Fair held to help students ahead of AEC

“The plan should be clear and good enough to be implemented without any interference,” Prof Chira Hongladarom, secretary-general of the Foundation for International Human Resource Development, said.

He was speaking at the two-day Asean Fair, jointly hosted by the Nation Group and the Education and Commerce ministries. The event kicked off yesterday.

“Politicians have been interfering with education far too much, so plans and policies cannot be implemented continuously, which is blocking improvement. Hence, government officials and educators have to rely on themselves and their own abilities instead of politicians. They should try to implement good plans and overcome obstacles until they achieve success,” Chira said, adding that despite there being guidelines, Thailand had failed to achieve up to 90 per cent of the policies and plans.

“We are only crazy about holding seminars to prepare for changes in the AEC, but we are not crazy enough to adjust our practices,” he said. 

Chira also urged the Education Ministry to come up with a plan to prepare for the AEC, and then a four-year adjustment plan after the AEC kicks off. 

He said the focus should be on improving human capital and should start off by giving students basic qualifications in ethics, culture, understanding the need to conserve local wisdom, altruism and analytical thinking. Once students have obtained these basic qualifications, they should be educated in creativity, innovation and boosting cultural capital. 

Also, speakers from the Education, Commerce and Foreign ministries told teachers and school administrators about expected changes, opportunities and challenges in the AEC and encouraged them to initiate activities and collaboration with local and regional schools to prepare their students. They were also encouraged to focus on foreign languages – a weakness among Thais. 

In his opening speech, Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej said the project of hiring thousands of English and Chinese native speakers was underway to help improve Thai students’ communication skills.

“Asean education ministers are discussing the options of credit transfer between Asean universities, creating indicators to assess educational improvements and providing an Asean curriculum sourcebook,” he added.

The fair is aimed at educating students about Asean nations, and will be held in all four regions of the country. Upper secondary and vocational students will be participating in a quiz today, in which they will be asked questions in general knowledge, geography and the economy of Asean nations. The competition will be held in English. Youngsters with a flair for dancing competed in the Asean Smart Teens competition yesterday. 

This fair will travel to the other three regions of the country this month and the next. Visit 247Friend.net for more information.