Thais must temper pride with pragmatism in a multilingual world
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Re: "Another education reform proposal", Letters, September 8.
Sopida Zheng’s excellent proposal points to exactly what Thailand should be – less nationalistic and more pragmatic about life. However, this is elusive because of our following beliefs:
First, Thailand has never been colonised but instead has always been successful in fencing off foreign elements. The resulting national pride has encouraged us to be overprotective.
Second, former prime minister Pibulsongkram did a great job in effectively closing down all Chinese schools in Thailand in the 1950s. Permitting international schools to open is a recent, radical event. Previously, there were only two international schools, which catered only for expatriate children.
Third, this is Thailand and people should speak Thai. It is the duty of foreigners to learn Thai, and not Thais to learn English or Chinese.
Fourth, Thai is a beautiful language and we should all maintain our heritage at the highest level without foreign infiltration.
Finally, because most Thais are poor in English, they become even more defensive and like to reiterate the above points as justification for not learning other languages (unless they are forced to do so for economic reasons).
Sadly, in this environment, it will take us a long time to lift our standard.
Songdej Praditsmanont
