More Thai Schools To Adopt The Lamplaimat System

[Admin]

More schools to adopt the Lamplaimat system
By Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation 2011-03-14

Khon Kaen Municipality to follow unconventional style

Having experimented with an unconventional teaching method for eight years the Lamplaimat Pattana (LPMP) School now feels it is ready to share some of the lessons it has learnt about its rare but fruitful style with other schools around the country.

Over the past two years, only four schools under the Office of Basic Education Commission have seriously adopted the LPMP model.

However, this constructive concept now looks set to spread to many more schools. The Khon Kaen Municipality, for example, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the LPMP to introduce this unusual teaching style to five schools under its supervision.

What have made the LPMP model outstanding?

At LPMP, students do not sit each class at the ring of a bell. They do not bring textbooks and there are no exams. Teachers speak to students with soft voices to reflect compassion and love.

Every day, students and teachers hug to make them feel good and relaxed.

Teachers encourage students to develop their potential, to value themselves, to boost their spiritual quotients, and learn to how to survive without taking advantage of others.


The students learn by doing assignments like reports, compositions, sculptures, handicraft, charts and embroidery.

Some assignments can take students as long as one year to do complete research.

At the school, students wear colourful uniforms that reflect local arts and culture. Their parents are involved in the learning process too because the LPMP model has recognised that the school alone cannot shape children's behaviour.

The LPMP model has worked magic for its students. All are happy and selfconfident. Their academic knowledge is also good.

In national tests last year, their average scores were higher than the average in Thai, maths and science.

The school, meanwhile, got a "very good" grade for 13 indicators in an assessment conducted by the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment last year. It got a "good" grade in the other indicator.

Nakhon Khon Kaen Municipality deputy mayor Thawatchai Ruemromsiri said his local body was interested in the LPMP model because they shared the same ideology.

"We believe that education is not a competition where children who fail are to be eliminated. Education must help lay down a good foundation for a human. They must learn how to live without taking advantage of others," Thawatchai said. So far, he said six other schools under the supervision of local bodies had experimented with other teaching models including the Individualised Education Programme (EP) in a bid to explore methods best suited for local children.

Chaimongkhon Akaponpaisal, a school executive who joined training on the LPMP, said the traditional framework had hurt many children because it did not recognise the different abilities and talents of people.

"We had long trained to admire academicallycompetent students and to ignore those who were not as good," he said on Facebook. "We have to stop."

LPMP principal Wichien Chaiyabang said the training for school directors and executives from Khon Kaen Municipality was intended to make participants reflect on what they had done in the past and where they could improve.

"Then, I encouraged them to pursue their goals," he said.

Wichien is happy to see the LPMP model spread on to an increasing number of schools. "I can make a huge impact alone. So, I want to lead by example and let others adopt this model. It works."

He said some schools in Chiang Rai, Lampang and Phuket also planned to introduce the LPMP model in the upcoming academic year.

Hemaraj Land and Development Co Ltd had also sponsored 30 LPMPthemed classes at schools in Chon Buri and Rayong.

"This is in line with our philosophy. The more the teaching concept is expanded, the more benefits the country will reap through the higher number of quality resources," Wichien said.

He hoped all 30,000 rural schools in the country would learn and use the LPMP model.

[isanbirder]

This sounds like some experimental schools in England (Bedales?) where students did not have to come to class, and only learned what they wanted.  It didn't work.

[Admin]

This sounds like some experimental schools in England (Bedales?) where students did not have to come to class, and only learned what they wanted.  It didn't work.

So what are they doing today?!...

[Al.]

This sounds like some experimental schools in England (Bedales?) where students did not have to come to class, and only learned what they wanted.  It didn't work.

So what are they doing today?!...

Growing rice in Buriram

[Admin]

This sounds like some experimental schools in England (Bedales?) where students did not have to come to class, and only learned what they wanted.  It didn't work.

So what are they doing today?!...

Growing rice in Buriram

Thats what happen when you are not going to school. huh?!..... 

[tonypace01]

So what are they doing today?!...

They're MPs in the New Labor Party.