Chaturon must first strive for consensus on goals of education

I suggest that the minister follow Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, one of which is “Begin with the end [goal] in mind.”

All agree that our education system is in dire need of reform. Minister Chaturon rightly says that “the ministry alone can’t improve the education system, so cooperation [with the private sector] must be promoted.” But I don’t see a consensus on our goals. For example, I suggest that most school directors do not know that “Education should have two objects: first to give definite knowledge, reading and writing, language and mathematics, and so on; and secondly, to create those mental habits which will enable people to acquire knowledge and form sound judgments for themselves” (Bertrand Russell).

Minister Chaturon himself stressed that cooperation was essential to success, but he’s not going to get buy-in by cramming orders down throats. Instead, he needs more participation from stakeholders, including education deans and potential employers, to obtain consensus on the goals of education, and on what must be done and in what sequence. Agree on key performance indicators of achievement, and independent monitoring and reporting of progress towards those indicators.

Agree on what your target is, then aim, then fire.

 

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok