“Reform Education, Reform Your Country” The 6th Annual ThailandPOD National Conference Outcome Based Education: Progressing towards the 21 Century Quality Graduates 28–29 July 2011 Gerald W. Fry Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota Yes, you may well doubt, you may well be uncertain... Do not accept anything because it is the authoritative tradition, because it is often said, because of rumor or hearsay, because it is found in the scriptures, because it agrees with a theory of which one is already convinced, because of the reputation of an individual, or because a teacher said it is thus and thus… But experience it for yourself. The Lord Buddha The Kalama Sutta Basic Background on the Kingdom of Thailand Nation, Religion, King Pridi’s concept of impermanence Key stakeholders and groups in the Thai polity/society 1) King and Royal Family 2) Military 3) Professional bureaucracy “bureaucratic polity” (Siffin, Riggs) 4) Partisan politicians/local politicians 5) Business elites 6) Peoples’ movements, yellow shirts, PAD (People’s Alliance for Democracy) and red shirts, UDD) (นปช) (United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship); rapidly growing lower middle class 7) NGOs, NPOs, rice-roots movements 8) Religious figures (e.g., Buddhadāsa Bhikku, Maechee Sansanee) 9) Mass media/social networks Global Context: The Crisis in Higher Education Key Critical Issues: Escalating costs (Baumol’s Disease) Escalating privatization (with slippage in quality control and accountability (diploma mills) (Altbach); educational corruption Esoteric research (Sokal critique) Global Context: The Crisis in Higher Education Key Critical Issues: Underinvesting in good higher education and R & D (critical need for “peace dividend”; “soft power”) Emphasis on quantity not quality of institutions (systems that are too large) Too much spending on bureaucracy, administration In U.S. problem of increasing numbers of lowpaid adjunct instructors; new book by N. Riley, The Faculty Lounges and Other Reasons You Won’t Get the College Education You Paid for. The Seven Domains of Educational Quality Quality of teachers Quality of educational administrators and leaders(Rung) Quality of students Quality of curriculum Quality of physical facilities Quality of internet access and resources (hardware and software) Quality of effort (Gladwell law) Asia-Pacific Context:Two Striking Paradoxes The Korean Paradox Korean students perform exceptionally well in international tests; Korea attracts top students to the teaching field; impressively high tertiary enrollment ratio However, based on KEDI surveys, parents are not happy with Korean education and huge system of expensive “shadow education” A Second Paradox The Thai Paradox In terms of percent of national budget, Thailand spends heavily on education; Thailand has had over the years an impressive number of well trained and highly educated policymakers. However, on various key indicators, both international and national, Thailand performs poorly; relatively low rankings of Thai universities Basic Background on the Kingdom of Thailand Never colonized, but issue of major external influences and internal colonialism Considerable ethnic diversity (more than realized, but lack of cultural democracy) In recent decades, dramatic economic diversification and internationalization Huge informal economy Need for Alternative Approaches Vertical case studies (Vavrus & Barlett) James Scott’s concept of “seeing like a state” Neglect of the meso (in between national and local); the importance of the Isaan and northern regions Fry and Kempner sub-national comparative research on northeast Brazil and northeast Thailand Two Competing Paradigms Michael Porter (Harvard Business School) stresses the importance of international competitiveness. Paul Krugman, distinguished economist at Princeton, emphasizes the critical need to enhance the productivity of our citizens. The Japan case (1960-1990) unprecedented historical increases in productivity “Miracle on the Han River” (growth with equity) Increase in Japanese Productivity, 1960-1990 Statistical Background on Thailand Statistical Indicator Kingdom of Thailand Population 67.1m Population density 126 per km2 Gross Domestic Product (PPP)US$ b 580.3 Gross Domestic Product (PPP) 8,700 per capita (US$) Percent urban 33 Percent rural 67 Percent of economy (industrial) 45.6 Percent of economy (agricultural) 10.4 Statistical Background (continued) Percent of economy service 44.0 Level of exports (X) US$ b 191.3 (exports now account for 61% of GDP) Level of imports (M) US$ b 156.9 Exports/Imports 1.22 X+M/GDP (non-PPP), level of economic internationalization 1.11 Gini coefficient for income distribution .54 Rate of unemployment 0.7 Rate of poverty (%) 10.54% (6.7 m) Ranking on Happiness Index (HPI) 55.4 (32nd in world out of 178 countries) Number of medals won in SEA Games Number of medals won in Asian Games 266 (number one) 53 (number one among ASEAN countries) The Five Faces of Thailand Traditional Thai Education Decentralized Monks were the teachers Temples were the schools In homes, many skills such as weaving were taught Emphasis was on Buddhism and moral education Limited access for females Elite royal education at the palaces Profile of King Chulalongkorn: Educational Reformer Influential Thai Educators: Past and Present King Chulalongkorn the Great Prince Damrong H.M. King Bhumipol the Great H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Buddhadas Bhikku P. A. Payutto Bhikku Maechee Sansanee M.L. Pin Malakul Influential Thai Educators: Past and Present Dr. Saroj Buasri Dr. Pridi Banomyong Dr. Sukich Nimehamminda M.C. Supradis Diskul (Prince Supat) M.R. Kukrit Pramoj Khunying Amporn Meesuk Dr. Kaw Swasdipanich Dr. Sippanondha Ketudat Influential Thai Educators: Past and Present Dr. Wichit Sisa-an Professor Dr. Prawes Wasi Dr. Kowit Worawipat Dr. Rung Kaewdang Dr. Khunying Kasama Warawan na Ayuthaya Khun Mechai Wirawaitaya Dr. Ekawit na Talang Influential Thai Educators: Past and Present Dr. Saisuree Chutikul Dr. Puey Ungpakorn Phya Anuman Rajadhon Dr. Kasem Watanachai Dr. Somwung Pitayanuwat Dr. Krase Chanawongse Profile of Prince Damrong The life and work of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1862-1943) as a historical testimony of endogenous Thai intellectual creativity / Sulak Sivaraksa; Damrongrachanuphap, Prince, son of Mongkut King of Siam 1979 Tokyo: United Nations University Phase I: The Reforms of King Chulalongkorn Role of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab Reform as means to preserve independence and promote national identity Development of a centralized modern, secular educational system Extension of education to the whole Kingdom Triadic strategy involving the Ministry of Public Instruction, Ministry of Interior, and Buddhist Sangha Phase I: The Reforms of King Chulalongkorn--Continued Integrating the modern with the traditional King Rama V’s international vision two trips to Europe (visiting England, Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands) trips to Asia areas such as Java, Malaya, Burma, and India (most traveled monarch of his time) Suan Gulab as an immersion school Started in 1902 the Royal Pages School, which was the precursor to Chulalongkorn University Phase II: Reforms Related to the Student Revolution of 1973 Background on the student revolution Key elements of the 1970s reforms Emphasis on unity Emphasis on equity and social justice Emphasis on intellectual freedom and openness Use of empirical data to inform decisionmaking Innovation in Thai Higher Education: The Visionary Dr. Wichit Srisa-an Innovation in Thai Higher Education: The Visionary Dr. Wichit Srisa-an Created new genres of Thai universities such as Sukothai Thammathirat University (STOU), a “university without walls” Suranaree University of Science and Technology, a university outside the normal bureaucratic system Walailuck University in the South Efficient and fair administration of the University Entrance Examination System Dr. Sippanondha Ketudat, Visionary Thai Educational Reformer Dr. Sippanondha Ketudat THE MIDDLE PATH FOR THE FUTURE OF THAILAND: TECHNOLOGY IN HARMONY WITH CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT by Sippanondha Ketudat with the methodological and editorial collaboration of Robert B. Textor and the consultation of William J. Klausner, M.L. Bhansoon Ladavalya, and Sidhinat Prabudhanitisarn. Honolulu: East-West Center, 1990. A Thai Educational Response to Internationalization and Globalization (1990-1995) Commission on Thailand’s Education in the Era of Globalization Making the Thai economy more competitive through educational reforms; need for effective collaboration among diverse key stakeholders Need to increase R & D spending Internationalization of the Thai economy; beginning of an international education boom Emergence of Thailand as a local “donor nation” Anticipated many elements of the 1999 educational reform (e.g., decentralization, the call for Local Education Commissions) New Assumption University Campus Character for Crisis Phase III: The Asian Economic Crisis: Reform as Challenge and Opportunity Root causes of the crisis; tragedy of the economic commons; Thailand’s changing economic landscape Political reform: mandates of the new 1997 Constitution 9 years of compulsory education and 12 years of free fundamental education Mandate decentralization Emphasis on local knowledge and wisdom Mandate new education law to promote educational reform Rationale for the 1999 Reform Persisting educational problems Inadequate returns for investments in education Thailand’s loss of international competitiveness 1999 Reform: Implications for Higher Education Granting universities autonomy to enhance their efficiency Integrating the Ministry of Education and Ministry of University Affairs into a single ministry to improve efficiency and better articulation between P-12 and higher education; enhance coordination of pre-service and in-service teacher preparation; enhance coordination between Rajabhat and universities previously under the MoUA. New student-centered learning approaches apply also to higher education Greater utilization of ICT is particularly relevant to the higher education sector as is internationalization Thailand’s Scorecard Statistical Indicator Thailand’s ranking Number of Countries Ranked % of national budget spent on education #2 49 International competitiveness #33 49 Innovation #50 58 Efficiency of government #39 49 Economic capability #15 49 Private sector efficiency #44 49 Thailand’s Scorecard (Continued) Basic infrastructure #40 49 Educational capability #44 49 Academic competitiveness #38 49 Competitiveness in science and technology #39 49 Competitiveness in management #40 58 Labor competitiveness #48 58 Percent of women in senior management positions #1 39 Thailand’s Scorecard (Continued) Rank in science (TIMSS, 2007) #22 48 Rank in mathematics (TIMSS, 2007) #29 48 Rank in reading literacy (PISA, 2009) 438 #48 65 Rank in mathematics literacy (PISA, 2009) 419 #50 65 Rank in science literacy (PISA, 2009) 425 #48 65 Rank in English proficiency 42 44 Thailand’s Development Diamond Major Educational Problem Areas Lack of unity and coordination of diverse and fragmented education/HRD efforts How to decentralize, overbureaucratization of system Persistence of traditional learning modes Neglect of science and related R & D development Persisting issues of inequity and access Major Educational Problem Areas (continued) Overemphasis on bricks and mortar Inadequate utilization of ICT potential Inadequate development of international capabilities Educational corruption Educational debt of teachers Attracting the best talent to teaching (cf. Korea); impressed with “New-Breed Teachers Scheme” Inequality in Thailand Gini coefficient has gone from .43 in the early ‘70s to .54 currently, making Thailand one of the world’s most unequal countries (Warr, 2010); Thailand is now the second most unequal country in the world (Economist, April 20, 2011). Warr argues that these data actually underestimate the degree of inequality; rural incomes have fallen relative to average incomes. In terms of income disparities, income gap between the richest 20% and the poorest 20% is 13-fold (Pasuk) In terms of wealth disparities, wealth gap between the richest 20% and the poorest 20% is 69-fold!! Coefficient of variation (V) for regional income inequality is an extremely high 1.37 Disadvantaged Northeast Lowest access to pre-school (ages 3-5), 46% In terms of basic education, access to primary school, Northeast is 15% behind the highest region (East) Most dropping out of school mid-year are from the Northeast, second the North In terms of national M. 6 test results, greatest disparities are among schools of the Northeast Northeast students received the lowest subsidy per head; have the lowest national test scores The New Cosmopolitan Isaan (Professor Charles Keyes) Many individuals from Isaan have gone to become migrant workers overseas; their remittances have contributed to Isaan development Example of the “Swiss village” in Roi-Et Dramatic change from the isolation of the past Greater political awareness and consciousness (Paulo Freire) An Example: Khun Tatpicha from a Remote Area of Srisaket The National Education Act August 19, 1999 Response to Article 81 of the 1997 Constitution Has nine chapters Basic elements: 1) Administrative reform and restructuring 2) Education for all and all for education 3) Decentralization and budget reform 4) Promotion of student-centered education and learning 5) Greater use of ICT Major Elements of the 1999 Reform Provision of 12 years of free education and 9 years of compulsory education Promotion of student and learner-centered pedagogy Establishing administrative unity Greater autonomy of public universities Decentralization of education with the establishment of 175 Education Service Areas Emphasis on the utilization of local knowledge and wisdom Emphasis on a holistic approach to reform Support of national, master, and lead teachers as a network of educational innovators Establishment of a system of teacher licensure Promotion of site-based teacher learning Establishment of the Office for National Educational Standards and Quality Assessment Greater use of ICT to promote student and teacher learning Emphasis on life-long learning Focus on diversity of learning approaches and learning sources (all for education) Seven Integrated Reforms R e f o r m Education T o w a r d Reform Good Governance Public, Private NGO Law and Enforcement Reform Value Financial Ethics Mass Media & Economic System Reform Sufficient Reform E c o n o m y T raded Economy Technology in Harmony with Culture & Environment Dr. Sippanondha Ketudat 1/2/01 Pedagogy of the Whole Person: Software of the Mind Heart Right Brain Left Brain Body Developing the Whole Brain Joseph’s Four Segments of the Brain Tetrahedron Model of Global Competence First Round of Assessment by ONESQA, 2001-2006 Key Findings: 1) In terms of basic education, only 34.6% of schools were considered good, meeting the basic minimum standards. 2) In terms of higher education, 47.7% of institutions met the standard. 3) Related to the important criterion of students being able to think analytically and systematically, to engage in discursive thinking, and to be creative, only 11% of schools were classified as good, meeting the standard. Second Round of Assessment by ONESQA, 2006-2008 Key Findings: 1) Some improvement from the previous round 2) 22.4% of OBEC schools were not meeting basic standards. Most of these schools were small and in remote rural areas. Demonstration of Students at Chulalongkorn University College Students Protesting Educational Reform Failures of Thaksin Government Related to the Implementation of Educational Reform Saw educational reform as policy of the previous Chuan government No continuity in leadership at the Ministry of Education; frequent changes of ministers Surveys indicated citizens most concerned about economic not educational issues Resistance of teachers to having schools come under local TAO jurisdiction Some Positives of the Thaksin Government Dr. Thaksin’s vision of Thailand as a knowledge society (his book on reading and his deep concern about pre-school education); his vision related to the future of the Thai economy Creation of Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park) Application of OTOP concept to education (especially, One District, One Scholarship Program) Support for ONESQA and its efforts to improve the quality of Thai education Promotion of Reading Culture Thailand Knowledge Park Thai Universities in the World Rankings No Thai university in the top 200 (Times Higher Education Rankings) Highest Thai university in the Webometrics rankings, #324 (Prince of Songkla University) Much better performance in QA Asian regional rankings: Mahidol (#30), Chulalongkorn (#35), Chiang Mai (#81), and Thammasat (#85) January 2010 World Bank Report on Higher Education (in Collaboration with OHEC) Imperative to increase educational quality at all levels. Need enhanced collaboration between universities and the private sector. Need to recognize extensive externalities associated with investing in higher education January 2010 World Bank Report on Higher Education (in Collaboration with OHEC) Need to strengthen the overall innovation system Higher education system must be more oriented to a “knowledgebased economy relying on a highly skilled labor and technological advances to drive growth and productivity” Major Empirical Assessment of the Implementation of the Third Educational Reform (Study by Hallinger & Lee, 2011) Study based on data collected from 1,800 principals from throughout the Kingdom during MOE workshops on organizational change in 2008. 33.2% of teachers have adopted the new teaching/learning approaches; if including those who are positive and preparing to introduce change, the number increases to 52.1%; no regional differences found Complex issue of interpreting these numbers; the Rashomon Effect My Own Assessment of the 1999 Reform Initiative Reform represents excellent ideals and progressive education Only partial implementation of student-centered learning and education Problem of recentralization at the local level Teacher resistance to having TAOs responsible for education Overemphasis on structural changes Inadequate use of targeted block grants to address regional disparities My Own Assessment of the 1999 Reform Initiative Study showing poor knowledge of teachers of their subject matter Inadequate incentives for becoming a teacher Inadequate incentives for serving in remote areas Lack of leadership continuity during Thaksin period Education not a high priority of Thaksin’s government My Own Assessment of the 1999 Reform Initiative Education not a high priority of Thaksin’s government (hopefully this will change under Khun Yingluck and Dr. Olarn) Lack of cultural democracy Lack of emphasis on moral education, character building; educating the whole person (Dr. Somwung) Lack of effective sex education (Thailand ranks second in the world in percent of teenage pregnancies) Inadequate environmental education (cf. Japan, Korea) Key Educational Problem Areas Bangkok-centric system Language issues; lack of appreciation of linguistic diversity Lack of transparency regarding problems and weaknesses of Thai education Problem of technical-vocational education; “second-class citizens” Issue of when to start English The Vision of Dr. Kowit Vorawipat, Founder of Thai Non-formal Education and a Member of the Education Hall of Fame Give high priority to teacher development in universities as a distinct field and emphasize a holistic approach to teacher education Improve incentives and benefits to attract the best people to go into teaching. Most importantly need to emphasize more than just abstract academics and the testing system needs to be reformed accordingly; emphasize คิด เป็ น (the ability to think) The future of the country depends on having citizens with high integrity and morality. Phase IV: The Government’s Vision of Educational Reform (2009- ) Must address the small school problem and related quality/equity/efficiency issues Need better balance between general and vocational/technical education Need to encourage the reading habit Increase the role of LAOs in supporting and providing education Consider policy of 15 years of free education to facilitate achievement of education for all and provide better access to pre-school Need to achieve high quality life-long learning Korea: A True Knowledge Society The New Phase of Educational Reform (2009-2018) Three major areas of concern with respect to implementation of the Fourth Phase of Education Reform (1999-2008): 1) Quality of education, quality of learners and teachers 2) Efficiency of the management, administrative system 3) Persisting access problems; need to expand educational opportunities Education Wiki-Leaks College graduates have little work experience and are not adequately prepared for “realworld” work Need for more high level IT specialists English skills sub-par compared to neighboring countries Educational level of workforce has increased significantly, but “the supply of graduates with low quality education from ‘no-name’ schools has increased greatly. Education Wiki-Leaks— Continued Lack of critical thinking skills Inadequate numbers of construction, structural, chemical, and industrial engineers being produced Lack skilled managers in the manufacturing sector “Thailand’s construction labor force does not have the creativity for advanced architecture and interior design.” The “Thai Paradox” Thailand ranks really high in terms of spending on education Impressive influential educators and educational leaders and an extremely impressive educational reform plan (NEA, 1999) Success of the Thai economy The top Thai students and scholars are world-class; top Thai students earning international honors/awards; the new Assumption campus (Bang Na) is world-class. In the recent International Mathematic Competition (2011) in Bali, Thai students won 99 medals, including 9 golds. The “Thai Paradox” Lack of a reading culture despite remarkable growth and quality of Thai publishing industry and impressive annual book exhibitions; UNESCO has designated Bangkok as World Book Capital (2013) Overall results, international tests, national tests, and ONESQA assessments: disappointing results; education is lagging behind economic development Explanation of the Paradox Overemphasis on bricks and mortar (material concrete outcomes) A huge civil service; therefore impossible to offer competitive salaries to teachers/professors Spreading resources so thin; so many schools, so many colleges/universities Thailand’s “comfortable setting” and “sanuk” orientation; sabai, sabai Youth culture not emphasizing “boring reading” but computer games, television, social media, entertainment... The Future of Thai Higher Education Major Problem Areas: The system is too large with too many institutions to optimize quality. Need to internationalize with AEC (2015).Thailand’s potential as an international education hub; over 900 international programs; need to improve quality of English teaching, increase study of other non-English languages, enhance cultural intelligence (software of the mind) The Future of Thai Higher Education--continued Too much is being spent on non-teaching and research functions Need more practical internship opportunities for students to gain real world experience Long-term demographic issues with Thailand’s low fertility Need to increase research productivity and spending on creative valuable R and D (Yongyuth Yuthawong) Future of Thai Higher Education (Continued) Need to enhance opportunities for the bright but disadvantaged Difficulty of anticipating future labor markets; percentage of highly educated needed? Need for examination reform to reward independent thinking and creativity Inadequate use of ICT potential; enhance awareness of OER and WikiEducator Future of Thai Education (Continued) Average education of the workforce, 8.7 years; 21.6 million workers (60% have not completed primary education); therefore tremendous need for HRD and life-long quality education and training Lack of alignment among curriculum, pedagogy, and high stakes testing system; need for major testing reform Inadequate realization of ICT potential (only 41% of Thai teachers use ICT in their classes (Amornwich) The Future of Thai Higher Education (continued) Major Issues in Higher Education Emphasis on quantity not quality (now 260 colleges and universities) Need to strengthen R & D capability Need to replace retiring senior professors, many with excellent overseas training Too many students in social sciences; too few in the important STEM fields; serious shortage of professors in engineering/mechanics Students’ inadequate knowledge of their Asian neighbors’ language and cultures (need to prepare for AEC, ASEAN Economic Community, 2015) Future of Thai Education Optimistic elements: Thailand’s strong economy recovery and export performance About 33% of budget for schools coming from non-governmental sources (Waraiporn, 2011) Thailand’s strategic niches Inspiring leadership of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Future of Thai Education (Continued) Well-trained professional bureaucracy Well-educated cadre of teachers and school administrators Societal recognition of the value of education Transcending digital divide; potential of resources such as WikiEducator and Open Education Resources (OER); way to confront the “Baumol Disease” Presence of impressive local wisdom and knowledge, being now more utilized Commitment to reform, no sign of reform fatigue; serious start of a new phase of reform (2009-2018). H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn: A Creative Educator Thailand’s Strategic Niches 1) International education hub 2) Convention/exhibition center 3) “Detroit of the East” 4) “Kitchen of the World” 5) Central location in both Asia and Southeast Asia; transporation/tourist hub Thailand’s Strategic Niches-Continued 6) Bangkok as a preeminent entertainment center and complex; Bangkok just ranked number one city in the world, third time it has received this ranking in recent years 7) Excellence in gems and gem cutting 8) Fashion/design/textiles/electronics 9) Medical tourism; retirement haven Future Priority Highest priority must be given to improving the quality of education at all levels (example of Japan, 1960-1990); imperative to enhance labor productivity and efficiency (Krugman) Jomtien 20+ (March 2011 meeting): turning swords into funds for guaranteeing quality education for all: realization of a true peace dividend Tetrahedron Model of an Ideal Education Educational Ideal for the Future “devotion to the idea that selfcultivation through the disciplined pursuit of knowledge is the path to human perfection.” source: Thomas Rohlen, Stanford University Amazing Thailand Thank you for your kind attention!! Gerald W. Fry Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development University of Minnesota gwf@umn.edu