ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Jennifer McConnell]

Hi Allie,
This sounds like a really interesting article and it seems to be very applicable to someone teaching in Thailand. Understanding how the pandemic has affected students is really valuable information for a teacher. I also found the statistic on computers within Thai households to be interesting. It really gives insight into the direct impacts that came from the pandemic and the specific struggles that students faced.

[Camille Maunand]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2649602/hospital-rehab-centres-planned-for-drug-addicts

This article covers the planning to provide hospital rehab centres for drug addicts in Thailand. The Public Health Ministry is making concrete plans to open treatment centres to help, support and rehabilitate drug addicts, plans which are going to be established in state hospitals nationwide. Whilst there are already 42 hospitals that have services for such support, the government plans to extend such support so that these services are present in all hospitals across Thailand.
This particular government plan is heavily supported by the reality of drug problems within Thailand whereby 2% of drug users in Thailand are deemed severely addicted. Therefore, not only has the government announced the plan to expand support services for drug users, but there are further plans to improve the 30-baht plus scheme whereby those from poorer backgrounds and communities also have a better chance of access to healthcare.
This article heavily interests me as I strongly believe that improvements in healthcare are so crucial. Furthermore, having studied Criminology at University and also learning about drug problems within the United Kingdom, I believe an increased focus on drug rehabilitation is particularly important to not only save lives but to also stop a vicious cycle. This cycle sees a key link between drug abuse and crime which further sees so many lives impacted as a result. I think it is also important that drug users receive support and are not looked down upon, as there are key links between those who have experienced complex or difficult upbringings and then taking drugs as a result.

[Camille Maunand]

Hi Jennifer

This is a great article to have chosen and I think it is such a current topic to discuss. I think it is really interesting to know about the LGBTQ+ movement in different countries, particularly within countries and cultures that are so different from what we are used to, for example someone like myself who lives in England. The optimism towards progression and inclusive laws is very encouraging.
Thank you for sharing this!

[Aoife Hutchinson]

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-government-renews-one-tablet-per-student-scheme-to-equalise-education

The article I have chosen discusses recent plans from Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob to reintroduce tablets as a learning tool in Thai classrooms. The initiative that the Education Ministry is planning to revive is a decade old initiative that was launched by Pheu Thai Government. The central aim of the scheme is to give each student and teacher a tablet and to use this as a tool to promote equal and fair educational opportunities. The reasoning behind providing each student with a tablet would be that the scheme would reduce the expenses on the student’s family and also lessen the difference in opportunities between different students from different financial backgrounds. At present, they cannot establish the total cost of the scheme, but have identified a solution by suggesting that tablets could be rented if the budget was not sufficient.

The scheme has been met with some resistance, in particular, Suchatvee Sunwansawat, a previous Democrat Party MP. While speaking with the Bangkok Post, he highlighted that the scheme could present a number of issues, such as attention deficit disorders in children. Concerns around the social skills and interpersonal skills of children were also highlighted, with Suchatvee saying that the introduction of tablets could hinder opportunities for students to develop these skills at a young age. He also references that should tablets be purchased, it would be necessary for them to be up to date with the latest technology so that they could be adapted to newer technologies that might be introduced in the future. Another cost highlighted would be the need for counsellors, should students begin experiencing ADHD and other emotional issues. The issue of teacher training was also highlighted by Sirikayna Tansakun who is the Deputy Leader of the Move Forward Party. She claimed that there are opportunities for tablets and technology to empower learning within the classroom environment, but that for this to occur, teachers must be sufficiently trained to utilise the technology. She also highlighted concerns for the distribution of budget to ensure that it is fairly distributed to schools across the country, to guarantee that the underpinning focus of equality for students is achieved.

The previous scheme commenced in 2012 and was introduced by the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s 2011 Government, costing over 2 billion baht. Issues that arose from this scheme included faulty devices, a diminishment in students’ ability to write, and some antisocial behaviour. Despite this, the National Statistical Office found that the teachers found the tablets provided enhancement in language skills in both Thai and English.

Coming from an education system in Ireland where iPads were introduced to some schools, I can relate to the concerns that were raised within the articles. While using technology within the classroom can enhance digital literacy skills and provide great opportunities for students, the use of iPads in Ireland was costly to families. The iPads themselves were expensive to purchase, and no grants were provided to families. Students were still expected to have books and copies with them, so the iPads did nothing to decrease the weight of school bags, and most teachers did not know how to utilise them within the classroom. The Thai Government’s plan to provide the tablets will ensure that they are accessible to all, which was not something that occurred in Ireland. Students who used a different brand of tablet were often isolated by their peers for being different. The aim of equality and the provision of tablets from the government will allow all students to access the curriculum together and be equipped with the same standard of resources. Most schools in Ireland have since reverted to a technology free learning environment and I think this is a regression. I think it is important that young people learn to engage in the online world while in a safe, learning environment. There are a multitude of learning opportunities online and I look forward to exploring them with my class. Students are engaging with phones and tablets at home, and I think it is important that we equip them with the digital literacy skills to be able to engage safely with the online world and new technologies.

[Alexander Bavington]

Article : https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2650295/prices-of-20-essential-items-likely-to-be-cut.

This article published today states that the Commerce Minister, Mr Phumtham Wechayachai, has today decided to tell the Internal Trade Department to review and analyse prices on a number of key products. These products include basic food and consumer good items, including: Chicken, Rice, Pork and Eggs. The Internal Trade Department is expected to complete and analysis of all the items that are affecting the cost of living and from here will get together with the major businesses and work out a way to decrease the prices. This attempt to decrease the prices of certain items, follows swiftly on from the government attempts to lower diesel and electric prices from earlier this month. Along with the announcement into the review of food prices, the Commerce Minister has also announced a wide range of policies to stimulate the Thai economy and to foster collaborative efforts with other countries.
This announcement is surely good news for all people living in Thailand, and will positively affect both tourist/travellers and people living in the country full time. The reduction on food prices likely comes as a relief to everyone especially as it has been announced recently that the Thai Baht has his a 10 year low. As someone who will be moving to Thailand soon, it is good to know that the Thai government are trying to reduce the prices of everyday items and that my money will be able to go further then it would have previously.

[Alexander Bavington]

Hi Aoife,
I agree with you that the use of tablet or any technology in the classroom can have a positive impact and it is best for them to learn about the online world in a safe location whilst supervised, instead of alone at home. Like yourself, my school in England also issued technology in schools, however we were issues mini laptop’s instead of tablets. From my personal experience, these were more of a hinderance then a help to the learning as they were never working and not everyone remembered to bring them to school every day. In fact after a while most teachers reverted to the usual way for teaching due to the issues they caused. I think that technology has a place in classrooms, as long as it is employed in such a way which will help and not hinder any learning.
Kind regards,
Alex

[Chelsea McGuire]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63858123

The article, Elephants: Covid and ethics reshape Thailand’s tourism industry, dives into the challenges faced by elephant owners and the elephant tourism scene in Thailand, especially with challenges associated with COVID-19. Thailand used to be a hotspot for elephant tourism, but when the pandemic hit and international travel stopped, the elephants and owners faced significant financial difficulties. Elephants require a lot of resources for their care including food and water, and the loss of income had a detrimental impact on their well-being.

What’s interesting is that tourists started to feel more strongly about the ethical treatment of these animals. Many tourists started avoiding elephant practices that involve riding, and other cruel and unnatural activities. A new trend of ethical elephant tourism emerged. It’s all about treating these beautiful creatures kindly and focusing on conservation. Unfortunately, not every elephant camp has jumped on this bandwagon, which shows that the whole elephant experience in Thailand is changing. If you’re thinking about heading to Thailand or living there, this article highlights how the landscape of elephant tourism is shifting. It’s a reminder to choose experiences that prioritize the elephants’ well-being if you plan on interacting with them, which is something I personally plan on doing.

[Chelsea McGuire]

Hi Brooke!

It’s indeed a sobering reality that active shooter drills have become a necessity in today’s world. Safety should always come first, and it’s great to see international schools in Thailand taking steps to prepare their students and staff for such situations. It’s interesting how safety measures like these are spreading globally, given the unfortunate rise in active shooter incidents. Your point about foreign teachers being aware and prepared is crucial. Safety doesn’t have boundaries, and all schools, regardless of location, should take it seriously. Thanks for bringing up this important topic!

[Chamise Thompson]

Hi Jacob,
I like this article on the growth and influences of Thai cuisine, especially in regard to Thailand being an ultimate tourist location. There is the idea that when people visit a foreign country they are eager to eat the local cuisine. While Thailand may be having influences on foreigners with their food, I think about how foreign food has an impact in Thailand. Seeing KFC’s or Mcdonald’s and large chain fast food restaurants can be comfort food to westerners or others traveling into Thailand. I wonder, who visits these places more? The locals or foreigners? It is also quite interesting to see the cultural changes from using chopsticks.

[Miranda Murphy]

https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/work/teach-english-abroad/blog/comparison-thai-and-american-classrooms-0

The article shares a licensed American teacher’s experience teaching in Thailand, highlighting the cultural differences they encountered in the classroom. The teacher mentions how teaching in Thailand requires significant adjustments, including teaching middle school students. One key cultural difference is the communal nature of Thai students, who readily engage in group activities without individual embarrassment but also struggle with issues like cheating and plagiarism due to this communal mindset. Thai students take their education seriously, considering it their full-time job, but the laid-back “mai bpen rai” culture can be an adjustment, with unclear objectives and expectations in classrooms.

The author also addresses the challenge of limited teaching materials in Thai classrooms and suggests being resourceful. Despite the differences, the author encourages teachers to focus on the common goal of educating children and making a positive impact, emphasizing that children are children, regardless of cultural disparities, and embracing the differences as part of the teaching experience.

[Miranda Murphy]

Hi Chelsea,

This article is so interesting. Great post!

[Kerry Cook]

Article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2646085/making-education-keep-up-with-change

Making Education Keep Up with Change

This article focuses on the education system in Thailand with a particular focus on whether the current system prepares students well for life in the ever-changing and fast moving ‘real world’ after they leave school.

The article begins by highlighting the amount of time that Thai students spend in the classroom (Thai school hours are amongst the longest in the world), as well as pointing out that the Education Ministry receives the largest share of Thailand’s national budget each year. The overarching point being made in the article is that despite Thai students’ proportionately high contact time in school compared to the rest of the world and the substantial investment from the Thai government in education, Thai students are not as prepared for the world as they should be because the Thai curriculum focuses heavily upon students’ ability to understand and then explain a topic, but does not ask them to apply what they have learned to the real world. For example, a study shows that 52.7% of Thailand’s 15-year-olds “struggled to apply the mathematics they learned in school to solve every-day problems.” The article argues that the biggest reason for this is that Thailand’s curriculum has not changed in the past 20 years, and therefore what students learn at school is outdated and has not adapted to the significant changes in the world during the past two decades.

The article goes on to consider the challenges of education reform as changes to the curriculum not only affect students, but also teachers, parents, educators, administrators and textbook publishers. To combat the potential disagreement between the variety of people affected by a change in curriculum, the article suggests that all parties must simply recognise that the biggest priority of curriculum development should be to prioritise students’ interests and needs; all parties involved must work together openly and cooperatively, setting aside any of their own vested interests, to ensure a curriculum that better serves students.

I found this article particularly interesting as someone that is moving to Thailand specifically to teach English as it provides an insight into how the education system in Thailand works and some of its strengths and weaknesses. I’m from the UK and I’m certain that there are aspects of the British education system and curriculum that could be deemed outdated or old fashioned, however I do generally feel that my education generally prepared me well for life after school and I believe that it is particularly important that students learn how to put what they learn into practice, not that they can just get the right answers on tests and exams. I am hopeful that the context this article provides as to some of the challenges I might face as a teacher but also that the students I’m teaching might face in learning will help me to provide an overall better experience for the students I teach.

[Kerry Cook]

Hi Camille,

I think you’ve chosen a really interesting article and I agree completely that this initiative is a step in the right direction for society and its attitude towards drugs and drug users. It’s encouraging to see a country moving towards rehabilitation rather than punishment as a potential resolution for drug use and I believe that the long term affects will hopefully make Thailand much safer.

[Sarah Cottreau]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/sponsor-content-thailand-works-to-preserve-its-natural-wonders
This article emphasizes the importance of preserving the beautiful country of Thailand, such as its water/marine life, beaches, and lush mountains. With the country being a popular tourist destination, the government has implemented ways to maintain tourism while being environmentally friendly such as embracing the “5Rs” (reducing, reusing, repairing, recycling, and rejecting), which reduces plastic waste. Areas all over the country are introducing new programs in attempt to help the environment. For example, a national park in Loei has launched Go Green: Go Glean: Go Grow which encourages visitors to plant a tree during and clean the area throughout their stay. I think this is a great way to help communities maintain Thailand’s natural beauty.
For someone moving to or visiting Thailand, it would be mindful to contribute to promoting sustainable tourism. The programs discussed are trying to preserve the environment for future generations in inclusive and fun ways. The government must work extra hard to provide for the mass amount of tourists, so I think it’s important that we do our part and help the environment in any way we can, it can be something simple such as using a reusable water bottle while travelling.

[Ivy Pharr]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2650439/tourist-overload-at-si-thep

Thailand now has four World Heritage Sites, after UNESCO recognized Si Thep this week. The archaeological park, located in Petchabun province, joins Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, and Ban Chiang, after a multi-year bid to gain protective status. Now that it has UNESCO status, it’s more likely that tourists will travel to Petchabun to see this ancient city. This is both a good thing for Thai tourism, and a problem. As of now, the site doesn’t have adequate infrastructure to support a tourist boom, neither in terms of parking, nor in securing artifacts from looting.
Traveling abroad, it is a great privilege to see and explore historical treasures. Americans generally don’t have a connection to things that are 1500 years old. This article is a reminder that visiting these sites, while incredible to see, are vulnerable, and the people working to preserve their history deserve respect and space to make these sites and their contents accessible for generations to come.

[Author]

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