Pros
and Cons of Shifting Thai Academic Calendars
Changing the country’s semester periods for higher
education to conform with universities in other ASEAN countries inevitably
leads to vigorous debate. It’s now a hot topic for discussion among school practitioners,
students and parents. Rectors of universities have attended several meetings to
argue the pros and cons of modifying the academic calendars before the ASEAN
Community materializes in 2015. There are valid reasons to support either side
of this argument.
"Some ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore already follow the
international bi-semester system, with the first semester running from
September to December and the second from January to May. Thailand is one
of a few countries where academic calendars do not match the US system, which
is becoming common in other parts of the world.", according to Suluck Lamubol. Traditionally, the first
semester at Thai public universities runs from June to September, and the second
semester from November to May.
After a recent meeting of universities rectors at
Burapha University in Chon Buri province, they mutually agreed that the first
semester of Thai academic year 2013-14 will be shifted from June to between
August 15 or September 15 in preparation for the formation of the ASEAN
Community in 2015. Moreover, Mathayom 6 ( Grade 12) students
would have more time to prepare themselves for entering universities.
Currently, they are required to take university admission tests before they
finish education.
However, the representatives from Rajabhat Universities, formerly
known as the teacher training school, insisted they would not change their
semester periods next year. They fear it will have a negative impact on
students and their parents.
According to the President of the Council of Rajabhat Universities
of Thailand, the semester of Rajabhat universities should be in line with the
Obec’s semester schedule because most Rajabhat students come from school
overseen by the government agency. More importantly, all students at Rajabhat
universities’ faculties of education are required to undergo teacher training
in schools, so the timeframe of the teacher training and the universities’
semesters needed to correspond.
In conclusion, both sides have presented valid reasons to support
this argument. The change may draw more ASEAN students
to enroll in our country’s universities. This will also help us keep pace with
our neighbouring countries as well as the rest of the world. Nevertheless,
other factors like geography, seasons, ways of life and culture should not be neglected
because the issue is very sensitive and has a lot of impact on Thai society.
Kru Ekachai
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