Distance-learning classes set to start at 15,000 small schools
09/16/2014
CONCERNS HAVE been raised over some students' ability to keep pace with lessons as the Education Ministry prepares to launch distance-learning classes at 15,523 small schools.
During his visit to Suphan Buri's Wat Then Plai School, which has held distance learning via satellite for three years, Education Minister Lt-General Surachet Chaiwong said the project aimed to help alleviate the teacher shortage and teachers not qualified to teach subjects - for instance, a social-studies graduate may end up teaching maths.
Surachet said the technology needed in modern education would be used appropriately in the context of each area and school.
Distance learning has been expanded after the computer tablet project was scrapped.
Surachet said distance learning was more worthwhile and corruption-free.
Wat Then Plai School has six teachers and 105 students from kindergarten to Prathom 6. Its National Test (NT) and Ordinary National Educational Test (O-Net) scores were higher than average in all subjects in 2012.
In 2013, its NT scores were also higher than average in all subjects and O-Net scores were higher than average in six subjects.
Dusadee Chaowadecha, a Prathom 5 teacher at the school, said distance learning was effective as teachers could provide students with added information and check their progress to make sure they were keeping up.
The teachers had to prepare lessons according to the schedule provided in the distance-learning teacher handbook, she said.
Prathom 3 teacher Nanthiya Kaewthes said she arranged after-class tutoring for pupils if they couldn't keep up.
She said the school's high scores were not only the result of distance learning but also the tutoring.
Office of Basic Education Commission chief Kamol Rodklai told a Suphan Buri seminar, attended by representatives from 221 pilot schools, that the scheme would be expanded to 15,523 small schools by the second term of this school year. The Education Ministry will also train 124,000 teachers and school executives on using the technology.
Rodklai said the signal testing would be completed at all schools in October and the scheme would commence in early November.
The Distance Learning Foundation's distance-learning project was established on December 5, 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne.