Bangkok--1 Nov--WeeM Communications
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), in collaboration with 12 universities, launches the third phase of the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project (2012 — 2017). In this new phase, the project offers two-year scholarships for master-of-education programs that are certified by the Office of Higher Education Commission. Apply between November 1 and December 20, 2012 to get the scholarships in time for 2013 Academic Year. This project expects to produce 4,000 quality teachers for science/math subjects within the next six years.
IPST chairman Prof. Dr. Montree Chulawattanatol says his institute has implemented the third phase of the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project to produce teachers who have held a master of education for physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer classes at high schools. The ultimate goals, he says, are to reduce the shortage of science, mathematics and technology teachers and of boosting the quality of Thailand’s education. The IPST has been operating under the supervision of the Education Ministry. According to Dr. Montree, the government is aware of the need to produce quality science and mathematics teachers. The IPST, therefore, has made it the mission to develop teachers’ skills and knowledge. When the teachers fulfill the role of academic leaders, they can empower their students and create great human resources for the country’s future. Candidates who wish to seek a scholarship for the 2013 academic year under this project must submit their applications to IPST between November 1 and December 20, 2012.
“Thai students have already proven their academic potential and abilities to the world especially in regards to math and science. Yet, if teaching staff in these fields are further developed, they will be able to pass on greater knowledge and better learning skills to Thai children. Thai children, in this case, will demonstrate even better science and math performance. Their abilities will then be second to none. The IPST has implemented the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project for 16 years already. Today, this project has come up with new forms of scholarships. There are two types of scholarships now, the premium and the super premium. The IPST has constantly improved the project to ensure that scholarship recipients fully maximize potential. After their graduation, they then become quality science/mathematics teachers with not just career advancement but also the ability to respond well to the country’s needs,” Prof. Montree says,
The development of science and mathematics teachers is not the mission of IPST alone. Such task, after all, requires the collaboration of various different agencies. Because IPST has won cooperation from parties concerned, the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project has achieved its goal of producing quality human resources for the country’s science, mathematics and technology fields. The qualified human resources of course boost Thailand’s competitiveness in the world and its preparedness for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community.
IPST director Dr Pornpun Waitayangkoon says the first two phases of the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project have achieved very satisfactory results. She discloses that they have attracted a number of high-potential candidates and thus have successfully produced many capable physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer teachers for high schools. According to her, the higher number of high-performance teachers has raised Thailand’s overall quality of science/mathematics education (when compared with other countries).
In its third phase, the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project has changed its scholarship conditions in line with a Cabinet resolution. On 1 February 2011, the Cabinet approved in principle the IPST plan to adjust the project’s conditions during its third phase (2012 — 2017). Under the new conditions, scholarships are for two-year master of education programs certified by the Office of Higher Education Commission. The scholarships will be granted under this project for the purpose of producing science and mathematics teachers who have outstanding knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer. This project is designed to reduce the shortage of high-performance teachers in the fields. It will produce highly-capable teachers for talented students in regular schools, and English-speaking math/science teachers for bilingual schools.
The project will hand out 400 premium scholarships each year. The premium type offers two-year scholarships for the purposes of producing physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer teachers for a special science class at schools under the Office of Basic Education Commission’s supervision. Moreover, the project will award 180 super premium scholarships each year. The recipients of the super premium scholarships will receive one-year overseas education as this type of scholarship is designed to produce chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer teachers for high-school students in English programs. The super premium scholarships will be granted to outstanding premium-scholarship recipients.
“Under the Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project, the IPST in collaboration with 12 teacher-producing institutes and schools offering teaching apprenticeship is committed to reducing the shortage of quality math/science teachers. With full cooperation from its partners, the IPST is confident that the third phase of the project will be able to deliver 4,000 talented science/mathematics teachers within six years from now. All of these teachers will hold a master degree, and have outstanding knowledge of science and mathematics,” Dr. Pornpan says.
The Promotion of Talented Science and Mathematics Teachers Production project is open to fourth-year university students in the program for a bachelor of science, and young university graduates in the field of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, or computer science (whose graduation is no more than three academic years away). Eligible candidates must have the overall grade point average of at least 2.75, the grade point average of at least 2.75 in the subjects of their major, at least 45 scores in Internet-based TOEFL or at least 450 scores in paper-based TOEFL, or the equivalent in CU-TEP, or at least 5.0 scores in IELTS. They must not have a teaching license at the time of application.
IPST expects this project to attract more than 2,000 students across the country. Written exams will take place at 12 participating universities, with exams covering aptitude test as well as tests for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer. For more information on this project, please contact the IPST at 924, Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong sub-district, Khlong Toei district, Bangkok, 10110. Tel: 0 2392 4021 ext. 2308 — 2318. Fax: 0 2392 4021 or 0 2392 9602. Or visit, www3.ipst.ac.th/dpst