Part 3: Twenty Years of USOM Educational Assistance (to Thailand)
Posted by Santhawat Srikhamthae on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Under: history
This is the third part of:
Following is a summary of USOM support of educational development in Thailand during the 20 year period 1950 - 1970.
Teacher Training and Faculty Development A. Prasarnmitr College of Education
A contract with Indiana University, which ran from November, 1954 to 1962, was notably successful in developing a teacher training institution with an outstanding educational library, research activities based on
Thai problems and an annual graduation of a thousand B.A.'s in education. This growth in Thai capability has enabled the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the College of Education to establish and staff branch colleges at Maha Sarakham, Pitsanulok, Songkhla, Bang Saen, Pratumwan and Phra Nakorn.
B. Chulalongkorn University
A contract with the University of Texas, which began in 1952 and closed at the end of 1959, provided a revised curriculum in engineering and the basic sciences, improvement of the technical library, laboratory equipment, and advanced degree study abroad for faculty members.
C. Asian Institution of Technology (SEATO Graduate School of Engineering).
In September 1959, the first Regional Graduate School in Asia opened with the help of an AID/Colorado State University Contract. (The contract had continued to 1970 at least).
In 1968, the Regional Engineering School became the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Since the beginning, the goal of AIT has been to provide high quality training at Master's Degree level in engineering fields related to development. Degrees awarded at AIT are recognized by the Thai Civil Service System as being equal to those earned in the U.K. and U.S.
D. Kasetsart University
In 1952, the USOM undertook the project "Improvement of Kasetsart University." The early phases of assistance were directed toward the improvement of the University's physical plant. The project was broadened in 1955 and a contract was entered into with Oregon State College. Prior to the termination of the contract in 1960, some 59 Kasetsart University
For a more detailed account, see Williams, William M., A Brief History of USOM Support toEducation in Thailand. USOM Office of Education, October, 1969
A project of USAID's Regional Economic Development Office (RED), administered through USOM.
13 staff members received graduate training in the United States. In addition, a number of V .S professors assisted the University staff in the development of curricula, the improvement of teaching methods, the establishment of research projects, and the preparation of teaching materials.
Rural School Improvement
A. Central Educational development:
From 1958 through 1964, the C•ED program helped to focus attention on rural schools and their improvement Thewhole country was divided into
12 regions and in each one a Thai staff of supervisors headed by a regional education officer was established, to stimulate and coordinate the efforts of educators in the provinces clustered around each region.
B Rural Training
The Rural Training Project began in 1964. It emphasized four elements essential in rural education in north and northeast Thailand: skill training for out-of-school youth and adults; the provision of. textbooks for rural schools; a curriculum suited to the needs of rural schools; and more active and improved supervision by regional, provincial, and district officials. Seven advisors have been provided by USOM at the inception of the project.
A contract with the Resources Development Corporation which began in 1969 provided programmed learning techniques and U.S. "on-the-job" training to the Ministry of Education's mathematics and vocational supervisors.
Vocational Education
A. vocational Development
USOM assistance began in 1952 and provided direct hire vocational advisors in addition to contract services. The assistance has emphasized the development of teacher potential and the improvement of vocational education curricula and supervision.
A contract with Wayne State University, from 1952 through 1959, assisted the Bangkok Technical Institute and younger institutes at Chiangmai, Korat, and Songkhla to up-grade their vocational schools.
A contract with the University of Hawaii, from 1959 to 1965, assisted the Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education in establishing trade training programs in six basic trades at twenty of the existing trade schools. This contract was classified as part of the U.S. contribution to SEATO and was entitled "SEATO Skilled Manpower."
B. Technical Training for Accelerated Development
This project, assigned to the USOM Office of Education in August 1965, made technical training available to accelerated Rural Development and other RTG agencies. In 1966, training activities were centralized at the Technical Institute at Korat Advisory services have been provided by
USOM direct-hire personnel, contract with Philco-Ford Corporation, and technicians supplied by other. U.S. Government agencies.
C. Loan for the Improvement of Vocational Education (LIVE)
The largest current project in the vocational education field, the "LIVE Project", is designed to expand and improve 25 schools including 14 trade schools, a technical teacher training college, 9 agriculture schools, and an agricultural training college.
The US. Government is providing advisory assistance through four direct-hire vocational advisors, a five-man contract team of agricultural specialists from California State Polytechnic College, and a six-man team of trade and industrial specialists from Oklahoma State University.
Manpower Planning and Education In 1963, the National Economic Development Board (NEDB) and USOM cooperated in asking Michigan State University (MSU) and Stanford Research Institute (SRI) to assist the RTG in developing a planning capability in education and manpower. SRI provided one man for two years to assist the Manpower Planning Office of NEDB. MSU provided help to the MOE to develop a staff for the Educational Planning Office, and to the National Education Council (NEC) to develop its planning staff. This contract terminated at the end of 1968.
Since USOM had completed its program of direct support to educational planning, the Ford Foundation agreed to provide advisors for NEC and MOE to carry the process a step further.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ayumongol Sonakul, "From Pages' School to University," Bangkok Post, March 3, 1968.
Bhongs Sakdi Varasundharosoth, Presenting Thailand (A talk given to the IBRD advisors and specialists), Bangkok Technical Institute, Bangkok, Thailand, 1968.Current and Frolect S econdary Ed.ucationFrograms for Thailand -A Manpower and Educational Development Planning Project, Educational -Planning Office, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, Thailand, 1969.
Ministry of Education of Thailand, Report of Educational Developments in 1949 1968. (presented at the XXXIst International Conference on Public Education, Geneva, j..1y 1968,) Karn Sasana Press, Bangkok, Thailand.Organization and Management Division of the Bureau of the Budget, Kingdom of Thailand, Organization and Management of the Ministry of Education, Survey andRecommendations., Report Number EDM-2, October, 1966,
Pember., Lyle B. , The "LIVE" Project A Cooperative Activity Between the RTC Ministry of Education, Department of Vocational Education and the USOM Bangkok Office
Of Educat ion, USOM, Bangkok, 1970.
Ruang Chareonchai, Comgrehensie School Movement in Thailand, reprinted from The Bulletin of the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Asia, Vol 11, No. 1, 1969.
The National Economic Development Board, Office of the Prime Minister, The Second National Economic and Social Development P1an (1967-1971) Government House Printing Office, Bangkok, Thailand, 1968.
Williams, W. M., A Brief History of USOM's Support to Education in Thailand. USOM Office of Education, October, 1969.
A Brief Historical Sketch of Educational Development in Thailand.
Following is a summary of USOM support of educational development in Thailand during the 20 year period 1950 - 1970.
Teacher Training and Faculty Development A. Prasarnmitr College of Education
A contract with Indiana University, which ran from November, 1954 to 1962, was notably successful in developing a teacher training institution with an outstanding educational library, research activities based on
Thai problems and an annual graduation of a thousand B.A.'s in education. This growth in Thai capability has enabled the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the College of Education to establish and staff branch colleges at Maha Sarakham, Pitsanulok, Songkhla, Bang Saen, Pratumwan and Phra Nakorn.
B. Chulalongkorn University
A contract with the University of Texas, which began in 1952 and closed at the end of 1959, provided a revised curriculum in engineering and the basic sciences, improvement of the technical library, laboratory equipment, and advanced degree study abroad for faculty members.
C. Asian Institution of Technology (SEATO Graduate School of Engineering).
In September 1959, the first Regional Graduate School in Asia opened with the help of an AID/Colorado State University Contract. (The contract had continued to 1970 at least).
In 1968, the Regional Engineering School became the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Since the beginning, the goal of AIT has been to provide high quality training at Master's Degree level in engineering fields related to development. Degrees awarded at AIT are recognized by the Thai Civil Service System as being equal to those earned in the U.K. and U.S.
D. Kasetsart University
In 1952, the USOM undertook the project "Improvement of Kasetsart University." The early phases of assistance were directed toward the improvement of the University's physical plant. The project was broadened in 1955 and a contract was entered into with Oregon State College. Prior to the termination of the contract in 1960, some 59 Kasetsart University
For a more detailed account, see Williams, William M., A Brief History of USOM Support toEducation in Thailand. USOM Office of Education, October, 1969
A project of USAID's Regional Economic Development Office (RED), administered through USOM.
13 staff members received graduate training in the United States. In addition, a number of V .S professors assisted the University staff in the development of curricula, the improvement of teaching methods, the establishment of research projects, and the preparation of teaching materials.
Rural School Improvement
A. Central Educational development:
From 1958 through 1964, the C•ED program helped to focus attention on rural schools and their improvement Thewhole country was divided into
12 regions and in each one a Thai staff of supervisors headed by a regional education officer was established, to stimulate and coordinate the efforts of educators in the provinces clustered around each region.
B Rural Training
The Rural Training Project began in 1964. It emphasized four elements essential in rural education in north and northeast Thailand: skill training for out-of-school youth and adults; the provision of. textbooks for rural schools; a curriculum suited to the needs of rural schools; and more active and improved supervision by regional, provincial, and district officials. Seven advisors have been provided by USOM at the inception of the project.
A contract with the Resources Development Corporation which began in 1969 provided programmed learning techniques and U.S. "on-the-job" training to the Ministry of Education's mathematics and vocational supervisors.
Vocational Education
A. vocational Development
USOM assistance began in 1952 and provided direct hire vocational advisors in addition to contract services. The assistance has emphasized the development of teacher potential and the improvement of vocational education curricula and supervision.
A contract with Wayne State University, from 1952 through 1959, assisted the Bangkok Technical Institute and younger institutes at Chiangmai, Korat, and Songkhla to up-grade their vocational schools.
A contract with the University of Hawaii, from 1959 to 1965, assisted the Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education in establishing trade training programs in six basic trades at twenty of the existing trade schools. This contract was classified as part of the U.S. contribution to SEATO and was entitled "SEATO Skilled Manpower."
B. Technical Training for Accelerated Development
This project, assigned to the USOM Office of Education in August 1965, made technical training available to accelerated Rural Development and other RTG agencies. In 1966, training activities were centralized at the Technical Institute at Korat Advisory services have been provided by
USOM direct-hire personnel, contract with Philco-Ford Corporation, and technicians supplied by other. U.S. Government agencies.
C. Loan for the Improvement of Vocational Education (LIVE)
The largest current project in the vocational education field, the "LIVE Project", is designed to expand and improve 25 schools including 14 trade schools, a technical teacher training college, 9 agriculture schools, and an agricultural training college.
The US. Government is providing advisory assistance through four direct-hire vocational advisors, a five-man contract team of agricultural specialists from California State Polytechnic College, and a six-man team of trade and industrial specialists from Oklahoma State University.
Manpower Planning and Education In 1963, the National Economic Development Board (NEDB) and USOM cooperated in asking Michigan State University (MSU) and Stanford Research Institute (SRI) to assist the RTG in developing a planning capability in education and manpower. SRI provided one man for two years to assist the Manpower Planning Office of NEDB. MSU provided help to the MOE to develop a staff for the Educational Planning Office, and to the National Education Council (NEC) to develop its planning staff. This contract terminated at the end of 1968.
Since USOM had completed its program of direct support to educational planning, the Ford Foundation agreed to provide advisors for NEC and MOE to carry the process a step further.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ayumongol Sonakul, "From Pages' School to University," Bangkok Post, March 3, 1968.
Bhongs Sakdi Varasundharosoth, Presenting Thailand (A talk given to the IBRD advisors and specialists), Bangkok Technical Institute, Bangkok, Thailand, 1968.Current and Frolect S econdary Ed.ucationFrograms for Thailand -A Manpower and Educational Development Planning Project, Educational -Planning Office, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, Thailand, 1969.
Ministry of Education of Thailand, Report of Educational Developments in 1949 1968. (presented at the XXXIst International Conference on Public Education, Geneva, j..1y 1968,) Karn Sasana Press, Bangkok, Thailand.Organization and Management Division of the Bureau of the Budget, Kingdom of Thailand, Organization and Management of the Ministry of Education, Survey andRecommendations., Report Number EDM-2, October, 1966,
Pember., Lyle B. , The "LIVE" Project A Cooperative Activity Between the RTC Ministry of Education, Department of Vocational Education and the USOM Bangkok Office
Of Educat ion, USOM, Bangkok, 1970.
Ruang Chareonchai, Comgrehensie School Movement in Thailand, reprinted from The Bulletin of the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Asia, Vol 11, No. 1, 1969.
The National Economic Development Board, Office of the Prime Minister, The Second National Economic and Social Development P1an (1967-1971) Government House Printing Office, Bangkok, Thailand, 1968.
Williams, W. M., A Brief History of USOM's Support to Education in Thailand. USOM Office of Education, October, 1969.
In : history
Tags: usom "educational development"
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