Many children 'don't succeed at basic levels'

Figures from a study conducted in 2009 by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that the learning level of 15-year-old Thai children was ranked at 50th for reading, 50th for mathematics and 49th for science, out of 65 participating countries.

Thailand Education Council secretary-general Professor Tongthong Chandransu told the seminar: "The Thai education system reflects itself in a dual image: it moves towards the universalisation of 15 years of basic education for all, but falls short on its quality improvement."

The acting UN resident coordinator in Thailand, Tomoo Hozumi, said that as many as 43 per cent in reading and science and 53 per cent in mathematics, of Thai children who participated in PISA 2009, were at the lowest performance category of 'level one or below' in the overall scale of level one to level six.

" 'Level one or below' shows that children are learning very little. What PISA measures is not a mere accumulation of information and knowledge, but how children apply themselves to solve issues they are likely to face in the real world," he said.

According to the PISA 2009 report, students proficient at level one have such limited scientific knowledge that it can only be applied to a few familiar situations.

"Students performing below level one usually do not succeed at the most basic levels of science that PISA measures. Such students will face serious difficulties in using sciences to benefit from further learning opportunities or to participate in life situations related to science and technology."

A committee member of Education Reform in the Second Decade, Chainarong Intarameesap, said the achievements of Thailand's famous schools were about the same level as international standards, but the country's overall performance was flat.

"Thai education is obviously for some, not for all," he said. "Education today has not been able to catch up with change. We need to admit it and change education to match the 21st Century."

A recent graduate from Singhaburi Agricultural Vocational College, Peerapong Sudsangauan, said Thai children didn't have goals or directions.

"They receive 15 years of free education but they do not know what they study for. They study according to trends and family pressure for master's and doctoral degrees. They complete a bachelor's degree just to become an administrator."

The UN's Hozumi said the classroom was both the entry point and the finishing line for improvement of quality education.

"We need to first look inside the 'black box' of the classroom and carefully observe and analyse what is going on, in terms of student-teacher interaction and real teaching and learning, and then come up with measures to facilitate positive changes."

The seminar was held by the Office of the Education Council and the United Nations country team. It was jointly organised by Unesco ahead of proposed government strategies to enhance teaching levels and ensure a quality education for all Thai children.