Let's elect an education 'tsar' to guide reform: Thai editorial

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EDITORIAL
Let's elect an education 'tsar' to guide reform
The Nation

Thai schooling gets a failing grade because political gamesmanship ruins any chance of improvement

BANGKOK: -- Anyone tempted to blame the poor academic record of Thai students on the students themselves need only look at the system schooling them. Beneficial policies have been lacking for more than a decade while each change of government sees fresh improvement schemes involving massive investments.

Currently the country's secondary-school education system is ranked among the region's worst, and English-language grades continue to plummet.

The fanfare that greeted the Yingluck Shinawatra government's one-tablet-per-student notion faded long ago, along with plans to establish "English-only zones" in schools. Both initiatives have been superseded by a policy of reduced classroom time. Now we have a debate over shifting the university calendar to match that of the rest of Southeast Asia, and university admissions are about to undergo yet another revamp.

With few if any of these policies able to come to grips with the root cause of Thailand's educational failing grades, this constant ebb and flow of ideas and efforts at least identifies the source of the problem. What we have lacked all these years is a master plan that can withstand the political whirlwind.

We have a school system that's always at the mercy of politics. Typically, the Education Ministry portfolio is awarded to someone from the government's coalition-allied parties. Less lucrative in terms of mega-projects and the kickbacks they bring, it's regarded as a second-tier post.

Nor, remarkably, is education policy ever a key platform in election campaigns, a fact as condemning of the voting public as it is of politicians. Candidates who do seek to win votes by addressing school issues tend to spout exactly the sort of populist notions that have failed to bring about sustainable benefit.

Government by coalition is not a factor in the failure of the system. Both the Thaksin and Yingluck administrations, ruling by electoral majority, appointed streams of education ministries, every one of whom came up with a fresh idea that brushed aside preceding efforts. Now we have an ostensibly interim government with Cabinet ministers unable to initiate long-term reforms. Even if a good policy were to be broached, the next elected government is likely to sweep it aside.

Drastic change is needed if Thailand wants to stay globally competitive - and regionally relevant now that the Asean Economic Community is upon us. We must end the habit of flip-flop policies. In its latest survey, assessing 76 countries, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Thailand's secondary-level education 47th. By comparison Singapore was first and Vietnam 12th. In English-language proficiency, Thailand is third worst in Asia, having dropped to No 62 out of 70 in an Education First study. Higher up the list are Malaysia, Indonesia and, again, Singapore and Vietnam.

There is little cause for optimism as to breaking the grip of the education bureaucracy. Instead, perhaps it is time for a bold move - let's take the schools away from the stolid civil service and the mess of politics.

What we need is a elected, independent education "tsar" - given the post for at least a 10-year term, enough time for a leader with vision to steer reform in the right direction. What happened in the past and what continues to happen now is too closely linked to political winds and waves. For the sake of the younger generation and the future of the country, we need to shed the anchor of party gamesmanship and hold to an absolute course.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Lets-elect-an-education-tsar-to-guide-reform-30274987.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-16

[Reigntax]

So now they want a "tsar". Another case of moving backwards 70 years.

[jacky54]

what, no 'road map'?

[thesetat2013]

The writer of this story should know already that it is not acceptable to use education and Thai schooling system in the same topic!

[NongKhaiKid]

Anyone who has been involved in the ' educational system ' here can tell you that there are thousands of ' tzars ' already but better known as school directors and university presidents.

They have overall authority to fiddle budgets, arrange corrupt deals for equipment, demand tea money to hire teachers and ensure their establishment's reputation for high standards by ensuring no student fails and so much more.

Another member of the boys' club in Bkk with a fancy title will not change, or be able to change, anything.

Edited December 15, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[Laughing Gravy]

As with many countries, education needs to be separated from politicians. There is no point appointing a Tsar for reform when you have antiquated governmental departments who ' all want a slice of the pie interfering'. As with many editorials the writer has the right intentions but should spell it out loud and clear firstly. get rid of those in charge now. Start from the beginning and then you just might have a chance. Other than that the article is just a group of sentences that will have no impact in the real Thai world.

[Somtamnication]

Please, no titles like General, Pol Col, etc etc etc.

[arthurboy]

The article comments that education is a second tier appointment in terms of corruption opportunities, 'kick backs' etc.

This is not true. With a huge budget, endless changes to 'policy', numerous organizations, mindless bureaucracy, few experts and no coherent plan, Thailand's Ministry of Education - local and central - is the perfect environment for utter incompetence and corruption.

[doremifasol]

The problem is that there are too many chiefs and not enough indians.

[JAG]

A "Tsar", they could mount him on the "hub"

[Srikcir]

Isn't Prayut already the Tsar of Thailand?

[anon467367354]

maybe a "title" like "tzar" will make a difference, I don't think so.

The problem is Thai culture. Everybody passes so as to not have the parents

lose face. We don't need discipline in the schools other than beating them with a switch

like a buffalo, which in my opinion never works. The teachers are not respected, the students

pretend to respect them, they act respectful in some cases.

The rich buy their kids an education certificate, they pay tea money to get them in, tea money to pass them.

The exam system is ludicrous where it's not an equal opportunity and the poor often get left out.

Basing an education system on testing is just stupid. The best thing any parent could do is home school if they

even have the education to do it. Kids waste so much time memorizing so much trash they don't care about nor

will ever use.

If there is a purpose behind what you're being taught and you can actually use it and see benefit, they will want to learn it.

Teach them business, teach them entrepreneurship, teach them how to think, show them how imagination created some

of the world's most amazing products and tools we have today.

Regurgitation via a #2 pencil scored by a computer is not education. IMHO

[gandalf12]

They need an independent body to oversee the schools throughout the country. It has to be none political and free from political pressures to make changes. The person(s) comprising the overseeing body should not have a fixed term but should be reviewed regarding their progress on a 5 year basis.

As for "Drastic change is needed if Thailand wants to stay globally competitive" this indicates the lack of understanding they have. Thailand is not competitive and it isnt competitive because of restrictive practices that exist as to who can do what. COmpetition requires an open market not a closed one.

[casualbiker]

Three words explain why Thailand's education system isn't working and they are " no fail system " the kids pass every level and every test, there is no natural competition in the vast majority of classrooms due to this phenomena. It should be abolished with the same fanfare they give to other things.

[AlQaholic]

Thai education:

Creates people smart enough to accurately repeat what they have been told and follow orders.

And dumb enough to think because of that education they are smarter than everyone else....

[DrTuner]

Yeah, let's elect and do committees and maybe even a nifty press release, while doing balls all to the actual issue.

[NCC1701A]

i like Thailand the way it is. glad to see nothing will be changing soon.

[Puwa]

Because we are so good at elections.