Thai PM pushes education reform

[Admin]

Thai PM pushes education reform 
Bangkok Post: 4 Jun 2010
Panel sets 100% literacy goal for all Thais by 2018

An education reform policy panel wants all Thai adults able to read and write by 2018.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said yesterday the reform policy panel, chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, had agreed in principle to a second round of education reform.

To achieve the goal of universal literacy, the education system and Thais must be on a par with international standards before 2018.

The second round of reform would seek to improve literacy. Everyone aged from 15 to 60 must be 100% literate, the minister said.

Students studying at all education levels must obtain Ordinary National Education Test (Onet) scores in core subjects _ mathematics and science _ of more than 50% and have English language proficiency and mass communications technology skills, Mr Chinnaworn said.

State investment in education must increase to 5% of GDP.

Indicators of the success of the reform effort would be an increase of at least 10% a year in the number of people obtaining knowledge at learning centres, encouragement for students and others to spend at least 60 minutes a day on leisure reading, a 50% increase in internet access for people aged over six years, and Thais receiving an education for at least 12 years, the minister said.

The cabinet has approved an increase of 500 to 1,000 baht in subsidies for students at small public primary and secondary schools in a bid to boost their education standards.

Mr Chinnaworn said primary schools with fewer than 120 students will receive an additional 500 baht on top of the existing 1,900 baht a child subsidy, while secondary schools with fewer than 300 students will get an additional 1,000 baht on top of the 3,500 baht subsidy.

Schools entitled to the extra subsidy must meet the requirements set by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec). They must either pass the education assessment standard set by the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment or serve as a learning centre for other small schools in their communities.

Tambon-level schools under the education expansion scheme that provide courses up to Year 9 are also entitled to the increased subsidy of 1,000 baht a head, the minister said.

Obec has adjusted its 15-year free education budget to give extra subsidies to these schools this academic year. The office will set aside 880 million baht for the added subsidies in the 2011 academic year. Obec has found the increased subsidies have played a key role in raising the education standards of small schools.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/180053/panel-sets-100-literacy-goal-for-all-thais-by-2018