Dream schools offer Thai community a chance to exchange, store and improve their wisdom. — PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

Making dreams a reality

Prudence could save great ideas in Thailand's education system

Recent research indicates that these model schools have become leaders by changing education in outlying areas. This was accomplished by having teachers adopt new technologies in the classroom and by encouraging independent learning among students. In addition, the modern learning environment fostered students' analytical skills, so they were more willing to express thoughts creatively.

This success has been measured by the increase in enrollment figures and the innovative applications of information technology; however, a focus should also be placed on improving the funding and overall management of limited resources.

Dream schools

The Office of National Educational Standards and Quality Assessment (Onesqa) promotes criterion such as improving the quality of management, resources and manpower as standards that these model schools have to satisfy.

The implementation of the One District, One Dream School project, however, has experienced many financial difficulties. The government only allocates a small budget for this project, resulting in schools accruing large debts while covering two-thirds of the costs themselves.

Of the 921 model schools in existence, research has been conducted on 471 schools at primary and secondary school level. On average, the research detailed an debts of 1.8 million baht per school, mostly due to the purchase of ICT facilities and the payment of electricity bills. Some model schools have survived only by school administrators going into debt.

Many teachers and administrators are going all out to try to make this project a success. They should be commended for their dedication to duty and for trying to do the best for their students and the local community. Unfortunately, their dedication has been met with confusion as to how certain policies are to be carried out and who has the real power and responsibility to manage the model schools.

Scholarships for Local Development

A second education program having managerial difficulties is the Scholarship for Local Development (SLD), formerly known as One District, One Scholarship (Odos).

Over the last year, stories have abounded concerning the overseas scholarship recipients' premature return from their studies. It is not clear whether the early returns were due to a faulty selection process or the lack of sufficient language training prior to going abroad.

Either way, the idea that academically gifted students from less well advantaged backgrounds could study overseas and then be encouraged to return to Thailand and work for their local community is a good one. It would be a shame for such a constructive idea to end due to poor management.

Prudence and planning are vital

What it all comes down to is efficient management of the projects' limited resources. As in any business, new initiatives need to be tried and tested before they are put into production.

In my opinion, the newly elected government in December should inspect these two projects with a view to refinance them while setting up a management framework to ensure their success. Bold initiatives need to be supported by transparent management processes that are easy to understand and just as easy to implement.

Steve Graham is an English language teacher at the Language Center, Udon Thani Rajabhat University in northeast Thailand. If there are any comments or areas for debate that you would like to discuss, you can contact Steve at: shed_chelsea@hotmail.co.uk .