Thai editorial: Curtailing knowledge is just plain dumb

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Curtailing knowledge is just plain dumb
The Nation

The govt wants to appraise the worthiness of three centres of learning, suggesting it prefers its populace stupid and servile

BANGKOK: -- With the inauguration of the Asean Economic Community imminent and with Thai students' scores generally in decline on international tests, it is confounding that the government might want to shut down three established "knowledge centres" in Bangkok.

Deep concern colours recent speculation that the government is contemplating closure - or at least radical cutbacks - for the Thailand Creative and Design Centre, Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park) and National Discovery Museum Institute (Museum Siam).

All three public facilities are operated under the auspices of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, and the government has asked the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission to see whether the country is getting its money's worth.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said he had asked Public Sector Development to assess operations at the three centres and more than 30 other public agencies. He's giving them three to six months to prove their merit.

An appraisal of efficiency in operations and spending is smart, and any corrective measures deemed necessary would be acceptable. But if the actual aim is to close the centres, the authorities are on the wrong track entirely. To deprive the public of these educational facilities would a shocking step backward. Is the intention to see Thailand "dumbed down"?

Mainstream news outlets picked up the ripples of alarm coursing through the social networks after acclaimed architect Duangrit Bunnag - one of the founders of the Creative and Design Centre - declared on Facebook that it might be closed, along with the other two facilities. The Design Centre in turn acknowledged on Facebook there could soon be a "change".

These knowledge centres were born of noble aims. Thailand needed to - and still needs to - become more competitive internationally. The Design Centre has sought to foster innovation, not just among design professionals but also entrepreneurs. TK Park has got more kids reading books at libraries across the country than any previous effort. Museum Siam, with its cheery science exhibitions, shows youngsters that it's fun to learn.

Noble ambitions can of course become skewed, as witnessed with the rice price-pledging scheme and the "one tablet per child" policy, both poorly handled at the administrative level. Those undertakings, though, were fraught with inefficiency and lack of transparency - problems that ruined their chances of success in the long term. The same cannot be said of the knowledge centres, about whose worth there is no doubt in the public's mind.

In 2007 the Surayud Chulanont government, another post-coup regime, also took aim at the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, specifically over "extravagant spending". The budget was slashed and executive salaries cut. Spending levels are subjective, however, a matter of how much importance is attached to the purchased services.

Singapore's founding president, Lee Kuan Yew, knew that no investment in education is too costly when it improves a country's standing in world affairs. The results of his vision are now plain to see.

Prime Minister Prayut has repeatedly stressed the importance of learning, and he seems to understand that kids learn better when they're having fun. Why he's had an apparent change of heart isn't yet clear. Surely he has ample, far more serious issues on his plate than saving a few hundred million on education.

Surely Prayut isn't thinking in terms of saving money. The three organisations are sharing a Bt711.5-million budget this fiscal year, a tiny amount compared to what's spent on arms purchases.

Is he looking for public agencies to single out for poor performance? He should look at the police, or his own military. Should they too be scrapped? Just as the police and military provide the country with physical security, the Design Centre, TK Park and Museum Siam offer intellectual security. Why disarm them?

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Curtailing-knowledge-is-just-plain-dumb-30272653.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-11

[Somtamnication]

The dumb-ing down of the Thai society. No new news here. Next.....

[NongKhaiKid]

Even the bunch of muppets running the country and their backers are smart enough to see the dangers with a well educated population.

Every govt here does.

Edited November 10, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[jaltsc]

"Deep concern colours recent speculation that the government is contemplating closure - or at least radical cutbacks - for the Thailand Creative and Design Centre,"

The choice appears to be:

1) Educate the populace and prepare it to compete in the international technological market place; or,

2) Keep them ignorant so they lack any ability for critical thinking and thus prevent them from questioning the political status quo. Thus ensuring that the power structure in Thailand remains in the hands of the few, the powerful, the corrupt.

Another case of the elite caring for their own interests at the expense of the welfare of the majority.

[noitom]

Ask any Thai to tell you where the nearest public library is or art gallery?

[jaywalker]

Treat the population like mushrooms. Keep 'em in the dark so they can feed them ____.

[JAG]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

[car720]

"Deep concern colours recent speculation that the government is contemplating closure - or at least radical cutbacks - for the Thailand Creative and Design Centre,"

The choice appears to be:

1) Educate the populace and prepare it to compete in the international technological market place; or,

2) Keep them ignorant so they lack any ability for critical thinking and thus prevent them from questioning the political status quo. Thus ensuring that the power structure in Thailand remains in the hands of the few, the powerful, the corrupt.

Another case of the elite caring for their own interests at the expense of the welfare of the majority.

This is a universal outlook. It is just that the Thais are not as good at hiding it as other countries.

Australia is a prime example.

Control by legislation.

[car720]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

As I have mentioned before, there was another leader who did the same thing as a prelude to a fairly major world event.

[NongKhaiKid]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

Isn't the content of a certain Friday night broadcast all anyone needs ?

[Lunchbob]

Have you ever visited these places? I am sure if you saw their budget you would enthusiastically condemn them for wasting everyone's time and energy.

[Denim]

The dumb-ing down of the Thai society. No new news here. Next.....

Actually , considering the current levels you would have thought there was no further room or chance for any further dumbing down. Up will have to be the new down.

[DrTuner]

Who cares about centers, when the general level of education is appalling?

[JAG]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

Isn't the content of a certain Friday night broadcast all anyone needs ?

It may be, trouble is there seems to be a virus which interferes with reception around here. It seems to be particularly prevalent on a Friday evening, and affects TVs in many public places. Edited November 11, 2015 by JAG

[zaphod reborn]

Yes, these worthy government troughs were doing so much to educate the children of Thailand. You can just see how their benefit was reflected in the test scores of students. Don't cut them from the budget. Create more black holes of government waste.

[NongKhaiKid]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

Isn't the content of a certain Friday night broadcast all anyone needs ?

It may be, trouble is there seems t o be a virus which interferes with reception around here. It seems to be particularly prevalent on a Friday evening, and affects TVs in many public places.

This is serious. Find those responsible and book them Danno. Edited November 11, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[NCC1701A]

"He tells them that the others on Yonada do not know they are living in a hollow sphere and how, when he was young, he climbed a high mountain and discovered the secret for himself, saying..."for the world is hollow and I have touched the sky." As he is talking he cringes as though in pain, and collapses dead at Kirk's feet. A red glow appears under the skin at the temple of the old man's head. Natira comes into the room with a small entourage and informs Kirk, Spock and McCoy that the man has been killed by the Oracle for uttering "forbidden words". It is then revealed that the Oracle controls the people with an implanted device referred to as an "instrument of obedience".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_World_Is_Hollow_and_I_Have_Touched_the_Sky

[MeHere]

"Deep concern colours recent speculation that the government is contemplating closure - or at least radical cutbacks - for the Thailand Creative and Design Centre,"

The choice appears to be:

1) Educate the populace and prepare it to compete in the international technological market place; or,

2) Keep them ignorant so they lack any ability for critical thinking and thus prevent them from questioning the political status quo. Thus ensuring that the power structure in Thailand remains in the hands of the few, the powerful, the corrupt.

Another case of the elite caring for their own interests at the expense of the welfare of the majority.

This is a universal outlook. It is just that the Thais are not as good at hiding it as other countries.

Australia is a prime example.

Control by legislation.

My home country (USA) is also massively dumbed down... Look who we got leading the polls! SMH

[Hawk]

Curtailing knowledge is just plain dumb.

No!

Smart people ask questions, think for themselves which leads to eventual disobedience.

[nikmar]

God forbid the great unwashed gain a bit of understanding and knowledge. They might get ideas about getting high paid jobs and all that. The country's wealth has to stay with the elite!

[Srikcir]

There is nothing better than a Thai military education. Some day you might become PM.

[LannaGuy]

yup treat Thais like mushrooms (and some TVF posters) keep in the dark and feed em' *****

sad

[Kasset Tak]

Yea, they put one of the largest libraries in BKK in Central world... they should have placed it somewhere there are people that actually need a library where they can borrow a book as they cant afford to buy it!

Museum Siam, not a good web page in English and lots of their space is up for rent!

The Design Center looks better but I have never been there!

I can understand that they think that the OKMD is spending its budget in the wrong places!

Edited November 11, 2015 by Kasset Tak

[ebean001]

They are not cutting back...yet. They are saying...based on the article...Thai students are doing worse and worse on international tests. Therefore, they need to look at these 3 centers that might be totally failing. If they are failing it is probably the fault of the parents…but that is just my opinion.

In any case, after the evaluation the key step is...what do we do now to improve these centers or close some and start new ones that are effective.

[KIWIBATCH]

yes...shut these three excellent educational places down (I have visited them all).......we need the funds for the planned Museum of Corruption......... better we keep the masses learning about corruption......than reading books and learning about Thailands history.........amazing Thailand

[EnglishJohn]

In another thread today we hear that they are seriously considering closing down a large public library in Bangkok.

Can't have young people reading, they may get dangerous ideas, and discover how much they are missing out under the current regime (s).

I note you had to add 'under the current regime' at the end because it's a whine, not a statement of fact.

After all your Thaksin governments and red-shirt policies, you are as uneducated and ignorant of civilisation in the real world as your predecessors a hundred years ago. Why do you think so many educated farang disagree so strongly with how you think the world should work ?.

But you people always blame somebody else. Your generation has no chance : the damage is done. Let's hope the next government don't spend so much time trying to line their own pockets with the money which should be spent on infrastructure and improving the quality of life for the poor.

You fixation on the Junta is incredibly narrow minded. In the scheme of things, they won't be here long. And they certainly haven't been here long enough for you to blame them for the state of education.

Still using your free tablet ?. Or did it stop working after a couple of months and it was so cheap, you might as well throw it away ?.

[ddavidovsky]

Toys for the boys good. Toys for the people bad.

I've never heard of any of those places though. Perhaps they just need more publicity.

[skildpadden]

I haven't visited the places so I do not know whether they are worth the money or not. But if they should decide to cut these places, the money saved should be spent elsewhere in the educational field - be it libraries, museum or art centers like the BACC. Not on e.g. a ridiculous 1 billion baht statue park. Education is in a appalling state as mentioned thousands of times before - if you want to compete in the AEC you need to change otherwise Thailand will surely get even dumber.

A side-note: I find it interesting that The Nation takes aim at the military and police spending - are they actually starting to see through some of the smoke and getting more bold?

[casindonet]

Keep the 3 organization.....cancel the missile system the army plan to buy. Problem solve!!!!

[hakuho]

Heads-up info on TCDC: (Thailand Creative and Design Center)

--Located in the Emporium-5th floor next to movie theater

--developed under the auspices of Thaksin and maintained by a staff of bi-lingual Thais ...a beautiful space; an oasis in the heart of Bangkok.

--is a world class information resource for design, art and architecture, having over 30,000 books-95% in English and dedicated to principles of design and its application in professional scenarios.

--is used extensively by Thai students, expats, etc.

--membership is required; cost is 3000/thb for one year.

I am a book junkie, American- with three University degrees (Music Conservatory grad, BS Chem Engr, MS Computer Science). I have used public libraries in New York, Boston, Los angeles and many other American cities, and the TCDC and associated museum is unique in its range and quality of educational resources.

After 5 years in Thailand I am OUTTA HERE!