problem was the answers in the book were wrong and she got plenty peeved off when I pointed it out to her. Especially since the head of the English department was watching.

[Stan42]

Non, niet, nein, and no.

[sdanielmcev]

I don't see the Thai educational system as in any dire straits. Gfs' daughter and her friends all study hard, ask questions, and want to improve themselves. Her university seems to have the same ratio of good students to bad as back home.

And I reiterate, as said before, learning English does not equate to a good education. That's just more bigoted hogwash.

[BudRight]

I left school at age 14; I perceived the 'educated' as people who had a piece of paper they believed made them better

I went to Uni and know my perception to be largely true ... I just passed the grade, because I refused to reference work I knew to be out dated and or incorrect.

Having a differing opinion was not encouraged nor discussed (to consider the merits of an opinion) ...

Tutors do not take kindly, to those that question them ...

What a sad story.

[Si Thea01]

Any improvements in education have to be bettered by improving, in fact changing, the attitude of those involved in the profession.

Schools, school directors, teachers etc have a nice little thing going and most definitely oppose change which will affect them, forget the students.

How can changes work if application is left in the hands of the same people with the same attitudes ?

This may apply to some but not all. Would you like to explain what nice little things these people have going and will most definitely oppose any change that will affect them? My wife is a teacher, very well credentialed and she too has asked what you're on about? She also wants to know what position you hold within the education system that enables you to provide such criticism? 30 years of teaching, two university degrees and a lot of compassion for her students. They even ring her after hours and on weekends to get help when they do not understand the lessons. Pretty poor attitude wouldn't you say?

Are you aware that many Thai teachers not only work their required 5 days but also many hours after they go home and for no compensation, so they can provide the best education to their students. Again, a pretty poor attitude wouldn't you say? You'll also find that, out of their own pockets, many teachers provide food, clothing, shoes for the poorer students and also teach them how to socialise and provide behavioural lessons, which many do not receive at home. Again, a very poor attitude.

Since the announcement by the education department, she has been required to attend meetings three days a week, Friday to Sunday, where she is provided details of the additional curriculum that she is required to provide other teachers in her group so they can provide more detailed lessons to their students. She also works into the early hours of the morning, most nights, in order that she gain further knowledge that will enable her to provide the necessary education to her school's students. So yes, given all of the above she has to be one of those whom you seem to think have a poor attitude and do not care for their students. Is that right?

And yes, it will take time but with the dedication of many teachers that I know, it will eventually come to fruition. Unfortunately, the problem is not only with some teachers, not all, but also the parents, many of whom are poorly educated and cannot assist in the education of their own children, unlike many of us westerners, who had parents who could. It seems many forget that education not only relates to schools but at home and amongst one's peers.

I'm not saying all teachers are no good, feathering their own nests etc and it's wonderful your wife is so dedicated.

I taught here for many years including at university level and I know what I saw and heard affecting me, other teachers and students. I'm not going to list examples as anyone with knowledge of the educational system, be it teacher or parent, will have a good idea.

Your wife may well be one of the exceptions to the rule in the profession but is she saying there's absolutely no wrong doing ?

Thanks for broadening you reply, it at least shows that you have some insight into the system and that it was not just a generalisation, written without any basis. And no, my wife is not one eyed, neither am I, it's just that when many post here they do so with little or no information to sustain their allegations.

As I said, it may apply to some but not all and I was only highlighting that not all fit the category. There are many, many administrators, school directors, teachers and teacher's aides, who have a good attitude and are totally dedicated to educating and socialising their students.

Of course, in any profession, there are good and bad eggs but if we want to be critical, then don't you think, that rather than posting what appears to be a generalisation, one should respond with substance to sustain any allegations raised. I might be wrong in my summation but then I could well be right.

[canuckamuck]

It is interesting that criticisms of the Thai education system hit upon the same problems regardless of the region, meaning that the overlying problems are more than just a few bad teachers, but that problems are systematic and directed from the center; either by intention or errant policy.

[SuwadeeS]

Thailand is not able to improve the education system, because.....

1. Parent cannot control there kids. That means when the kidscome homefrome school, they play all day long with theirsmartphone. So the information the brain got in the morning will not be saved in the brain. FAKT!

2. As I have given the order from all kind of different school, not to let fail any student, even to give them ascore of at least 75 %. That means they are unable to face there real score, or to fail and repeat a school year. FAKT!

3. The government does like to take advice from foreigners or from foreign education organisations. So it is difficult to find the right way and make the right improvements. FAKT!

4. There are still too many Thai English teacher, who are teaching English but do not have the stills and knowledge. Fakt!

If Thailand wants to make a better education system, they have to change these things. Starting with let lazy students failand repeat a school year.

[BobbyL]

It's the blind leading the blind.

From the top down this country is riddled with complete and utter inept charlatans, sadly.

[elgordo38]

As my old grandmother used to say "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink" Education as mentioned above is HARD work not a CAKE walk. Its a tripartite effort. Students need to stay awake and pay attention IN class and do their homework. Parents have to stay on top of children and their homework and school them a bit at home if they are qualified. They should sign off on the homework as having been seen and done. The third leg is good teachers. They should be reviewed on their teaching skills from time to time to make sure they are up to snuff. Students in Japan and Korea excel because of parental push. If their skills are low they attend evening class weekend class and summer class. This system rather worries me as children seem to have no childhood. A full childhood does build part of life's foundation/character but in this ever increasingly competitive world and considering the length of ones working years the competition is tough. Most employers today are looking for the creme de la creme the top 10%

[joshstiles]

sure it will improve....just like these survey questions will improve....

don't hold your breath.

[Linzz]

NO, Thailand's public schools have no good educated teachers, so what is the point?

Thai kids and teens and adults are NOT allowed to think for themselves, have been indoctrinated for generations.

In this case the world is just lucky that Buddhism is a peaceful "religion", view of life ...

... unlike the Koran, Muslim crap

Agreed that there is an authoritarian rigor in Thai schools and my Thai kids would never want to return to having experienced schools in NZ. The point about Thai children not being allowed to challenge teachers in critical thinking is well made. Also my kids say teachers in Thailand don't seem to care, like it's more a job than a career.

Can't agree with bringing Islam into this argument in an inflammatory way is helpful though. Which country are you talking about? Or is this just a general statement? Every country culture race and language of which Islam is made up of are all too diverse to make a sweeping dismissal about. Some are anti education and others are very pro education. And those who believe are even attacked by those who don't within the same country depending on what they believe. Every religion has it's day of infamy. Should I say "unlike the Bible Christian crap" of the recent past or regarding the Buddhist violence shown minority groups in Myanmar "unlike the Holy Scriptures Buddhist crap" ?

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand has decades to go, until it becomes a learned society

[DJVillain]

Thailand is not able to improve the education system, because.....

1. Parent cannot control there kids. That means when the kidscome homefrome school, they play all day long with theirsmartphone. So the information the brain got in the morning will not be saved in the brain. FAKT!

2. As I have given the order from all kind of different school, not to let fail any student, even to give them ascore of at least 75 %. That means they are unable to face there real score, or to fail and repeat a school year. FAKT!

3. The government does like to take advice from foreigners or from foreign education organisations. So it is difficult to find the right way and make the right improvements. FAKT!

4. There are still too many Thai English teacher, who are teaching English but do not have the stills and knowledge. Fakt!

If Thailand wants to make a better education system, they have to change these things. Starting with let lazy students failand repeat a school year.

What is a fakt?

Were/are you teaching in Thailand???

[connda]

Having worked within the Thai Educational system, I'm none too optimistic and I have solid reasons to support my pessimism. But, best of luck with the propaganda campaign.

Quantum Education (Thai Style): If you don't seriously take the reins in hand and change the system, but instead, simply wish improvements into existence, improvements will spontaneously happen.

Edited December 16, 2015 by connda

[MrJohnson]

Having worked within the Thai Educational system, I'm none too optimistic and I have solid reasons to support my pessimism. But, best of luck with the propaganda campaign.

Quantum Education (Thai Style): If you don't seriously take the reins in hand and change the system, but instead, simply wish improvements into existence, improvements will spontaneously happen.

Interesting theory (Quantum Education Thai style) and probably correct. A very complex set of problems ranging from pedagogy, teacher skills, assessment, evaluation, resources and on and on. Complex problems require complex solutions, funding and time to solve. Successive governments come up with these quick fix, politically motivated ideas that are often nothing more than mere distractions. What is rarely discussed is the underlying problem and that is the fact that personal progress, in any form, is rarely merit-based. i.e. hard work and intelligence is rarely rewarded unless accompanied by some form of patronage/power, wealth or high-profile family name. Any reform of the education system must recognize this fundamental problem. Let's face it, those at the top have nothing to gain and everything to lose by reforming the education system, Consequently, the window dressing will continue.

[bangon04]

mmmm How is this one working out so far?? Are they still "mulling" the possible education reforms they will allow?