HM tells teachers to raise good kids
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HIS MAJESTY the King has suggested that educational institutions focus on instilling integrity and good character in children first and that other abilities can come later, Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont said.
“We should be creating good children first,” he said yesterday.
Surayud said His Majesty offered this advice to privy councillors as he expressed concerns about the problems with the national education system and emphasised the need to develop Thailand’s human resources.
Surayud was speaking at a national event on morality.
He said His Majesty explained that inculcating ethical behaviour in children would be a smooth process once teachers and students developed a bond.
“Teachers have an important role to play here,” he said. “We have to see how we can promote loving ties between teachers and students.”
His Majesty has also instructed the privy councillors to take care of schools in marginal areas and try to reduce the difference in quality between these schools and those in urban areas.
He said the councillors had received funding from His Majesty for their assigned mission to solve problems in the education sector.
“The fund will start its work in eight provinces in the Central region,” Surayud said.
In a move to ease the shortage of teachers in rural areas, scholarships have been given to students who agree to take up teaching jobs in the area after graduating, he said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang has promised to improve Thailand’s ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In the last PISA assessment, Thailand ranked 50 out of some 60 participating countries.
“We will set up a work panel to integrate efforts to improve Thailand’s ranking,” Chaturon said, adding that representatives of relevant authorities, such as the Office of Basic Education Commission, would sit on the panel.
“But the panel will also include experts in science, mathematics, languages as well as students,” he said. Chaturon also plans to launch a campaign to seek support and cooperation from parents.
