Some students study on during the school break

[webfact]

Some students study on during the school break
By Chuleeporn Aramnet,
Apinya Poungmanee,
Boonyisa Charoenpiriya
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- IT ISN’T all play and no work for students during the school break as many join tutoring classes to catch up on tricky subjects and revise what they have learnt in their bids to excel.

 

Pakjira Janyong, Delada Haeng-thanirames and Pann Yodwongkong – all Mathayom 2 pupils at Wisutrangsi School in Kanchanaburi – said it was common for Thai youngsters to spend the break in tutoring classes. The three friends came to Bangkok, a hub of tutoring schools, as it is “a constructive way to spend free time”.

 

“It’s not like we only study – we can spend after-class time in activities such as visiting learning centres,” Pakjira said. They also assess what they have learnt as they are registered at various schools in different subjects according to each individual’s interest. Finding themselves as roommates for this break, they agreed it was an experience to boost life skills such as how to take care of themselves and be responsible.

 

Pongpak Trisang, a Mathayom 4 student at St Gabriel’s College in Bangkok, said he attended tutoring classes for subjects he wants to learn more about, like biology and chemistry. He studies one subject a day for up to three hours, but has also found time to attend a Dhamma camp, do some exercise, and join family trips.

 

Kesaraporn Rujayakornkul, a Mathayom 2 student at Samsen Wittayalai School, studies science and maths every afternoon this break because her parents want her to be a doctor. She is keen prepare for the Mathayom 4 entrance exam at the prestigious Triam Udom Suksa School.

 

Pimchanok Jenkosol, who attends Silpakorn University’s Demonstration School in Nakhon Pathom, said she joined tutoring classes for better understanding of subjects, learning techniques and fun as most tutoring classes were not boring and even made young people enjoy learning.

 

She planned leisure activities such as going to malls with her friends, learning music and art, or visiting attractions with family or friends.

 

“School break is a time of freedom to learn about interesting skills or visit places to open up your world,” she said, urging parents to support their kids to join activities they want to do – rather than what parents want them to do.

 

Pantaree Jirachotikul, a Mathayom 2 pupil at Satriwithaya School, attends tutoring in English, physics and chemistry from 8am till 3pm to prepare for the Mathayom 4 entrance exam. She wants to be a doctor like her dad.

 

Besides gaining knowledge in these subjects, she also got to make friends from other schools, she said.

 

Housewife Karuna Pitiwiwat, whose two children study at Chula-longkorn University Demonstration Secondary School, said parents had to keep up with their children’s expenses, including tutoring and extra-curricular fees, while also making time to take care of them, especially those poised to study higher education.

 

“We have to prepare our kids to have competitive skills in the ever-changing world and let their potential be fully realised,” she said.

Nakhon Si Thammarat rubber tapper Thitipa Pikhro, who earns Bt15,000 a month while her truck-driver husband Luan Phrakaew earns up to Bt30,000, said their two elder sons stopped after graduating from Mathayom 6 to let their youngest brother to study at a higher level.

 

Being among the top 10 in his class, Meen, who is studying Mathayom 5 at Bangkok’s Debsirin School, was supported by his family to study hard for a good future, so tutoring classes were deemed necessary.

 

Meen can visit his family for 10 days after which he must attend tutoring. His father gave him Bt6,000 to rent an apartment near the school, Bt4,000 for expenses and Bt10,000 for tutors’ fees.

 

Chawannat Niponkij, who was waiting for her Prathom 6 student son at a tutoring school, said classes during the break would help him revise lessons and improve his learning skills.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310364

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-27

[jollyhangmon]

> ... during the school break as many join tutoring classes to catch up on tricky subjects and revise what they have learnt in their bids to excel. ...<

 

Help me out here, would these be the 'tutorials' run by the very same so called teachers who failed to moderate that knowledge to the kids on a regular basis in the 1st place ...?!

(rhetorical question) 

[DavisH]

3 hours ago, jollyhangmon said:

> ... during the school break as many join tutoring classes to catch up on tricky subjects and revise what they have learnt in their bids to excel. ...<

 

Help me out here, would these be the 'tutorials' run by the very same so called teachers who failed to moderate that knowledge to the kids on a regular basis in the 1st place ...?!

(rhetorical question) 

For private tuition that's common - actually it is not allowed / frowned upon in many schools, but I'm note sure there is a formal rule by the MoE for that. Teachers are my school are not allowed to tutor their own students outside of class hours (both Thai and foreign). 

 

Some tutorial schools reputedly have links with certain universities / departments. So students think taking these classes will get them into the university more easily. 

 

It's sad the state of education is so poor here that students feel the need to study in tutorial schools, which are essentially businesses making money from this poor system. 

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“School break is a time of freedom to learn about interesting skills or visit places to open up your world,” she said, urging parents to support their kids to join activities they want to do – rather than what parents want them to do.

Its a competitive world out there not like when I was young. You need an edge today to succeed. I think they already excel at mobile phone skills and social media. One thing I have learned it takes money bahts bucks shekels to open up the world. Its a strange blend learning to be the best and having freedoms to explore. Having traveled life's journey I look at wonderment at all the young backpackers around enjoying themselves but its like a honeymoon the day comes when you must pack up your bags and go back to reality. Its the reality part that is long and hard and like a bad mattress full of lumps. 

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, DavisH said:

For private tuition that's common - actually it is not allowed / frowned upon in many schools, but I'm note sure there is a formal rule by the MoE for that. Teachers are my school are not allowed to tutor their own students outside of class hours (both Thai and foreign). 

 

Some tutorial schools reputedly have links with certain universities / departments. So students think taking these classes will get them into the university more easily. 

 

It's sad the state of education is so poor here that students feel the need to study in tutorial schools, which are essentially businesses making money from this poor system. 

 

Some of the older well established tutor schools sell on the basis of their success rate in people who study there getting into certain renowned schools and universities.

 

The competition is incredible. My daughter will go into P6 next year but is now attending tutor school to prepare her for M1. My wife is a former teacher and is an expert in early years education. She was very careful to pick a particular tutor school where she knew results had been very good over many years. I looked at the algebra homework last week. Extremely high standard, more so then equivalent age in the UK. She will go 13 days this month, 13 days next month and then every Saturday during normal term time. Several of her classmates are doing this but at different tutor schools. My wife would not entertain the newer ones as they have no track record.

 

I took my daughter last week. Amazed at how busy it was. There are several different places in that building and all had gangs of parents and siblings outside. Parents take their children and then sit and wait in seating areas provided outside. Some reserved seats with bags at the True Coffee place even before they opened. I went for a coffee and was lucky to get a seat! They sit on one drink, reading, using the free wifi, charging their phones, and leave there bags to keep the seats when going toilet or to eat. Incredible! Never seen anything like this in any other country.

 

Not cheap either. Will cost me more in tutor school fees this year than in the English program school fees.