Dropouts from a failed school system

Meet Bank, a school dropout. When he became bored with herding cattle in his village in Ubon Ratchathani, he agreed to toil in a small garage of my car mechanic to learn the ropes. He was 16 then. After only three years, the teenager is now earning 15,000 baht a month, which is equivalent to the salaries of new university graduates, and dreams of setting up his own business in his hometown.

Not bad for a school dropout, isn't it?

Meet Tee, a college graduate in his late 20s. His parents work as my neighbours' household help. They spent most their hard-earned savings to give their only son a better future. But the half-baked education he received poorly equipped him for the job market. Tee is still unemployed and financially dependent on his parents.

Their stories speak volumes about how our education system fails our children, and our country.

Bank was a slow learner. He was bad at memorising text and there is no room in the school system for kids like him who are good at working with their hands.

He flunked at exams and was called a dumbo by his friends. Despite his parents' pleadings, he quit school after Prathom 6.

Things could have been different had the schools not used the standard applied to those who are academically inclined to judge students with different skills.

The country would not have been swamped by 250,000 dropouts a year had there been quality vocational schools to meet the needs of children like Bank.

The job markets would not have had to complain about a fierce shortage of skilled labour either.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Despite high demands for craftspeople and technicians, the Education Ministry continues to send a strong message to young people like Tee that college education is for smart students while vocational education is for dumb ones.

Without measures to detect students' different inclinations early enough, and with the poor quality of vocational education now in place, most children try to climb the academic educational ladder.

One in four fall through the cracks along the way. Very few who have money to pay for expensive cram schools can reach the top of the education pyramid to land high-paying jobs.

People like Tee who can only afford mediocre education at second or third-tiered colleges often end up with no jobs, shattered dreams and an unwillingness to do other work.

It's probably why there are more unemployed university graduates than unemployed school leavers, according to the National Statistics Office.

This is a wasteful system, and a dangerous one. Out of bitterness, many dropouts become anti-social or turn to a high-risk life which includes heavy drinking, drugs, gang fights and illegal activities.

The results are family tragedies, untimely deaths and a fast-ageing society being robbed of healthy, economically productive youth.

Bank is the lucky one. Car mechanic Paradorn, his employer, undoubtedly has helped turn Bank's life around. His comments may shed some light on how we should tackle the problem of dropouts amid a serious shortage of skilled labour.

"You have to understand these teenagers," he said. "They don't feel good about themselves so they can be quite temperamental. You need to know when to talk nice and when to be tough so they listen to what we want to teach them. They can't get this kind of close attention from school teachers. The classroom is too big."

One reason he agreed to train Bank is because he needed the teenager as much as Bank needed him. It's very difficult for small garages to find mechanic assistants. "Most youngsters now want easy work. They don't want to get dirty fixing cars. They end up unemployed even when there are a lot of jobs around."

Bank still needs additional training to keep up with new auto technology, said Mr Paradorn. But the courses must be inexpensive, he stressed. "These kids are poor. But they can have the skills we need if we help them.

"Right now, these kids' energy is badly wasted. Without motivation and state support, many are into drugs and other destructive behaviour. It's a real shame."

Sanitsuda Ekachai is Editorial Pages Editor, Bangkok Post

Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 13/09/2012 at 12:38 AM
Education should be a way to encourage individual talent, not snobbery. There is no honour in the school for its own sake. School grades are not representative of society.
Discussion 2 : 12/09/2012 at 05:01 PM
People would be better without education than be educated by their rulers. Education makes people easy to lead, but difficult to drive, easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. These would be the main reasons the Thai educational system needs radical changes from the top down to the lack of good teachers in the village schools.
Discussion 3 : 12/09/2012 at 12:41 PM
Why worry, we now got the redshirt schools brain-washing our children to secure future mobs for the regime.
Discussion 4 : 12/09/2012 at 12:12 PM
Khun Crunchy #13, you may notice that those 3 world's famous dropouts are in one particular Free Mkt Economy, namely, the USA. My question to you is whether they can reach their full potential and be as successful as they are if they happen to be born else where, like Thailand, and etc?
Discussion 5 : 12/09/2012 at 12:08 PM
"needing a degree for almost any job is ridiculous". That's correct, I do not hire degree holders but smart people. To start a nobody with B15,000 is unwise for most small company's. Start lower, learn the ropes and then B 15,000 will be reached soon. Most graduates in front of me are utterly lost when I ask basic questions, and their English, as required in my line of business, is abysmal. Thailand is in for a rude awakening in 2015, the writing is on the wall.
Discussion 6 : 12/09/2012 at 11:55 AM
A degree really means nothing in Thailand. Most student copy or cheat to finish school. Oh top of the fact that know one can fail in Thailand just adds to the problem. I really dont understand why students even go to school past Grade 6. There isnt a real reason. They will more than likly only earn 9-12,000bt a month with a degree or not. The whole system is a sham. The rich school owners dont care about Education. They only care about the bottom line profits. The goverment doesnt care about Education. They are the same as the owners. Its all about the money. Cram 50 kids in a room give them some books and an uneducated teacher (cheap) and give me my profit.
Discussion 7 : 12/09/2012 at 11:50 AM
Totally agree with this article! Unfortunately no one in the government can even envision a change for the better.
Discussion 8 : 12/09/2012 at 11:49 AM
Dis#24 - you are right. Thailand has never invented or produced anything original. Even the things that Thailand is famous for, such as the silk industry which was set up by an American, and Thai food which has been adapted from that of other nations, especially India. Other nations invent and Thai labour builds it, such as cars and computer hard drives.
Discussion 9 : 12/09/2012 at 11:34 AM
The Thai Hi-So's think they are the smartest people in the word because of all their money made from corruption and illegal activities. However, most of the world realizes the extremely poor state of Thai education and how even college graduates, graduate without the basic required skills to do their jobs. The entire education system has failed. Thailand education can only produce the manual workers required in todays ASEAN society. Thai's have no innovation or creativeness, only going to college for 4 years to learn how to be an underpaid worker in a company or factory. China sent astronauts into space recently. What has Thailand done? Bought useless overpriced tablet pc for 1 graders.
Discussion 10 : 12/09/2012 at 11:07 AM
Dis#17 - I agree that needing a degree for almost any job is ridiculous. But others might argue that getting a degree requires application and dedication and hard work, and proof of the applicant being capable of that comes in the form of a degree, and that is what the employers are really after. Of course, this is Thailand so there is still no guarantee they get what they want.
Discussion 11 : 12/09/2012 at 10:24 AM
One word speaks all; Thailand's education system sucks!
Discussion 12 : 12/09/2012 at 10:18 AM
That car mechanic talks a lot of sense. Any chance of putting him in charge of the Education Ministry. He seems to have a better understanding of education than those currently in charge.
Discussion 13 : 12/09/2012 at 10:10 AM
There are two factors D4 which are a hindrance to better education; first the elite who don’t want educated people as they could jeopardize their moneymaking way and second the laziness of many young Thai people ( I see this within my own family) to learn and to work unlike youngsters from other Asian nations who do learning and working after learning hours to have a better future.
Discussion 14 : 12/09/2012 at 10:09 AM
I think big companies should just set up their own schools .They could teach their students all the necessary skills they need and could probably write it off as a business expense .
Discussion 15 : 12/09/2012 at 10:02 AM
With employers knowing that school grades doesn’t mean anything as no one ever fails in an examination (except for the very poor maybe) it is predictable that graduates are not seen as skilled and therefore don’t get jobs easy. For the students as long as they are facing such a substandard education and are afraid for being hit (younger one) for any little mistakes by the teachers dropout seems to be an option.
Discussion 16 : 12/09/2012 at 09:59 AM
I am bewildered by the requirements of a University degree for every job now, I ses sales positions that need a degree....what degree is there for sales? Recently my gf was offered a job in a prestigious hair care company in BKK, as one of their managers based on her experience. She ranks high in stylist competitions in Thailand each year however when it was discovered she did not have a degree, the job application was rejected...once again what degree is their for hair stylists? There is so much more pressure and competition on the youth today for positions, adding the requirement for a degree only adds to that pressure and in the end, in my opinion, adds nothing to the equation.
Discussion 17 : 12/09/2012 at 09:51 AM
In Canada, for instance, there is a very large rate of University graduates who primarily are receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees(40 some %) and then sinking into unemployment with a large student loan to pay off. On the other end of the scale there are hundreds of thousands of job openings in gas and oil exploration, plumbing and electrical trades among many other "vocational jobs" that pay the same or more than the "big corporate jobs". This is a world wide problem not just Thailand and part of the solution is to remove the stigma attached to "blue collar" jobs and improve the training.
Discussion 18 : 12/09/2012 at 09:25 AM
The networks of patronage are present in all official bodies and the education system is not an exception to this. A government wanting to make real changes to education will face deeply entrenched opposition from teachers and officials who (for the most part) do not think of children as their first priority.
Discussion 19 : 12/09/2012 at 09:07 AM
- "Students can leave the broken school system, enter work markets and earn as much as a university graduate" I would rather put that the other way around. University student graduate and finding little work end up earning is little as a worker. The ones that do not have a direct line at the top of the pyramid thanks to daddy...
Discussion 20 : 12/09/2012 at 08:47 AM
Look at now, colleague dropouts who is now millionaires.. Bill gates, Late Steve Jobs, Facebook founder Suckerburg..
Discussion 21 : 12/09/2012 at 08:27 AM
As a retired teacher who has watched the changes in education over the last half century, one problem is clear, namely whilst there is increasing demand for more emphasis on technology within the system, the majority of teachers have an academic rather than technological background.
Discussion 22 : 12/09/2012 at 08:21 AM
It would have been interesting to know what university course Tee studied. Previous commentary in BP has highlighted the mismatch between the subjects students have followed (often the easy options) versus those required by potential employers. I think businesses (large and small) have a huge role and responsibility to interact with their local education establishments - at all levels - to provide input into skills really needed, opportunities for holiday work experience and to explain to students what their industries does, what skills are needed and careers available. None of that needs to wait for the government or education ministry to act
Discussion 23 : 12/09/2012 at 08:06 AM
Education is suppose to means edifying but in Thailand, it means brainwashing, and that's the problem!
Discussion 24 : 12/09/2012 at 08:01 AM
Well as we know it is easier to pull the wool over the eyes of the ignorant and uneducated than it is to a "free thinking" and "educated" person. A person should be able to be able to survive in society based on a High School education. Unfortunately there are limited schools and dare I say, Universities in Thailand that offer good educations to students. But then again, this is a major problem in America as well. And those who deny that it isn't a problem both in America and the UK are sorely mistaken. Of course don't get me wrong, in most if not all cases, if you can afford to go to a private school in the USA, you are going to get a better education than in public schools. Hope Thailand finally decides to put more value in quality teachers, better resources (not junk pads from China), and teach "them" not dictate to "them".
Discussion 25 : 12/09/2012 at 07:24 AM
higher education institutions are always over-rated. They're as much money-making firms as anything else, except unlike corporations, they don't offer money-back guarantee for products or services. Any self-motivated young people can create a great money-making niches for themselves via the internet, and interacting with good instructors in the real world.
Discussion 26 : 12/09/2012 at 06:59 AM
To me, it's the national tragedy to waste so much mental potential. Why can't the wealthy oligarchy see that it would be in their own best interest to educate the people so those people could help them become richer. People are Thailand's number one resource and a high percentage of that resource is being wasted. But to keep reality in mind, fixing the education problem in this land makes fixing the southern problem look like child's play. Many people relaxing in the arms of the Ministry of Education would have to be let go. They are not trainable and do not want to teach. And then there's the corruption problem = uniforms, books, milk money, extra classes - and many more. So our educational leaders are also the leaders in the teaching of corruption. Shameful and very sad.
Discussion 27 : 12/09/2012 at 06:47 AM
what you have to remember is that there are jobs out there, it is just a case of "if you want to work" it may not be the dream job but a job is a job money is money! it just comes down to how much you want to earn your own money!
Discussion 28 : 12/09/2012 at 06:43 AM
It’s easy to blame everything on a poor education system. Although this is a problem that must be addressed, many of the problems you describe are social in nature. Maybe while looking at the poor education received, you may also want to look at the situation these children grow up with in their homes. How much imported labor is there in Thailand?? Are these not jobs that Thai people could also do?? It’s a cop out to say there is no work for people. Yes certainly it may be a loss of face for some and it may not be desirable work. But it is a job that pays a wage by which people can survive. The college graduates that cannot find a job and decide to sit at home and live off their families, I say shame on you! Get off your dead ??? and get to work!!
Discussion 29 : 12/09/2012 at 06:30 AM
Yingluck could make her mark and show independence from her brother by putting more of her energy into restructuring the education system. It is a shame to see all of this money lost to corruption when the education system is crumbling. People of all colors should demand and expect better education for their children, who are the future of Thailand.
Discussion 30 : 12/09/2012 at 05:51 AM
Bank's employer should be instructing education officials. In the US there is a similar problem with a subtle prejudice against vocational schools. The curriculum is geared toward higher education and, although it is gradually changing, providing students with general courses at an early age is considered, "tracking" and suggests to some that equality in opportunity suffers. In fact, as with Bank, it is to their advantage. It just doesn't fit the image of what success should be. Even recent economic downturns have resulted in government agencies suggesting that all will be better if more college training is acquired. Many who did take more courses had no more success in finding employment and it appears more like a stalling tactic on the part of the government than a real answer. Once again, the money involved in colleges encourages those who run them to misrepresent their true value to many students.
Discussion 31 : 12/09/2012 at 05:07 AM
It is the education system of the dinosaurs, for the dinosaurs, and for the dinosaurs. And the end result is extinction, sooner or later.
Discussion 32 : 12/09/2012 at 05:01 AM
Bank is an inspiration to all Thai's born without a silver spoon in their mouth.

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