The challenge of education reform
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Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government have to give top priority to education reform if we want future generations of Thais to escape the fate of being under-educated and the country to climb out of the middle-income trap.
Singapore’s former leader and now Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was recently questioned about Thailand’s chances of competing with Singapore.
Lee’s answer was: “How high are their skills and education? They have to be better than us.”
On whether Thailand has the potential to surpass Singapore: “First, we have the advantage of the English language. Second, we have an education infrastructure that produces high-quality graduates – from polytechnics and from ITEs [Institutes of Technical Education]. Nobody leaves without some skills. Can [Thailand] develop that for 60 million people across the rural areas?”
All of us Thais – and especially General Prayuth and his government – should take Lee’s words as a challenge.
For once, do something for your country: reform the education system.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
