The Thai education system is a disaster, with more than 70% of schools failing to meet the already minimal standards demanded by the government. Low salaries, poor facilities and large class numbers combine to produce poorly educated adults; which is exactly what the moneyed elite needs to staff their factories and shops. Allegedly.
So it is encouraging to see that the Ministry of Education in the new government is addressing the urgent problems in schools with their latest proposal: separate toilets for transsexuals.
Not everyone is in favour. Transsexual students point out they already have the choice of using either the men or women’s toilets and that having yet another choice would give them a headache and interfere with their studies. Others worry that gays are being left out by not being offered their own facilities; presumably in pink and with the Pet Shop Boys as a choice of piped music.
The universities are discussing the proposals, but point out they already have their hands full managing student suicides, drug usage and rampant prostitution. For example, a new report reveals that the town of Udon Thani is estimated to have 7,000 students who earn extra money for buying the latest mobile phones by selling themselves on the street and in clubs.
I want to know how they know that 7,000 students are working as hookers. I expect it was a Nokia survey with the question “how do you get money to buy your preferred mobile phone?”, with a choice of answers:
My parents gave me the money.
I saved up my pocket money.
I have a part-time job in a local shop.
I have a part-time job as a prostitute.
And of course, everyone answered honestly.
The survey results are being bandied around by an activist who no doubt needs a problem to justify funding; ignoring the fact that there are not enough street corners in Udon Thani to support such a large population of good-time girls. But sadly this fabricated issue is likely to divert attention away from the much more pressing need to provide adequate toilet facilities for chicks with dicks.
Thailand; where educational issues are….different.
Comments 🔗
2008-06-24| mart saysIs She Who Must Be Obeyed a poorly educated adult too?
2008-06-24| Spike saysNo. Bachelors degree, MBA and three languages means she is better qualified than most (certainly better than me, I left school at 17 with nothing). And of course she has had the benefit of five years living with me which means she could get a PhD in Anglo-Saxon swear words if she wanted to.
But for the majority of Thais, they are stuck with abysmal state schooling, and it does not seem to be in the interest of those who run the government to improve it.
2008-06-24| mart saysSo I have to say she must be perfect. I think I saw a few pics of her in another post and I have to say that I find her looks fabulous! No offence intended, more kind of congratulating you!
About the majority of Thais being uneducated, yes I know and I pity them, such a shame!
2008-06-24| mart saysoops, I meant “such a waste!”…