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Thai students lead the way in promoting good governance
17 May 2004: A project on youth and good governance is attracting high interest from school students in Thailand. In the monthly live TV broadcasts of “Voice for the Future” students present their views and hopes for good governance in society and their community.
The ideas they present are part of the Youth & Good Governance Project, being promoted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Education, and the Thailand Development Research Development Institute (TDRI). The project aims to sensitize students on democratic governance principles through a learning-by-doing approach by applying the principles of good governance to school activities . Parents, teachers and government officials also join in the dialogue. Viewers at home also participate through live telephone interviews on the show.
The project on Youth & Good Governance started since 2001. Three models of workshops have been designed and conducted for nationwide replication by the Ministry of Education, in 2001, 2002, and 2003 respectively. The three workshop models are intended for students with different levels of understanding of good governance. The 2003 workshop targets students with a good level of understanding on democratic governance. It covered students of twenty-one schools across the nation from a self-selection process, during which over 100 schools applied.
“Adhering to good governance principles makes our work more efficient and responsive, and this applies to any activity and not only student activities“, said Suranam Parnichakarn, a student at Thammasat University in Bangkok. Suranam participated since its inception of the project during his high school years and is now part of the designing and facilitating team for two consecutive years. “I am now able to share my knowledge on good governance to other groups”, he added.
“The project helped us to understand about budget spending. We used a participatory approach to make decisions more transparent which is very important for good governance”, said Nattakarn Sawasdichai from Sriyanusorn School, Chantaburi Province.
“We need to support these new ideals of the students. Parents should also set an example at home by listening to their children”, added Mrs. Marasri Sguan-wongse, a mother from Nakorn-sawan Province.
The core aims of the project will also be more widely promoted in schools. “We intend to use the manuals from the workshops and replicate the model through the educational zone mechanisms”, confirmed Mr. Pramote Kaewsuk, expert from the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education.
“Youth is one of our targets. With understanding and courage, they will make a better society. Thailand already has the Constitution and institutional mechanisms that promote good governance. Now we need to create a supporting software in the long run ”, said Ms . Ryratana Suwanraks, Manager /Policy Advisor of Responsive Governance Unit, UNDP in Thailand.
There is also a website on youth and good gvernance www.youthgg.org as well as other promotion material like Thai cartoon books with simplified texts on governance for elementary students.
