Let schools set tuition fees – and then aid students in need
Thailand’s falling demand for education at all levels and growing number of educational institutions has unsurprisingly put our schools, known internationally for the poor quality of their output, in further crisis.
To thrive, I suggest we heed Bertrand Russell: “Education should have two objects: first, to give definite knowledge, reading and writing, language and mathematics, and so on; secondly, to create those mental habits which will enable people to acquire knowledge and form sound judgements for themselves.” Or, as Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachinthorn put it, “We must teach students to learn to think and be critical.”
I suggest that Thailand let educational institutions charge what the market will bear – so long as each school offers enough financial aid to admit half of each entering class on a financial-need-blind basis (half of the class can be admitted even if poverty-stricken).
A high-quality education is very costly. The above proposal will enable schools to compete for students who can afford to go overseas, yet wish to retain their home networks of friends and family. Simultaneously, those less privileged will get an education far above what they can get now.
To enable parents and students to see what they’ll be getting for their funds, school-wide averages showing quality of applicants and graduates from each institution will be posted on the internet, such as PISA scores, university rankings, the average GPA of applicants, selectivity of schools, or income of new graduates.
Burin Kantabutra
