Poor exam results put Thai schools on the spot

[buksida]

Thailand's latest Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) scores, the lowest in more than two decades since the country joined the Pisa Assessment process in the early 2000s, are a wake-up call for stakeholders to help speed up improvement in the education system.

Thai students' performance in maths, science and reading all slumped to their lowest levels.

In the 2022 tests by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 15-year-old Thai students scored 394 in maths (down from 419 in the 2018 assessment), 409 in science (down from 426) and 379 in reading (down from 393).

Thailand ranked 58th for maths and science and 64th for reading, which was the country's worst performance since Thai students participated for the first time in Pisa in 2001.

The assessment covered 81 countries and economies with some 690,000 students taking the assessment in 2022, representing about 29 million 15-year-olds in the schools of the participating countries and economies.

In Thailand, 8,495 students in 279 schools completed the assessment in mathematics, reading or science, representing about 604,600 15-year-old students in the schools of the 81 participating countries and economies.

The assessments measure the knowledge and skills of students in three subjects and how well students can solve complex problems, think critically and communicate effectively. They present education authorities some challenges in how to improve the education system.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/sp ... n-the-spot

These themes are constantly recurring in Thailand, but nothing ever gets done about it, the dire education system here keeps the plebs at the bottom and the elite at the top.

[PeteC]

Some big wig will blame these low scores on Covid and school closures. Wait for it.........

[pharvey]

Thailand's latest Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) scores, the lowest in more than two decades since the country joined the Pisa Assessment process in the early 2000s, are a wake-up call for stakeholders to help speed up improvement in the education system.

Thailand ranked 58th for maths and science and 64th for reading, which was the country's worst performance since Thai students participated for the first time in Pisa in 2001.

These themes are constantly recurring in Thailand, but nothing ever gets done about it, the dire education system here keeps the plebs at the bottom and the elite at the top.

Sadly, Thailand is far from alone on this front. You can see countries at all levels that have similar attitudes quite frankly. Take the UK for example - God knows how many Chinese and other foreign nationals take university places away from UK Nationals. Primarily money, but then again "gifting" funding to foreign nationals for both credibility and to meet "Government Targets" - the latter effecting Immigration, but of course a totally separate subject.

What I'm attempting to say though is that the UK (for example) being a supposed "World Leader" in Education (amongst other sectors ), is equally bad or if not worse.

Figures and Stats can of course be manipulated to suit but look at the differences in schooling, Public/Private vs Comprehensive (State Funded) - Costs of Private Schooling is astronomical for the vast majority, State Funded Schools are far and away from perfect and low on funding, in other words generally shite.

[EDIT] I will add though, some of us "Plebs" do make it through the system....

[buksida]

Nothing ... ever ... changes ...

Low exam results provoke wake-up call for education
The 2022 results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released in December 2023, have once again grabbed attention in Thailand after the performance of 15-year-old Thai students hit an unprecedented low over the two decades that Thailand has been taking the test. Poor performance has persisted for generations and serves as just the visible tip of an iceberg where numerous underlying problems are frozen.

The PISA assessment is not an evaluation of the entire education system, but it is an important tool to assess the average competence of a country’s 15-year-old students. The assessment covers three subjects: mathematics; science; and reading. The results report shows an educational crisis in Thailand that must be urgently addressed. The PISA results do not chime with Thailand’s annual budget for education. In the recently passed budget, the Education Ministry was given the second largest allocation. This raises doubts in society as to why the quality of Thai education continues to tread water.

...

The primary concern is critical thinking skills, which are reflected in the PISA reading test and other academic or social assessments. Tanawat explains that the key factor is the limited access of most Thai students to crucial resources due to social structures. Schools could be the pathway for students to access opportunities. However, the extent to which Thai schools allow students to express their opinions is questionable given that cultural values make criticism or discussion of some topics taboo. In Thai schools, rote learning becomes the only approach that is encouraged among students.

https://prachataienglish.com/node/10824

[Bamboo Grove]

The reform should start from the teacher training institutions. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to change the attitudes of the teachers, for example, if I give poor grades, I am not a good teacher or if the students ask me questions, I have not taught well.

[HHTel]

I taught at university here for 3 years. The problem is the skills and attitudes of the teachers. Rote teaching is the norm where the teacher does the talking and students listen silently. Asking questions is not encouraged at all. Once my students got to know me, their chairs were arranged in a semi circle before I arrived. In my class (English Language) students were made to understand that they will learn from asking questions ("no such thing as a stupid question!"). Consequently, most of the activity came from the class and I took the role of 'mentor in the centre'. Unfortunately, Thai teachers have refused to adopt any alternative to rote. They also hold themselves in high esteem and insist that everyone else should also hold them as such.
Corporal punishment was banned more than 30 years ago but is still used by most Thai teachers.

"a warning to teachers that hitting students is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to 40,000 baht or up to two years in prison, or both."

Despite that warning, teachers get away with it mainly because Thai parents will not complain and believe that it's part of growing up!!

Because of the casual attitude to corporal punishment, students are reluctant to ask questions, fearing the consequences.

[Suua]

if I give poor grades, I am not a good teacher or if the students ask me questions, I have not taught well.

Yes, very sad, they couldn't be further from the truth.

I remember a very good ad that was run on the National Geographic TV channel where the mantra was, 'Ask questions and amazing things happen'
So so true, and a statement of profound importance.

[dtaai-maai]

Once my students got to know me, their chairs were arranged in a semi circle before I arrived.

I'm surprised there were few enough students in your class for that to be possible!

[HHTel]

Largest class of around 40 but the average around half that. Classrooms were very big.

[Lost]

I don't think many teachers there have been afforded a solid understanding of pedagogy or different learning theories in their teacher's degree. How each student will retain information differently. Hence, everyone learns the same thing the same way... resulting in a few high performers and the rest crap. No bell shape on those performance charts. Even the curriculum, I think they struggle to identify gaps in student's learning. With any more than 25-30 in a class, it's nigh on impossible anywho.

As an aside, I'll criticise the (not always) simplest of things regarding classroom management. Their (my experience) inability to use non-verbal classical conditioning to get attention in class, instead preferring to whack a stick on the desk or shout. This is a very easy thing to not have to do. It's a clear sign of a poor teacher doing that.

The majority of schools in the UK have a policy of non-verbal signals to gain attention. No shouting.

I could go on.

Then you got the farang teachers (I was one of these) with no understanding of teaching at all. Can speak English, got a degree in zoology.