OBEC told to modernize Thai educational curriculum

[webfact]

OBEC told to modernize Thai educational curriculum

BANGKOK, 24 September 2015 (NNT)-The Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has been instructed to develop a curriculum that is up to date, under Thailand’s education reform program.

The Minister of Education, General Daopong Rattasuwan has presented a civil servant policy at the OBEC where he stressed the need to modernize the curriculum.

The Education Minister also placed importance on improving existing teacher training programs, as university graduates don't always possess the skills needed to teach in a classroom.

General Daopong added that he wanted teachers to keep adopting new approaches to teaching to attract and maintain students’ attention during classes.

-- NNT 2015-09-24

[masuk]

".....as university graduates don't always possess the skills needed to teach in a classroom."

How very true. Which is the reason why most teachers in Western countries, having graduated, then continue to study Education for a further year, before being allowed to teach..

A full 3-year Bachelor's degree is needed before teaching in high schools in Australia, followed by a Dip. Ed.

A degree is not necessary for teaching in Primary/Grade schools, but Dip. Ed. is.

[car720]

I once had the pleasure of reading the Masters thesis of the head of English department at a school in which I taught, and to say that everything was cut and paste and complete pidgeon, would be a major understatement. I personally believe that it is the system of just how a director becomes a director, in Thailand, that is to blame for most of the problems. He runs the school according to how much money he can make on the outside. For the poorer Thais a teacher is sacrosanct and therefore beyond reproach. The wei for a director is incredibly high.

[gandalf12]

"....he wanted teachers to keep adopting new approaches to teaching to attract and maintain students’ attention during classes" simple, fail them if they dont et the required score on the test papers

[soalbundy]

what other jokes did he tel them, pretty wild party.

[bangon04]

OMG another day, another education reform.......

Whatever happens, do NOT ask other countries for advice.

[fred Kubasa]

Told to " modernize " as though this could be done by Monday morning

when, in reality, such a massive change could take 10 YEARS and furthermore

he is telling the very people who see nothing wrong with the present

curriculum nor have a clue what/how to " modernize " !

[gerryBScot]

Whatever happens, do NOT ask other countries for advice.

You are completely correct here. What is likely to happen is they will model any new curriculum on the latest English or American editions. What's actually needed is something that addresses Thailand's educational needs. Something that is bold enough to assess the current situation and its many adequacies and chart a way forward.

I would like all the nonsense about vocabulary that is in the current curriculum to be removed. In our school this is translated into vocabulary learning being the most important aspect of language learning as the little darlings get their daily dose of words - written on the board, copied into vocabulary books, presented to teacher for checking and quickly forgotten. In fact never learned, never practised, never used in any context.

[soalbundy]

I think it is working, my 8 year old Thai/English sons English teacher asks him to correct her pronunciation.

[GanDoonToonPet]

They haven't finished the last one yet! They stopped at G9 & left it for a bad job. At one school I worked at, G12 simply did a 'review' of mattayom maths & at another they studied advanced calculus & statistics. The primary curriculum isn't that bad but what they need is a define, clearly defined set of learning outcomes (for each grade) before they embark on a 'radical' new design.

Edited September 24, 2015 by GanDoonToonPet

[DavisH]

There's no point in changing the curriculum if the (poor) teaching methods, assessment, entrance exams do not change to suit it. The main issue with the current curriculum is not so much the content, but it is very vague. One wuld need to pick up an entrance book to see what is actually taught. Forget the Government documents. You will not see a specific syllabus as you would see for IGCSE, OZ HSC exams, etc.

Personally I wouldn't 'leave it up to schools' to do what they want to do. Show them what the 'new' entrance exams will look like. The exams will be almost entirely written exams - show ALL working on maths exams, write essays in language based exams. Include higher order thinking skills. There's no point for teachers to change it the system itself does not change.

[Traveling Sailor]

No positive change will happen until the "no-fail" rule is gone from every class in every school. The 2nd thing to go should be the "don't ask questions" rule, along with immidiate "transfer" of any teacher who does not allow questions from students, every class and every school.

Just these things will affect big change in Thai education.

[Rhys]

Yada Yada.. it has all been said before... the real version... lip service. The hard working Thai English teachers take out their on shingle... make the cram school a money maker...

First inroad, get rid of the stones at the Ministry of Education and the Thai Teacher's council. Next, send in the military instructors, DIs that are on the right track.. the students have to be motivated sir.. Line up those cell phone...

Second, vocational students to the south of Thailand.. mass exodus...put them to work in the rubber plantations... early morning duty. Or the motorcycle race can go on the overwatch...along the roads.

Lastly, pay the NEST with proper creditials and experience a WM wage.

[qwertyuiop]

"as university graduates don't always possess the skills needed to teach in a classroom."

Far too many arrive at university without skills to succeed at university and by that time it is really too late.

[lostinisaan]

The Minister of Education, General Daopong Rattasuwan has presented a civil servant policy at the OBEC where he was stressed out that the need to modernize the curriculum will never be enforced. M 16's will be bought for all grade one and grade seven students in the near future, he explained, before he rushed to his military jeep and fled the scene.

Edited September 25, 2015 by lostinisaan