School profile
Name: Warchumponnikayaram School
Location: 73 Moo 4 T. Banlen A. Bang Pa-in, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
Tel: 035262237
Fax: 035262237
Director: Mr. Songwut Keawrian
Vice Director: Mr. Natthapon
Watchumponnikayaram is separated from Prachabantambon Banlen 2 school. At that time, the students studied in the temple hall. At present, it is accredited by the Office of the Basic Education Commission and the school offers students from Kindergarten 1 to Primary 6. There are about 800 students and 36 Thai teachers and 6 foreign teachers.
Academic support system
Watchumponnikayaram School has several buildings. There are three big buildings as places for learning process which consist of 2 and 3 floors. Besides, there are three other buildings. They are director’s building, sport building, teacher’s room and library. In every class, there are facilities such as projector/monitor, computer, and concrete objects to support the learning process.
Besides the normal learning programs, the school also offers some English supporting programs especially in English namely Mini English Program (class1), Intensive English Program (class 2) and Normal Program (class 3). In addition, there are some other activities held by the school annually, namely English Camp, Christmas Day, Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, Sport Day, Math and Science Day, and Wai Kru Day. When I was there, I got the opportunity to join the Children’s day. It’s such an amazing event and that was my first time to see it. Moreover, to improve the students’ proficiency especially in English, the school employs 6 foreign teachers, three of whom coming from Africa and three others coming from The Philippines.
Teaching system
According to me, the teaching system used by the school is excellent and effective. The school operates five days a week from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are days off. The learning process starts at 8.20 am, but the students have to be at school by 7.45 because they have to join the flag ceremony everyday before they enter the class. There are six classes in a day. Each class lasts for an hour, and after every one hour, it changes. The first class begins at 8.20-9.20 am, then followed by the second class at 9.20-10.20 am and the third class at 10.20-11.20 am. After that, the students are given time until 12.30 to have lunch or to take a rest. After the resting time ends, the class begins again until the the last class that ends at 03.30 pm.
Measurement and evaluation system
The measurement mainly relies on the students’ performance toward the lesson given. In other words, the teachers measure the students’ ability by looking at their understanding of the lesson. The teachers’ usually give the students worksheet or assignments to know it. Meanwhile, the evaluation depends on the quantitative progress of the students or based on the scores of the assignments and the exams that they achieve.
General Curriculum
The general curriculum adopted by the school is the Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551 (A.D. 2008) which is designed by the Ministry of Education Thailand. The Chairman of the Basic Education Commission said that “This curriculum provides opportunities for further amplification in accordance with the school’s priorities and readiness and therefore will undoubtedly allow all educational service area offices, local offices and basic education institutions under jurisdiction of various agencies with an appropriate framework and guidance for preparing the pertinent curriculum”. The curriculum has been applied for all grades since 2012.
The Basic Core Curriculum 2008 is the revision of the Curriculum 2001. The new curriculum has prescribed a structure of minimum time to be alloted to each subject area for each grade level. Schools are given opportunities to increase learning time allotment, depending on their readiness and priorities. Improvement has been made to the process of measuring and evaluating learners’ performance as well as criteria for graduation at each educational level. Adjustment has also been made for streamlining certification which correlates with learning standards, thus facilitating application of certifying documents.
The learning standards and indicators prescribed in the document will enable agencies concerned at all levels to clearly visualise expected learning outcomes throughout the entire course of study. It will provide relevant local agencies and schools with confidence in their collaborative efforts to prepare school curriculums of higher quality and harmony. Learning measurement and evaluation will have greater clarity, thus eliminating the problem of inter-school transfer of learning outcomes. Therefore, curriculum development at all levels—from national to school levels—must exhibit the quality as prescribed in the learning standards and indicators.
Goals of the Curriculum
The Basic Education Core Curriculum is aimed at the full development of learners in all respects——morality, wisdom, happiness, and potentiality for further education and livelihood. The following goals have consequently been set for achievement upon completing basic education:
1. Morality, ethics, desirable values, self-esteem, self-discipline, observance of
Buddhist teachings or those of one’s faith, and guiding principles of Sufficiency Economy;
2. Knowledge and skills for communication, thinking, problem-solving, technological know-how, and life skills;
3. Good physical and mental health, hygiene, and preference for physical exercise;
4. Patriotism, awareness of responsibilities and commitment as Thai citizens and members of the world community, and adherence to a democratic way of life and form of government under constitutional monarchy; and
5. Awareness of the need to preserve all aspects of Thai culture and Thai wisdom, protection and conservation of the environment, and public-mindedness with dedication to public service for peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
Note: All of the information above is gained from Ministry of Education. (2008)
Teaching plan (of my major)
Below is a sample teaching plan of my major (English) which was used by my coordinating teacher to teach grade 4 students at Watchumponnikayaram School.
School’s Uniqueness (Others)
The first thing that made me really impressed when I was at the school is its cleanness. The students are obliged to take off their shoes to enter the class. They are only allowed to wear socks. Of course, this keeps the classroom clean. The tables and the walls are free of graffiti and everything is organized neatly. Sometimes, I saw some students collecting rubbish by their own and I never saw them throwing away rubbish anywhere. Surely, I really like to see this condition. In the rest time, after the students had lunch, they always brush their teeth at the school. In addition, the school also gives them free milk every day. That is awesome.