Transcript Education in Thailand:

Education in Thailand:
A Work in Progress
By K. D. Hueston
Education in Thailand
Overview
 Where Is Thailand?
 Contrasting Cultures
 Bangkok, Modern Thailand
 Peopled with Differences
 Educational History, Politics, Economics
 Buddhism & Education
 Private & International Schools
 Thai K-12 Public Education
 Problems with Public Education
 Ministry of Education Mandates & Goals
 Thailand: A Work in Progress
 References
 Other Cultural Resources
(above: National Geographic, 2014; photo by Mike McCook;
music throughout, Thai Traditional Music, n.d.)
Where Is Thailand?
Thailand:
Is located in Southeast Asia.
Sits on the Gulf of Thailand.
Borders Burma, Laos, Cambodia,
and Malaysia.
Has 200,000 total square miles
(is similar in size to Spain).
(Britannica Online, 2014)
(Facts on File, 2014)
Thailand: A Place of Contrasts
Once an agrarian society, since the 1960s, the Thai government has promoted industrialization.
Still, even most urban Thai consider their homes to be their villages. (Britannica Online)
Thailand:
 Has a population of about 67 million,
is both rural and urban:
38% of the labor force is agricultural;
13% is industrial; and
48% is in the service sector.
 Produces tin, tungsten, rice,
handmade textiles, and electronics.
 Has hot tropical beaches, mountains,
rain forests, fertile central plains,
dry seasons, and monsoons.
 Has a diverse population that
includes native Thais, ethnic tribal groups,
and multinational immigrants/refugees.
(Facts on File, 2014;
CultureGrams, 2014)
(Phuket beach—National Geographic, photo by Narong Rattanaya; Lisu women and children—Britannica
Online, photo by Hilarie Kavanagh; northern mountains and rain forests—Global Road Warrior)
Thailand Is Modernizing
 Bangkok is Thailand’s capital and
primary urban center with about
6 million residents.
 Bangkok is one of the most
important financial cities in
Southeast Asia.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
 Foreign investment is a primary
“factor in the rapid growth” of the
Thai economy.
(Britannica Online, 2014)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is implementing
Free Trade economic unification plans that will greatly increase
cooperation in the region and lead to further first world development.
(ASEAN, 2014)
Thailand:
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Reuters/Landov)
Peopled with Differences
 No official religion:
However, Buddhists seek official recognition.
 Thailand is a constitutional
monarchy, has a king and legislature.
However, the military now controls the legislature.
 Official language: Thai
However, some tribal people resist.
Along with thousands of other monks accompanied by
elephants, a Thai Buddhist monk marches in Bangkok.
(Britannica Online, 2014; photo by Saeed Khan)
(Britannica Online, 2014)
A young woman in traditional dance costume crosses
the street in Bangkok while tanks roll through.
(Britannica Online, 2014)
Education
History, Politics, Economics
 In 1887, King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) founded the
first Thai Ministry of Education.
 Since the 1960s, Thailand has tried to become a first
world country, partly through universal education.
 The Thai army controls political gatherings,
television programming, most public information
statements, and the Ministry of Education.
Students attend a
rural public school
in Thailand
 Universal education is key to economic development
but Thai public schools are overcrowded and
understaffed.
 For the poor, Buddhist schools and for the rich,
private schools, are options.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014;
photo by Hanumann)
(Facts on File, 2014; Britannica Online, 2014; CultureGrams, 2014)
Buddhism & Education
(Heather’s Animations, n.d.)
 Theravadic Buddhism is well-respected in
Thailand. Most boys participate in some
Buddhist training.
(Global Warrior, 2014)
 Free K-12 education at Buddhist
monasteries is available for orphaned
and poor boys.
 In 2013, the first Buddhist boarding school
for girls opened; Buddhist nuns run this free
school for poor and orphaned girls.
(Purcell, 2013)
(Global Road Warrior, 2014;
photo by Tevaprapas Makklay)
Private Education
in Thailand
Because public schools are overcrowded and understaffed,
many wealthy Thai and international parents place
their children in international or fee-based private schools.
(CultureGrams, 2014)
 International schools are a subset of private schools. Over 3,000 private
schools existed in Thailand in 2004.
(Pinyakong et al., 2007, p. 8)
 As of 2014, there are about 90 international schools, with at least
two thirds of these located near Bangkok; many use English as the
primary language of instruction.
 Private and international schools offer teachers better pay and
better benefits than public schools.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
(Top: Heather’s Animations, 2014)
Thai K-12
Public Education
Anubon
(preschool/K)
Ages 3-5
 Adult literacy in Thailand is about 94%.
Prathom
(two levels)
Ages 6-11
Grades 1-3
Grades 4-6
Matthayom
(two levels,
three years each)
Ages 12-17
 Public education is “free” for
Grades K through 12
(but parents must pay about $10,000 a year for supplies).
 Instruction is in Thai.
Structure of Thai K-12
Educational System
Lower Secondary
Upper Secondary
The Thai system has two semesters:
 Overall, quality is an issue. Public schools
have very large classes (up to 40 students
in a class); teaching styles are “often
lecture based, relying heavily on
memorization.”
(CultureGrams, 2014)
 As of 2004, secondary and university
education was 24% of the national budget.
(Pinyakong et al., 2007, p. 13)
Mid-May to September and October to March
School days: Monday to Friday
School hours: 8:45 am to 3:45 pm
 Students are graded on a 4.0 scale in secondary school.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
 Thai public secondary school teachers must complete a bachelors
degree from a government-sponsored teacher training institute.
(Ingersoll, 2007, p. 90)
(Table created by K.D. Hueston, 2014)
Thai Ministry of Education
2008 Directive on Curriculum:
Problems Cited
Per the Thai Ministry of Education, in 2008:
 Public schools did not have consistent curricula.
 Evaluations did not match standards.
 Quality of learning was less than desirable.
 Thai teachers taught by rote.
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008)
Thai Ministry of Education
2008 Directive on Curriculum:
Mandates & Goals
Eight core subjects were mandated in 2008:
Thai language, mathematics, science, social
science, health and physical education, arts
and music, technology, and foreign languages.
Goals set by the directive:
“morality, preference for Thai-ness,
skills in analytical and creative thinking,
technological know-how, capacity for
teamwork, and ability to live in peace and
harmony in the world community”
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008, p. 2)
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008, p. 25)
Education in Thailand
A Work in Progress
Despite the 2008 Ministry of Education directive,
problems remain in Thai public schools:
 Use of rote memorization rather than
student-centered learning;
 Crowded classrooms; and
 Disparities in quality between rural
and urban schools.
Thailand’s public education system remains a work in progress.
(CultureGrams, 2014)
Education in Thailand
References
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (2008). ASEAN economic community blueprint, PDF 5187-10. Retrieved September 27, 2014,
from ASEAN.org.
Hanumann. (n.d.). Lab lair school children [Photograph]. In Global road warrior. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from
http://www.globalroadwarrior.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu/ContentInfo.asp?
iso3ltr=THA&nid=62.1&cid=147&next_nid=62.2&parent=Education
Heather's Animations. (n.d.). Retrieved animated lanterns October 2, 2014, from
http://www.heathersanimations.com/japan/haka02.gif and http://www.heathersanimations.com/japan/chdr09a.gif
Ingersoll, R. (Ed.). (2007). A comparative study of teacher preparation and qualifications in six nations. Consortium for Policy Research in
Education. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.cpre.org/images/stories/cpre_pdfs/sixnations_final.pdf.
Khan, S. (2014). A Thai Buddhist monk marches April 25 in Bangkok as part of a group of thousands of monks, accompanied by elephants,
demanding that Thailand’s new constitution recognize Buddhism as the national religion [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia.
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www.britannica.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/EBchecked/media/108116/A-ThaiBuddhist-monk-marches-April-25-in-Bangkok-as
Kavanagh, H. (n.d.). Lisu women and children on the veranda of a hut in northern Thailand [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia.
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www.britannica.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/Ebchecked/
media/92876/Lisu-women-and-children-on-the-veranda-of-a-hut.
Makklay, T. [n.d.]. Monks at Theravada Buddha [Photograph]. In Global road warrior. Retrieved September 30, 2014,
from http://www.globalroadwarrior.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu/GRWGraphics/thailand/THA_CS_people.jpg
McCook, M. (n.d.). Reclining Buddha, Bangkok [Photograph]. Retrieved September 30, 2014,
from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/thailand-photos/#/wat-pho-thailand_10830_600x450.jpg.
Paolobon140. (n.d.). A view of the entertainment and shopping area of Siam Square and Pathumwan [Photograph]. In Global road warrior.
Retrieved October 1, 2014,
from http://www.globalroadwarrior.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu/contentinfo.asp?cid=147&nid=65&next_nid=66
Pinyakong, K., Virasilp, P., & Soboon, U. (2007). Development of private secondary schools in Thailand. IIEP (UNESCO).
Retrieved September 29, 2014, from http://www.unesco.org/iiep/PDF/pubs/Thailand.pdf.
Purcell, A. (2013). Buddhist school for girls in Thailand. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2014,
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-purcell/thailand-buddhist-education_b_3683746.html
Rattanaya, N. (n.d.). Rawai Beach Pier, Phuket [Photograph]. Retrieved September 25, 2014
from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/thailand-photos/#/rawai-pier-phuket_10826_600x450.jpg .
Royal Palace—Reuters/Landov. (2006). King Bhumibol Adulyadej [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia. Retrieved
September 27, 2014 from
http://www.britannica.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/EBchecked/media/94318/BhumibolAdulyadej-2006.
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5/Thailand and
http://www.britannica.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/EBchecked/topic/51726
/Bangkok/24896/The-people.
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http://online.culturegrams.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=3&wmn=
Asia&cid=160&cn=Thailand&sname=Education&snid=21.
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from http://www.fofweb.com.bloomington.libproxy.ivytech.edu/WGCO/Timeline.aspx?Page=12&iPin=M0019870
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http://act.ac.th/document/1741.pdf.
Traditional Thai Music. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXK4P2Ogs0.
Thailand
Other Cultural Reflections
For examples of Traditional Thai music, go to:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXK4P2Ogs0
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjV0YSaQHg4
For beautiful Thailand travel galleries at National Geographic’s
website, go to:
 http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/thaila
nd-photos/