Spend a day at newly opened Thammasat Secondary School (TSS) in Pathum Thani province, and you may catch a glimpse at what real education reform is.
Unlike many others, students at this school do not have to wear a uniform and line up in the morning to sing the national anthem and perform a Buddhist chant. They are taught under a new teaching method coincidentally similar to one used in Finland in which students get less homework and are focused more on hands-on, project-based learning.
The teachers here craft a new schedule for students every month as they emphasise phenomena-based project studies instead of traditional subjects. Teachers may also pick interesting topics from the newspaper or other media to discuss with the kids to encourage critical and independent thought.
Moreover, students are allowed to take part in establishing school rules together with their teachers such as should mobile phones be allowed in school and what kind of casual clothes are suitable for them.
"We believe that schools are not a mere exam factory where students need to compete with each other to be number one, so there is no placement assessment in our school. We only have formative assessment conducted by teachers during the learning process to modify teaching and learning activities to improve student attainment," TSS director Sirirat Siricheepchaiyan said.
Opening last September, Ms Sirirat said the school has admitted just 102 students for its first academic year, with both parents and would-be pupils made to take an entrance test to gain admission. "Parents who are interested in sending their kids to study with us have to apply on our website [www.satit.tu.ac.th], then we call both the child and the parents in to sit for an exam.
"The students take a 'thinking skills' test, while the parents take an 'attitude exam'. We have to make sure parents have the time to support their children. This means being involved with the school. We only accept students from Matthayom 1 [age 12-13]. They cannot start with us mid-way through their education," she said.
Ms Sirarat admitted some parents still adhere to the old-fashioned system and do not understand the TSS teaching method. "Some parents just want to leave the duty of educating their children to schools and teachers and worry their kids may not be able to attend top universities under our guidance, so they take their children out to study in schools that are teaching the traditional way. We cannot change their attitude and we respect their decision," TSS director said.
Ms Sirirat said TSS at present has only four classrooms as it limits class sizes in all grades to no more than 25 students. However, it plans to increase the number of classrooms to six by he next academic year.
She said students at her school are not asked to take extra courses at cram schools during the weekend because the school believes children should spend their free time on more creative activities. "TSS is well-known for its no-uniform policy. People think of TSS as the school where students do not have to wear a uniform, but not many people truly understand our concept and progressive curriculum," TSS associate director Sittichoke Tabthong added.
He explained the point of the no-uniform policy is to give students the ability to choose for themselves, and so choose what to be. It's part of becoming an adult.
"We actually do have a uniform but it's just a simple white polo shirt. Students can still choose their own bottom halves. They have to wear the polo shirt two days a week, on Monday and Thursday, because we have a market in the school area and this way it's easy for us to separate our kids from others in the area for safety reasons. The students were also involved in designing the polo with teachers and parents," Mr Sittichoke said.
Mr Sittichoke said students at TSS start school at 8am, with no usual morning assembly singing the national anthem or praying, though the reasons for this departure from the norm are more prosaic. The main reason is traffic congestion because TSS is located outside Bangkok and many students have to travel a great distance. "We don't believe that to love the nation, you have to sing the national anthem every morning. We can teach them to love their country in classes as well," he said.
He said classes at TSS finish at 2:30pm, after which pupils have the chance to choose various after-school clubs. "For example, we have what we call 'social innovator' sessions, where kids get to discuss social problems. We let them name problems they have observed, then we discuss their causes and come up with ideal solutions, and how to make that ideal situation a reality.
"By making their own decisions and fully being themselves, students can learn to live with each other's differences," Mr Sittichoke said.
Nanapa Chapa, 12, a student at TSS, said the main difference between TSS and her old school is the communication between teachers and students. At her old school it is almost completely one way, with teachers giving instruction and students expected to listen.
At TSS it is always two-way. "Here, teachers encourage us to express our ideas and there is no right or wrong. We do not have to worry about grades and tests, so everybody is more confident about raising their hand and asking questions," she said.
