Imagined Students: Formation and Reproduction the Self to Students: a Case Study of Ordinary National Education Test (O-net); Health and Physical Education

Abstract

One of the second decade National Education Reform from 2007 is the
Ordinary National Education Test (O-net) which is administered for primary
school, junior high school, and senior high school students with a view to their
studying at higher level institutions. The aim was the creation, through strong
efforts at educational development, of diligent students who would finally
become a “new Thai generation with quality”. With this background, this article is
written with the mainly documentary research methodology and considers the
O-net’s Health and Physical Education examination as one of the state’s tools for
the formation of students in the state’s imagination. The results of the study
reveal that the Health and Physical Education examination is monopolized by
the students’ understanding of the code of conduct for aspects of life such as ;
sexual relationships, lessons on family, friendships, as well as sports and leisure
activities. The monopoly of those aspects has been reproduced annually and has
been moulding students who, in the state’s imagination, are docile in so far as
they lack a critical mind. These kinds of students are not considered as a
supportive factor towards educational reform.