Project with OECD to boost students’ creativity and critical thinking
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THAILAND is working on an initiative to promote creativity and analytical thinking among Thai students, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The first phase of the initiative kicked off on November 1, focusing on research to develop tools to stimulate students’ greater creative and analytical power.
The initiative involves the OECD, the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec), the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching and Technology (IPST), the Foundation of Virtuous Youth and the Quality Learning Foundation (QLF). Their representatives agreed to work on the project under a Memorandum of Understanding signed yesterday.
The scheme covers 13 schools under Obec supervision plus seven schools supervised by local administrative bodies in Lampang, Phuket, and Chon Buri provinces. Altogether, there are 1,100 students and 50 teachers at these schools. The scheme works on arts classes for Prathom 3 students and Maths/Science classes for Mathayom 2 students.
“The first phase will conclude in June next year, after which results will be used to improve the initiative’s performance during its second phase in 2016 and 2017,” QLF manager Supakorn Buasai said at a press conference yesterday.
He said Thailand was one of 14 nations that had the opportunity to work on this initiative with the OECD.
The OECD plans to assess students’ creativity and analytical thinking skills in the “Programme for International Student Assessment” in 2021.
Deputy Education Minister Thirakiat Charoensethasilp said the skills that employers want from employees in the 21st century were creativity, critical thinking, communication skills, collaboration skills and abilities with information communication technology.
Supakorn said McKinsey surveys in 2012 and 2013 showed employers and entrepreneurial companies wanted their employees to be creative, ready to present new ideas and solutions, eager to acquire new knowledge. They have to have the courage to ask questions and grasp opportunities that come their way, and also to present their ideas to others.
The surveys showed that 33 per cent of the business sector lacks skilled labour, 79 per cent of students think they are not prepared for jobs, and 60 per cent of modern job skills are included in school learning.
Obec secretary-general Karun Sakulpradit said it would be great to support the creativity and critical thinking skills in order to fulfil the needs of the modern labour market.
Obec runs about 30,000 schools and covers seven million students.
