The Education Ministry on Monday announced plans to improve the standard of Thai education with a focus on developing a platform called Thailand Education Eco-System.
Nataphol Teepsuwan, Minister of Education, said that in the past year he visited various schools and institutions across the country to receive feedback and opinions about issues concerning the education system. Through this approach, a plan was structured to "unlock, change and widen" education.
"The 21st century has presented itself as an era where growth in knowledge is rapidly changing at an exponential rate. Consequently, the global supply of skilled labour becomes more competitive to meet new expectations. Hence, the need for individuals to become adaptive in a fast-paced environment becomes critical. The problem is straightforward, Thai education has yet to move much at all," he said.
Mr Nataphol said as the leader of education, the ministry will become an enabler by building an education system that answers the demands of a competitive labour force.
"Thai education must shift in a way where students depart from their 'fixed mindset' of the past and begin to incorporate a 'growth mindset' in their daily lives. This is what the Education Eco-System strives to achieve. This is the modern Ministry of Education that I plan to establish." the minister said.
The platform could "unlock" the potential of the Thai education system by bridging the gap between state education agencies and employers.
According to Mr Nathapol, the "change" will focus on a new evaluation process for new teachers and students. Students would rely less on tests, while teachers would rely more on self-growth for higher positions in teaching.
A new curriculum and guidelines will be established to produce quality teachers and administrative bodies that demand greater management skills. These fundamental changes are expected to influence the quality of students.
The "widening" refers to improving the capacity of secondary, primary and vocational schools to develop specialised skills for various career paths, experts and create more opportunities.
