Homework cuts don't impress students

Homework cuts don't impress students

Students have welcomed the Education Ministry's decision to have them do less homework but some are worried it will affect their academic performance.

Chonnikan Pradupkaew, a Mathayom 4 student at Bangkok's Mathayom Wat Makutkasat School, said homework can boost students' knowledge. "Personally, I do not agree with having less homework. But if this policy is really implemented, the homework should be reduced by a reasonable amount," she said.

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) last week told teachers to reduce homework set for all Prathom 1 to Mathayom 6 students under its supervision. The schools have also been asked to offer more outdoor learning activities. The office wants to keep students from getting too stressed.

"Students and teachers complain that too much homework can be like torture. A students' life should be more cheerful," Obec's secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat said.

Miss Chonnikan, however, said homework is not all stressful. Assignments allow students to think and share ideas with friends, she said.

Some students might hang out with friends to do homework rather than joinoutdoor learning activities, she said.

Thai students fare poorly academically and less homework might make the problem worse, she said.

"Sometimes I feel I have a lot of homework to finish in a day. But if homework is not good for us, why do teachers have to spend so much time correcting our homework?" she asked.

Siraphob Suksuseang, also a Mathayom 4 student, said homework is necessary to improve students' skills, but he could do with less of it.

He is assigned to do homework for every subject every day. If homework is reduced, it might be better if teachers consult one another and assign work in an appropriate proportion, he said.

Suriya Donmaya, a Mathayom 2 student at the same school, is pleased with the prospect of having less homework to do as he would have more time to play sports. "It would have been better to have no homework at all," said the 14-year-old student.

Mongkolchai Kaensan, a Mathayom 1 student, said he usually completes all his homework at school, but is still happy it will be reduced. "With less homework, I will have more time to play football," he said.

Pol Col Chartchai Ruen-aim, a member of the school's committee, said teachers should take into account each student's academic performance before reducing homework to prevent slow learners from being left behind in class.

In addition, outdoor learning activities are not yet available in every school.

"The outdoor activities must exist for students to join when homework is reduced. I am worried that more free time would allow students to take drugs and get into fights," he said.

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