Children's university will make science a fun subject
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The "Thailand Children's University" project will fire up Thai students' enthusiasm for science and lead more into science-related jobs when they graduate, a press conference was told yesterday.
The project will offer exciting experiments aimed at injecting fun into learning science, while schoolteachers will get training from university researchers and scientists in how to stimulate their students’ thirst for scientific knowledge.
Moreover, secondary-school students who excel at science may be fast-tracked and given the chance to study at participating universities. The high-flying students will thereby be able to accumulate credits while still at school that will aid them in their progress at university, said Thaweesak Koanantakool, president of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).
The Thailand Children’s University is being set up with expert assistance from Germany. Its target group is students from upper-primary to upper-secondary education.
“The project was initiated after suggestions and assistance by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,” Thaweesak said. “As the Princess has a good relationship with Germany, experts there are advising Thailand on starting up the project. Germany has its own Children’s University project, which is very successful.”
The NSTDA is now spreading information about the initiative among schools and universities. Science camps run by the project kicked off last year and have so far hosted 500 secondary-school students. The agency plans more camps to reach more students.
“We are now seeking universities as partners, and communicating with schools about our project,” Thaweesak said.
He added that the projects’ activities and experiments had been inspired by activities designed by Bielefeld University, which is a participant in Germany’s Children’s University project. Thailand’s Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) will provide more experiment activities.
IPST deputy director Duangsamorn Klongsara said: “Such interesting and enjoyable learning activities will make students feel more positive about science and less afraid of the subject. We hope they will inspire more students to choose to study science and work in science-related fields.”
The German Academic Exchange Service and Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission are also backing the project.
Associate Professor Sakarindr Bhumiratana of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi said his university had been offering science and technology camps for school students for years, and would join the project and share its experience with other participating universities.
“Together as a team, I hope we can boost this project to make a strong impact on our science education.”
The project will be officially launched by HRH Princess Sirindhorn on October 30 at the Sirindhorn Science Home in Pathum Thani.
