Education Flaws

(adapted from Bangkok Post, Education, 26/8/2008)

It appears a Suan Dusit Poll has highlighted major weaknesses in the Thai education system. These include:

• inadequate teaching materials
• lack of teachers
• inefficient curriculum
• students' failure to focus on their studies

The Suan Dusit rector explained to a Senate panel they had conducted the survey in order to identify which problems to tackle first. The poll also asked about what solution people felt should be implemented first. Respondents called for:

• improving the curriculum
• student-centred approach
• adequate teaching materials
• efforts to get families to instil in children a love of reading
• lessons on ethics

Relevant authorities would be informed about the findings. Follow up on how they implement the solutions and updating the public on the progress would be done as well.

Well, what can I add? Let's just say I wasn't surprised at all by the findings, nor by the proposed solutions. What is needed is immediate action instead of more surveys and feet-dragging by officials in charge.