OPINION

Medieval campaign

Re: "Govt links 'Lisa' smash hit to 'soft power' plan", (BP, Sept 13).

The government's latest notion of applying "Thai culture to create soft power", looks like the most recent trivialisation of the Thai people, as if the citizens were primary school children in a play, pretending they were their ancestors. Tragic, disgusting and shameful. Another act in the government's ongoing campaign to keep the people of Thailand living in a medieval world.

Re: "Train drama offers lesson", (Editorial, Sept 13).

I sincerely thank the Japanese Hokkaido Railway Company for their very generous donation of 17 locomotives to the State Railway of Thailand so we can enjoy a better service.

But in 2018, they gave us 10 such locomotives -- and we still haven't finished their modification and refurbishment. What happened to the budget which the SRT approved for this purpose? Did the funds stick in somebody's pockets? If so, identify and hold the crooks accountable! If not, ensure that the old job's done well and the locomotives have entered service first before allocating 42.5 million baht more to upgrade the new lot.

Let's show JR Hokkaido that their generous donations are put to good use, so that they'll be encouraged to help us further.

Re: "Online learning falls short in the Covid era", (Opinion, Sept 13).

Yes, online learning was bound to fall short in Thailand. For the past two decades, the establishment completely ignored the emergence of e-learning as an alternative. In addition, Thai bureaucracy at the Ministry of Education also shunned remote learning. It is no secret that traditional face-to-face teaching, a fascination with uniforms, conformity, a "one-size-fits-all" curriculum, and lack of training of teachers and students for online learning are the main cause of its failures.

During the pandemic, EdTech solutions around the world have provided invaluable empirical data and experience on what works and what doesn't for digital learning. This information will shape innovation for years to come. Research in e-learning suggests that when students are provided a new experience, a large portion of them find better options and stick with them. It is evident that there are better options for augmenting F2F teaching and learning.

Yes, while Covid-19 has accelerated consumer engagement online, connectivity and affordability (one child one device) remain a challenge for many, especially those in rural areas around the world, even more so in Thailand. With near-universal access to digital devices and the internet, Thai students will seek the same things they are getting from the e-commerce, music, movie, and newspaper industries. Hopefully, their demands will force much-needed educational reforms.

Re: "China's bold plans for the region", (Opinion, Sept 9).

Once again, Thai officials are dusting off grand plans for dams, reservoirs, and water diversions -- this time for the Yuam Water Diversion Project. Of course, if these plans come to fruition, significant areas of wild rivers, lush forests, and prime wildlife habitat will suffer for the cause of so-called "development".

MP Weerakorn Khamprakob has come out in favour of a proposal that would have China invest in the Yuam River Diversion scheme. He is quoted as saying that, "If China builds this for us, we do not have to spend a dime." Such a simplistic position is based on extreme naivete or willful blindness to reality. Does anyone honestly believe that China will spend 40 billion baht on a water project in Thailand and not demand significant concessions in return? Perhaps Mr Weerakorn needs to be reminded of the principle that "there's no such thing as a free lunch".