There is much confusion over exactly what the country’s 41 Rajabhat (raa cha putt) Institutes really do. In many people’s minds, they are still basically teacher training colleges despite the fact that in many institutes, relatively few students graduate as teachers. In Suan Dusit’s case, for example, the percentage has fallen to below twenty percent.
The move for change began in the 1980s when the production of teachers began to greatly outdistance the demand. In 1985, legislation governing the teacher training system was amended to allow colleges to open additional facilities in fields where they were adequately prepared. The amended act maintained the name of teacher training college. To clear up the resultant confusion, the colleges requested a name change and in 1992, His Majesty the King, conceived the title Rajaphat which was immediately adopted countrywide. In 1995, legislation was approved authorising the institutes to become fully-fledged institutions of higher learning able to offer postgraduate degrees. The Rajaphat Institutes Act of 1995 thus made them essentially equivalent to universities except for one important difference. Unlike universities, Rajabhat Institutes are not independent legal entities – they are not juristic persons. This restricts their independence to some extent, particularly in obtaining financing. Suan Dusit, for example, was unable to tap bank loans for its recent hotel expansion, for example. All this is supposed to change later this year when the Rajabaht Institutes gain full university status. In addition, they are also supposed to fall outside of the government system. One major effect of the change of status will be that permanent staff will no longer be government officials. The institutes will still be government institutions, however, and will continue to receive limited funding. |
terryfrd@ksc15.th.com |