rooster59 Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 All eyes on new team at helm of Education Ministry By Chularat Saengpassa The Nation Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan (front, center) and Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich (right, yellow dress) strive with confidence as they arrive at the ministry at 7.49am on Thursday for the first day in office. NATION/PRASET THEPSRI Thanks to the formation of the new government, a new man and two deputies have taken the helm of the Education Ministry. And while hopes for better changes emerge, many doubts are also surfacing. Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan from the coalition leader Phalang Pracharat Party has been quick to advertise his plans to ease the teachers’ debt woes and offer them lessons in the English language. However, his deputy Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich from the Democrat Party, is talking about bringing back rote learning, such as getting students to repeatedly chant multiplication tables and more. His other deputy, Bhumjaithai’s Kanokwan Vilawan, has not said much, though her party has placed strong emphasis on solving student-loan problems and expressing their intention to make student loans interest free. Both Nataphol and Kalaya are also keen to promote classes on computer coding. Nicha Pittayapongsakorn, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), however, believes that the new individuals at the helm of the Education Ministry should focus on existing projects first. “First check which of the many ongoing projects are doing well, then continue with what is good and scrap what isn’t or is redundant,” she said, adding that computer coding classes were introduced to schools nationwide in 2018. Nicha also pointed out that new projects will only keep teachers away from their classrooms. “Many projects such as the White School Project and the Integrity School projects can be merged. If you continue running them separately, teachers will have to work on each project separately and will obviously have less time for their students,” she said. A teacher based in Nakhon Phanom, speaking on condition of anonymity, concurred, saying some projects required a daily report. Nicha also recommended that the powers-that-be should continue working on decentralisation and education reform, adding that she is also concerned because Thailand as known for frequent changes at the top of the Education Ministry. Nicha “Frequent changes mean the education minister will be prone to focusing on short-term policies,” she said. Nicha also acknowledged the arrival of technological disruption in the educational sector, adding that she now pins her hopes on the educational innovation areas that have already been implemented in six provinces. “Things may be unclear initially, but let’s continue experimenting until we can achieve something good,” she said. Earlier this month, TDRI president Dr Somkiat Tangkitvanich expressed support for the introduction of educational innovation areas, and also advised the new government to allocate more resources for the Equitable Education Fund, which aims to help children in need and reduce educational inequalities. “Equip school directors with leadership skills so they can lead professional learning communities,” he commented. Sompong Jitradub, a prominent Chulalongkorn University lecturer, meanwhile, only gave a passing grade to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s choice of Cabinet members for educational affairs. “I give them 5.5 points out of 10,” he said, adding that these Cabinet members were not outstanding in any way, just acceptable because they have come from an election, and represent various fields. Nataphol comes from the private sector, Kanokwan from the local sector and Kalaya from the science sector. “But their educational policies are not outstanding in any way,” Sompong pointed out. “Their parties have different educational policies, so we don’t know which direction they will go with Thai education.” While campaigning for votes, the coalition leader Phalang Pracharat Party promised to help graduates struggling with student loans, come up with an education-for-all policy and even voiced the idea of having universities mentor schools. File photo The Democrat Party, meanwhile, announced that it will set good standards for early-child centres nationwide, offer breakfast on top of free lunch for students from kindergarten to Mathyayom 3, implement an English-for-all project, adjust the curriculum so students are prepared for the future, continue free vocational education and guarantee vocational students job. It also offered to ease the workload of teachers, establish a Smart Education Fund in support of education-sector social enterprises and start-ups and promote education technology. The Bhumjaithai Party, meanwhile, offered a five-year moratorium on student-loan repayments, offer free courses online and create income opportunities for learners. Sompong said the best thing for now would be to have all ministers in the education sector to work together so they can achieve a synergy and improve education in Thailand. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30373226 -- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-20 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa inf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 All eyes should be focused on pockets and bank accounts for unexpected wealth together with thinner students ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy cow cm Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 And the ship continues to sink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotBenz8888 Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 3 hours ago, rooster59 said: offer them lessons in the English language. Are they suggesting that Thai teachers need to improve their English? How rude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorecard Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 55 minutes ago, holy cow cm said: And the ship continues to sink. And three parties at the top all with a different agenda. Recipe for disaster and someone needs to be charged with dereliction for allowing this scenario to ever happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fex Bluse Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Lots of words. Thais know all the right things to say. Nobody has any confidence in their ability to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy cow cm Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 23 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said: The new Education Minister's wife owns schools. Interesting. So you mean she is qualified? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydebolle Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Good luck to the kids; the last 30+ years I've been witnessing Thai education it all went South. Suggested that TV stations broadcast cartoons and certain other kiddies stuff - they get from overseas - in the original language. Once the kids are 10 - 12 they would be fluent in English and Japanese; but maybe "alien" material is not what the oligarch elite wants for the next generation of tax and pension contributors .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andycoops Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 3 ministers with 3 different agendas so even more disaster on the curriculum at the revolving door of Thai education. Such a shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbezoz Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 18 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said: He and his wife were also heavily involved in the PDRC protests and have more than a whiff of fascism about them. Careful where you send your kids to school here. Brainwashing has been endemic in the Thai education system since the major curriculum reform in 1952 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intherealworld Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 41 minutes ago, Andycoops said: 3 ministers with 3 different agendas so even more disaster on the curriculum at the revolving door of Thai education. Such a shame. That lot will only have one true agenda, and it will be the same one. as always in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 19 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said: The new Education Minister's wife owns schools. Interesting. Soon to be the most well funded schools, although they might not show it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickstav Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 How about starting out small to get your feet wet...stop local officials from stealing the school lunch money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thailand49 Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 Like driving it will never change no matter how many people you replace and new one put in with the same old ideas that continue to keep the old system in place which sadly translate into brain washing the next generation so those at the top continue to enjoy their position at the top.???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorecard Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 1 hour ago, nickstav said: How about starting out small to get your feet wet...stop local officials from stealing the school lunch money. And more than lunch money. My buddy works in a very large regional school, parents etc., have been building a big fund for years for new replacement building A few months back new director arrived, within first week all bank books drained. And nobody game enough to make any challenge, director well linked to higher officials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickstav Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 In response to rote learning: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJRS1301 Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 20 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said: The new Education Minister's wife owns schools. Interesting. Isn't that considered a "Conflict of Interest"?? Or am looking through rose coloured lenses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJRS1301 Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 20 minutes ago, scorecard said: And more than lunch money. My buddy works in a very large regional school, parents etc., have been building a big fund for years for new replacement building A few months back new director arrived, within first week all bank books drained. And nobody game enough to make any challenge, director well linked to higher officials. Possibly just moved the funds into a higher return deposit system ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nowisee Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 It's appears obvious on many levels that the thai education system is polluted with unqualified, uneducated, incapable educators and contaminated with corrupt and greedy administrators. A system this badly in need of overhaul is an extremely difficult endeavor. They will need teams of highly educated, experienced administrated level leaders with full autonomy to hire, fire and change the systemic archaic pile of s.hit that is presently the status quo. Is this available within this country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 He means business (pun alert) as he arrived at 7.49am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcnx Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 22 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said: Are they suggesting that Thai teachers need to improve their English? How rude. This Thai-laaaaaan. You no undur-st-aaaaaaand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/20/2019 at 9:19 AM, sammieuk1 said: All eyes should be focused on pockets and bank accounts for unexpected wealth together with thinner students ???? and on Nicha's lips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 Education is good, making money is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/20/2019 at 7:41 AM, rooster59 said: “Equip school directors with leadership skills so they can lead professional learning communities,” he commented. Now there's a novel idea ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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