EQUALITY IN EDUCATION IS THE BEGINNING OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE

Thailand is ambitiously trying to transform itself into a modern country. But what will this mean to the ordinary citizen? Socio-economic stratification is expressed differently according to the level of development in each society. In developed countries, equal opportunity is given to those who study and work hard, irrespective of class, race or gender. And more often than not, success and a good income are the usual rewards. On the flip side, equal opportunity does not mean a free ride: Those who do not work to make full use of their opportunities are unlikely to achieve a high standard of living.

However, Thailand’s social structure is different. Our society remains sharply divided – between those who have opportunity, and those who don’t. The doors are always open to those with money and social connections, who can usually live privileged lives. The ‘have-nots’, though, are consigned to a life of drudgery and subservience – despite often great efforts and sacrifice to improve their living conditions. Without the right connections, it is very much against the odds for poor people to manage to break out from a hand-to-mouth existence and live a better life.

If we can’t make all citizens equal, at the very least we should offer them an equal start, and in most societies, education is recognized as the key to opportunity, and the lynchpin of national development. Education empowers and builds human capacity for adapting to a changing world. Moreover, education is essential in understanding the impact of new technologies on society and our environment, so that we introduce and deploy new technologies responsibly, with eyes wide open. How then can we improve equality of access to education?

More than ever, in today’s globalized world, it is vital to strengthen our educational system to enable the nation and its people to make the transition to a knowledge-based economy. This will be a crucial juncture for Thailand, paving the way for innovation and human capacity at all levels to contribute more to national development and increase the global competitiveness of its industries.

Although every successive government has emphasized the importance of education, at present, investments in education, research and development still fall far below UN benchmarks for development. For decades, national education development plans and budgets have not reflected the crucial importance of education as an investment in our national future. Over the years, this has gradually left the national educational infrastructure and teaching profession in poor shape, unable to cater for the most basic needs and burdens of an increasing population, with higher costs of materials and equipment, and a widening chasm between traditional curricula and teaching methods, and real-life needs in the workplace. Far too often children emerge from the educational system without the skills needed in today’s business world. The overall quality of education as well as pedagogy will need an urgent upgrade in order to equip our young people with the survival skills to meet the challenges of a globalized jungle.

Despite this admittedly gloomy picture, there is much that government can do to improve matters. The inequalities in economic circumstances of Thai households would surely be mitigated by an expansion of the provision of free basic education, so that the poor are able to give their children primary and high school education. Government loans or grants may also broaden access to tertiary education across class and socio-economic divides. And those politicos concerned over budgets should be reassured by the high rates of return on investment in education enjoyed by developed economies.

There are two approaches that would improve equality in education for Thailand’s citizens. First, the government should allocate significantly higher budgets to upgrading salaries and status of teachers, in order to attract new and talented graduates and raise the overall standing of teaching as a prodession. As we strive to move towards a knowledge-based economy, it will be crucial to invest now in building our human capacity to ensure students are equipped with new and relevant skillsets which will be needed in tomorrow’s globalized workplace.

The second approach is closely linked to the first. As the subject matter changes, so there is also a revolution taking place right now in teaching and learning methods. The advent of interactive digital media (IDM) in the classroom changes everything, empowering students through new learning methods and unparalleled access to a plethora of information resources and discussion fora. If Thailand is to compete on the global stage, it must think out of the box and embrace these radical changes. One choice is to accept incremental ‘tweaking’ of the educational system, and thereby guarantee that our citizens become victims of the digital divide. Or we can embrace information technology with a radical rethink, and move towards student-centered learning, extensive use of IDM, and particularly distance education.

Distance education can play an especially valuable role given the challenges posed by Thailand’s geography. In remote mountain areas, access to education is usually poor, and will require major investment at local and national levels in order to mobilize resources to reach such economically deprived regions. An increased role for the informal education sector within local communities could also help to relieve the formal sector and help extend educational opportunities to every corner of the country.

Both of these proposals would help ensure even standards for education, and broaden access, irrespective of location or choice of school.

Inequality in education is a fundamental obstacle to personal development, and more broadly, to social and economic development of the community and country. We should encourage every sector of society to help seriously establish greater equality in education, irrespective of connections or economic status. Should we fail in this task, the prospects for equality of opportunity for Thailand’s citizens in other respects are indeed bleak. It would be no overstatement to say that the future of our people and, indeed, our nation as a modern developed country, depends on this. •

CONSTITUTION ISSUE 1 JUN-SEP 2007 Pimuk Simaroj Former Deputy Government Spokesman, Thaksin Administration
		GUEST WRITERS: EQUALITY IN EDUCATION IS THE BEGINNING OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE by Pimuk Simaroj

		Thailand is ambitiously trying to transform itself into a modern country. But what will this mean to the ordinary citizen? Socio-economic stratification is expressed differently according to the level of development in each society. In developed countries, equal opportunity is given to those who study and work hard, irrespective of class, race or gender. And more often than not, success and a good income are the usual rewards. On the flip side, equal opportunity does not mean a free ride: Those who do not work to make full use of their opportunities are unlikely to achieve a high standard of living. However, Thailand’s social structure is different. Our society remains sharply divided – between those who have opportunity, and those who don’t. The doors are always open to those with money and social connections, who can usually live privileged lives. The ‘have-nots’, though, are consigned to a life of drudgery and subservience – despite often great efforts and sacrifice to improve their living conditions. Without the right connections, it is very much against the odds for poor people to manage to break out from a hand-to-mouth existence and live a better life. If we can’t make all citizens equal, at the very least we should offer them an equal start, and in most societies, education is recognized as the key to opportunity, and the lynchpin of national development. Education empowers and builds human capacity for adapting to a changing world. Moreover, education is essential in understanding the impact of new technologies on society and our environment, so that we introduce and deploy new technologies responsibly, with eyes wide open. How then can we improve equality of access to education? More than ever, in today’s globalized world, it is vital to strengthen our educational system to enable the nation and its people to make the transition to a knowledge-based economy. This will be a crucial juncture for Thailand, paving the way for innovation and human capacity at all levels to contribute more to national development and increase the global competitiveness of its industries. Although every successive government has emphasized the importance of education, at present, investments in education, research and development still fall far below UN benchmarks for development. For decades, national education development plans and budgets have not reflected the crucial importance of education as an investment in our national future. Over the years, this has gradually left the national educational infrastructure and teaching profession in poor shape, unable to cater for the most basic needs and burdens of an increasing population, with higher costs of materials and equipment, and a widening chasm between traditional curricula and teaching methods, and real-life needs in the workplace. Far too often children emerge from the educational system without the skills needed in today’s business world. The overall quality of education as well as pedagogy will need an urgent upgrade in order to equip our young people with the survival skills to meet the challenges of a globalized jungle. Despite this admittedly gloomy picture, there is much that government can do to improve matters. The inequalities in economic circumstances of Thai households would surely be mitigated by an expansion of the provision of free basic education, so that the poor are able to give their children primary and high school education. Government loans or grants may also broaden access to tertiary education across class and socio-economic divides. And those politicos concerned over budgets should be reassured by the high rates of return on investment in education enjoyed by developed economies. There are two approaches that would improve equality in education for Thailand’s citizens. First, the government should allocate significantly higher budgets to upgrading salaries and status of teachers, in order to attract new and talented graduates and raise the overall standing of teaching as a prodession. As we strive to move towards a knowledge-based economy, it will be crucial to invest now in building our human capacity to ensure students are equipped with new and relevant skillsets which will be needed in tomorrow’s globalized workplace. The second approach is closely linked to the first. As the subject matter changes, so there is also a revolution taking place right now in teaching and learning methods. The advent of interactive digital media (IDM) in the classroom changes everything, empowering students through new learning methods and unparalleled access to a plethora of information resources and discussion fora. If Thailand is to compete on the global stage, it must think out of the box and embrace these radical changes. One choice is to accept incremental ‘tweaking’ of the educational system, and thereby guarantee that our citizens become victims of the digital divide. Or we can embrace information technology with a radical rethink, and move towards student-centered learning, extensive use of IDM, and particularly distance education. Distance education can play an especially valuable role given the challenges posed by Thailand’s geography. In remote mountain areas, access to education is usually poor, and will require major investment at local and national levels in order to mobilize resources to reach such economically deprived regions. An increased role for the informal education sector within local communities could also help to relieve the formal sector and help extend educational opportunities to every corner of the country. Both of these proposals would help ensure even standards for education, and broaden access, irrespective of location or choice of school. Inequality in education is a fundamental obstacle to personal development, and more broadly, to social and economic development of the community and country. We should encourage every sector of society to help seriously establish greater equality in education, irrespective of connections or economic status. Should we fail in this task, the prospects for equality of opportunity for Thailand’s citizens in other respects are indeed bleak. It would be no overstatement to say that the future of our people and, indeed, our nation as a modern developed country, depends on this. •



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