Thread: Lessons for Thailand from schools across Reading and Wokingham

Lessons for Thailand from schools across Reading and Wokingham
3 Oct 2013

Schools in this country might work in partnership with underperforming Thai schools in order to improve education for thousands of students


Professor Chennarong Pornrungroj, third from left, with The Holt School headteacher Suzanne Richards, Queen Anne’s School deputy head Nicky Coombs, CfBT chief executive Steve Munby, The Piggott School headteacher Hilary Winter, and Ashley Robson, headteacher of Reading School

A senior education figure from Thailand learnt some lessons from teachers of some of the town’s best performing schools when he visited Reading.

Chief inspector of schools Professor Chennarong Pornrungroj was invited to attend an event hosted by the Reading-based charity CfBt Education Trust in Queen’s Road.

He and a delegation of colleagues from the Thai Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA) met headteachers of Reading School, Queen Anne’s School in Caversham, The Piggott School in Wargrave and The Holt School in Wokingham.

They discussed how schools in this country might work in partnership with underperforming Thai schools in order to improve education for thousands of students.

Prof Chennarong said: “We are keen to explore partnerships with excellent schools in the UK.

“We already have a programme in Thailand that links good schools with other schools. Now I would like to explore a Thailand-UK connection.”

Representatives from other well-respected British educational organisations and institutions also took part in the meeting, including TeachFirst, the Institute of Education, University of Oxford, the British Council and ARK Schools.

The meeting was also a chance for a wider discussion about partnership between CfBT and the government of Thailand.

The trust works in collaboration with ONESQA assessing the quality of private schools across Thailand and awarding the best schools the International School Quality Mark, which is CfBT’s recognised school accreditation system for schools offering international curriculum worldwide.

It was also an opportunity for ONESQA to find out how CfBT can further support the development of school inspection and improvement both in Thailand and other parts of South East Asia.

Tony McAleavy, education director at CfBT, said: “CfBT works in close collaboration with ONESQA in Thailand and it was a pleasure to welcome Professor Chennarong and colleagues to Reading to learn from local school leaders about best practice in improving education and outcomes for children and young people.

“The UK is well known worldwide for having a high-performing education system and CfBT actively works with international clients to facilitate learning from the best of British to develop and build on their own first-class systems for the benefit of learners.”

getreading.co.uk

Unless the schools are going to be run & staffed by the English professionals, nothing will change.

Originally Posted by Mid

A senior education figure from Thailand

Originally Posted by Mid

Chief inspector of schools Professor Chennarong Pornrungroj

???

Professor of what? Professor where?

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Professor of what? Professor where?

Good Question to which Google does not know the answer ....................

The teacher at the local high school out here in the boonies went to England on a trip last year with this or some other program. He really didn't need to waste money to go there when the schools in Bangkok are so much better. These trips for lower level teachers or MOE staff are just about traveling and seeing the world. Everything they could want to know is already known or easily found somewhere online or in Thailand. The school heads and higher ups in education at the lower levels are mostly just a bunch of lazy and often corrupt dirtbags who focus on the money rather than the problem. They spend their time building buildings so they can get kickbacks from the builders and suppliers. Education is not important and hasn't been forever for most school heads. They could improve the programs but they don't. They should be at the schools walking around the campuses dealing with problems but they are going to meetings and 'seminars' off campus in the bigger cities all the time. The head here was absent about 4 out of 5 days a week. He's willing to leave the school but only when he can get into a school with more students or opportunity from what I hear. Personally, I wish the Bangkok-appointed twat would just die for the sake of a chance for change. Bangkok's MOE is full of ignorance and corruption.

How can England help Thailand when Thailand's teachers are having others do their Masters degree homework and papers? It's comical.


The Brit educators might also just want an excuse to go the land of fun and sun because they can't be serious about changing anything here. The Brits already working in Thai schools know enough about the problems. Those in England should just tell them to listen to the opinions of their foreign staff. It would save a lot of time and money but that won't happen because the chance for travel and exotic places beckons.