Royal Trophy for Robotic Innovations

(24-04-2013)

On 9 April 2013 the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Theokanjana, chaired a ceremony to receive trophies donated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for the winning students of the National Robotic Competition in the academic year 2012. The ceremony took place at a meeting of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC).

After awarding the trophies to all the winning students, the Education Minister said that, this year, students had been awarded trophies in three categories: 1) vocational education robots from Hoy Lod Team of Samut Songkram Technical College, 2) rescuer robots from Sum Koh Team of Kamphaeng Phet Technical College and 3) automatic arms industrial robots from B-Tech Team of Buriram Technical College.

"Robots are increasingly important in the modern world as they are used in many industries. Moreover, robots can work as well and effectively as human beings as we often see in books and films. Nowadays robots are far better than the older ones and both adults and adolescents are becoming more interested in these human-like machines," said the Education Minister, adding that Thailand is now using robots for different purposes, but much depends on how Thai people can develop and improve them, especially rescuer robots and bomb detonating robots.

Thai students are becoming more interested in robots as they show their abilities for inventing them publicly in Thailand and overseas.

Congratulating the student winners for their good work and cooperation with all the organizers of the national competition, the Minister of Education hoped that they will improve and develop their work for the sake of practical usage in both the public and the private sectors.

Taking place from 6 to 9 April 2013 in Ayutthaya, the National Robotic Competition saw 40 student teams with vocational robots, 45 student teams with rescuer robots, 40 student teams with industrial robots with automated arms and 8 student teams with innovative robots with automated hands and arms for the disabled. The first prize went to students from Samut Songkram Technical College; the second prize went to Kamphaeng Phet Technical College; and the third prize went to Buriram Technical College. All the projects will inspire Thai youths to create and innovate higher robotic technology in the future.

OBEC Seeks New Teaching Methodology

(23-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, recently reported that OBEC would organize a round table seminar in the near future to discuss new ideas to change in-class learning. Participants will discuss the concept from the book, "Flip your Classroom", which provides an idea on how to adjust and change in-class activities under the context of ICT which is currently ubiquitous and can be used by students at all times. Dr. Chinnapat said that Thai students participated very little in class as the first 5 minutes were for the lesson introductions, the 20 minutes that followed were for lectures, the next 10 minutes were for demonstrations and only the last 5 minutes were given over to questions and answers. From now on, in-class learning should be reformed through the use of modern technology, just as the students now use tablets to search for information.

"In the future, students will go to class with questions for their teachers. They and their peers will be able to discuss the research topics assigned by their teachers in advance. No one will come to class with an empty brain and wait for teachers to fill it up with knowledge," said Dr. Chinnapat. He added that, if in-class learning was successfully reformed, many schools with limited resources would gain many advantages, especially schools in Southern Thailand, because students would spend less time in class and more time self-learning. However, the infrastructure, the teaching and learning materials and the curriculum need to be prepared and teachers should understand and be ready for the new teaching methodology.

2013 Is Year for Quality Improvement of Private Education: Bandit

(23-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), Dr. Bandit Sriphutthangkul, recently announced a policy on private education management entitled, "Quality Improvement of Private Education in 2013". The policy aims to achieve the following eight major goals:

1) Primary students in Grade 4 should communicate fluently in English;

2) Primary students in Grade 3 should read and write Thai very well;

3) Students should have high achievements in mathematics;

4) Private schools should emphasize ways to improve students’abilities to think creatively through the use of proper teaching innovations;

5) Private schools should focus on how to enhance the life skills of their students by integrating Scouting into classroom learning;

6) All vocational students should have employment on graduation;

7) International schools should be certified to international standards; and

8) Non formal and informal schools should prepare for their internal quality assessment.

All the major goals are to deal with any potential changes and the opening of the upcoming ASEAN community. Foreign language learning, in particular, is crucial to upgrade Thailand to be an education hub. As a result, OPEC is highly concerned with this issue. Moreover, there are many private schools, such as Darun Sikkhalai or Sattayasai, which are so high in quality that they can be good models for others because they provide their students with both academic lessons and life skills, concluded Dr. Bandit.