Supachai Chearavanont's Visionary Blueprint for Thailand's Education

Supachai Chearavanont's Visionary Blueprint for an Educational Reform: From 2.0 to Industry 5.0 

                                                                  Photo Credit: The Standard

In a plenary session at The Standard Economic Forum 2023, under the theme, Future Ready for Thailand, Supachai Chearavanont, the esteemed Chairman of the Executive Board at Charoen Pokphand Group, left an indelible mark on the discourse surrounding Thailand's education system. As the Chairman of the Board former CEO of C.P. Group, a prominent multinational conglomerate, and the current chairman of telecommunications giant True Corporation, Chearavanont articulated his concerns about the stagnancy of Thailand's education system in the 2.0 era. Supachai Chearavanont's observation that Thailand's education system remains entrenched in the 2.0 era sharply diverges from the impending advent of the Industry 5.0 revolution. This underscores the pressing need for educational reform to synchronize with the dynamic changes in the industrial landscape.

As a prominent figure in the Thai business landscape, Supachai Chearavanont's insights carry significant weight. Having helmed True Corporation from 1999 until 2017, when he assumed the role of CEO at C.P. Group, his wealth of experience adds depth to his observations about the shortcomings of the current education paradigm.

Amidst the sweeping changes of the Polycrisis, encompassing economic recessions, geopolitical tensions, shifts in global trade dynamics, energy transitions, technological disruptions, and the ominous specter of irreversible global warming, the Thai economy stands at a pivotal juncture.

ABOUT THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2023: FUTURE-READY THAILAND

Hosted by THE STANDARD, the Economic Forum 2023 serves as a beacon guiding Thailand's response to the multifaceted challenges presented by the Polycrisis. The forum brings together over 40 global and Thai leaders from diverse sectors to share their insights, ideas, and strategies in the face of these pressing issues.

This fourth edition of THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM promises a diversity of ideas from different generations. Against the backdrop of a world in flux, Supachai Chearavanont's discourse on revolutionizing education seamlessly aligns with the overarching theme of ensuring Thailand is Future Ready.

Supachai Chearavanont's transformative blueprint for education transcends traditional norms. It advocates for confidence-building, fostering curiosity, transforming teachers into guides rather than mere disseminators of information, and embracing applied learning and ethical values. This paradigm shift aims to mold a generation capable of thriving in the challenges posed by Industry 5.0.

As the wave of change starts to roll in, Thailand faces a critical choice – adhere to outdated educational practices or embrace the future outlined by Supachai Chearavanont. The stakes are high, and time is of the essence. For more information on this visionary event, please visit THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2023.

Speech by Supachai Chearavanont 

Supachai Chearavanont highlighted concerns about the shortcomings of Thailand's education system during his talk at THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2023 FUTURE READY THAILAND on November 23. He pointed out that the world is moving towards the 5.0 era, where humans and technology work together under the umbrella of Sustainable Intelligence (SI). However, the worry is that the Thai education system is still stuck in the 2.0 era.

From 2.0 to 5.0

According to Supachai, the current education system emphasizes heavy homework, exam-centric learning, and limited exploration of alternative subjects. This approach, reminiscent of Education 2.0, was designed for an era where people worked in factories – a reality that has now been replaced by machines, robots, and AI.

In 2021, Thailand lagged behind in digital skills, with only 1% of its workforce having advanced capabilities, compared to Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore at 16%, 10%, and 9%, respectively. The country's English language proficiency ranked 101st out of 113 countries, trailing behind Indonesia, Nama, and Cambodia.

The Proposed Changes

Supachai proposed six key changes to shift Thailand's education system from 2.0 to 5.0:

1. Stop undermining confidence; foster love and build self-assurance.

2. Encourage children to ask questions, seek answers, take initiative, and engage in reasoned discussions.

3. Position artificial intelligence and the internet as the Center of Knowledge, with teachers acting as facilitators or accelerators.

4. Transition to applied learning, emphasizing teamwork for success rather than individual achievement.

5. Emphasize the core of sustainability: ethics and good governance.

6. Prioritize learning through action.

These changes, according to Supachai, are crucial for preparing Thai children to thrive in society and enter the job market in the era of Industry 5.0. The proposals were presented at #TheStandardEconomicForum2023, providing a roadmap for transforming the education landscape in Thailand

#TheStandardEconomicForum2023

https://thestandard.co/economicforum2023/