Thailand must put more emphasis on technical studies

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Thailand must put more emphasis on technical studies
By The Nation
2011-02-05

Vocational and technical colleges have a poor reputation as second-grade choices, but the economy depends on the skills taught in them

While the jury is still out on whether Deputy Minister of Education Narisara Chawaltanpipat's highly-publicised campaign to promote vocational colleges is a success or not, it makes sense for Thailand to reform technical and vocational colleges in order to change the narrow view that our society tends to have of them.

For decades technical and vocational colleges have been essential in producing technicians to serve the country's economic development. Unfortunately these institutions have generally been viewed by students and parents as a next-best choice after, for instance, a liberal arts degree. This is despite the fact that vocational colleges provide students with hands-on experience and on-the-job training that is both relevant and practical, as compared to the rote learning style that many other educational institutions offer to their students.

It would have been impossible for Thailand to achieve its current level of economic progress without the skills taught at these colleges, and the technical workers they produce will continue to be essential members of the workforce.

The problem is that Thais tend to have a higher opinion of students with a university degree. Technical students are considered to occupy a lower rung on the educational and career ladder. In addition the long-standing problem of brawls between students of vocational colleges does nothing to help attract top-notch students and lecturers to some of these colleges.

As a result of these problems and perceptions the Thai educational system tends to produce a surplus of arts graduates while the country faces a shortage of skilled labour to serve the growth of industry and agricultural science.

Reform of vocational colleges is thus important to develop the country's human resources and educational staff. It is essential that greater efforts are made to upgrade the quality of education and training at these institutions.

The educational environment should be intellectually stimulating and safe. In addition, as the pace of technological development continues to increase, constant revision and adjustment of the curriculum is needed to ensure that the new generation of Thai technicians will be equipped with relevant and practical knowledge and skills. Critical areas in the future will include the application of energy-saving and telecommunications technologies.

The improved training of technicians will also serve the country's plan to produce more entrepreneurs, especially those who can excel due to their technological know-how. This will fit in well with the plan to promote more small and medium-sized businesses.

Cooperation with the private sector should also be further promoted. Various types of industrial-educational cooperation programmes can be explored. For instance, the Map Ta Phut Technical College in Rayong recently announced that its chemical engineering students will have a chance to spend a period of time working at petrochemical plants located at the huge industrial estate in the area.

If Thailand can improve the quality of its technical and vocational colleges, it could also have a beneficial effect on traditional schools. The strength of these colleges lies in their curricula. All students should, from an early age, learn to create things, learn to solve problems, and learn to work in groups. This is essential in promoting self-esteem - which is something that cannot be imparted through the failed rote learning system that the country persists with.

Western schools have long included such subjects as woodwork and metalwork in their curricula, allowing children to experience a creative craft and the opportunity to be proud of what they can achieve. The infusion of such experiences can encourage a new generation of Thai students to become more creative instead of simply repeating rote lessons. They would thus soon learn to appreciate the value of hard work and effort that they invest in their studies.

This kind of hands-on, practical education can help young people discover where their best aptitude lies, perhaps outside of academic learning. Many students may be failing to realise their abilities because they are being taught things that do not reflect their true character and ability.

We owe it to them to provide the opportunities to develop their innate talents and abilities.