No change to 15-year free compulsory education policy

[Admin]

No change to 15-year free compulsory education policy
By Supinda Na Mahachai
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation 2011-08-16

Development, competitiveness focus of reform: Vorawat

The new government will continue the current 15-year free compulsory education but make the policy more flexible to suit the differing needs of students and parents, Education Minister Vorawat Auapinyakul said yesterday.

Vorawat also intends to restructure ministerial responsibilties so that he and the two deputy ministers, Bunruen Srithares and Surapong Ueng-ampornvilai, can each take care of different regions of the country.

"The needs of each student vary. Some don't need uniforms while textbooks may not be needed after we have students use e-textbooks in tablet PCs. So, I will adjust the policy based on the situation. I will have to discuss the issue with parents and teachers before making changes to the policy," Vorawat said.

He said that subsidies for all students would not be less than what they were getting under the previous administration.

To ensure integrated management by agencies in charge of various educational levels, each of the executives would be in charge of improving education in different regions.

"I want them to boost collaboration among the ministry agencies. For example, they can coordinate with proficient university personnel and have them give a hand to improve basic education."

Vorawat will oversee the North, South and Bangkok; Bunruen will take care of the Northeast, while Surapong will be responsible for the Central. "Each of the executives will have the authority to order local educational agencies in the areas they are responsible for. They don't have to wait for my instructions but can make their own decisions. However, we will set up clear strategic and action plans for every agency to follow under central rules," he said.

Previous governments had their education ministers and deputy ministers oversee different main agencies.

The minister said that after he had meetings with the heads of five main agencies, the scope of both plans had been drafted from a combination of proposals of the executives and the heads. while projects to be done under these plans to finish within two weeks.

The government will also continue the second decade of education reform, but will adjust the goals to focus on educational development that would help develop the country, improve the country's competitiveness and create more employment, he said.

"Thailand's competitiveness will obviously increase within two years. The heads of main agencies told me they agreed with me. They said they wanted to push the issue for a long time, but some regulations came in the way. So, my team will help them get rid of the obstructive regulations."

He said students' English skills would be boosted to prepare them for using tablet PCs as one of their educational tools.

"Before handing out the tablets, we will have to focus on two crucial factors - the students and the content. We have to ensure that the students won't use the tablets improperly, like playing inappropriate games," Vorawat said.