Textbook money coming, schools told as Bt1.3-bn added to budget

By The Nation

 

 

The Budget Bureau will cough up more money to the office responsible for procuring textbooks for schools after a “misunderstanding” caused the original budget allocation came up short by half.

 

Meanwhile, schools are being encouraged to buy textbooks using some of the money intended for other uses.

 

The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) got back to bureau to talk about more money after realising it was about Bt1.3 billion short, or 50 per under what the textbook needs of schools under its jurisdiction required, said Obec chief Boonrak Yodphetch on Wednesday.

 

Boonrak was responding to a recent news report that a Kanchanaburi school under Obec’s supervision had suffered negative impacts from not having enough money to buy the books students needed.

 

Thailand has a policy that all children receive 12 years of free basic education, plus three years of pre-primary schooling.

 

The first semester of the new academic year began in May. But due to budget cuts, Obec has been able to only supply funds for half of the textbooks required by schools.

 

The cut to the textbook budget also extended to schools under agencies other than Obec, noted Boonrak. He said schools should not worry about the issue, which he said stemmed from a misunderstanding between Obec and the Budget Bureau. 

 

“Now both agencies have come to the same understanding and the Budget Bureau confirmed they are in the process of soon providing the remaining funds needed to buy textbooks,” he said.

 

This year’s budget for Obec’s share of the funds for free education is split five ways: tuition fees at Bt20 billion, learning materials and stationary at Bt2 billion, student uniforms at Bt2 billion, student quality development activities at Bt2 billion – and textbooks.

 

So far the agency had received 70 per cent of the money for the first four items, said Boonrak. That should be sufficient for schools to flexibly manage the money to buy textbooks while waiting for the designated textbook funds to arrive.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30353345

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-30

 

Now the young Thai kids can read all those marvellous Thai history books which extol the glories of their motherland and proclaim Thailand as the very centre - no, hub - of all world courage, culture and progress!

"Oh boy! Will I be allowed to ask questions?"

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

"Oh boy! Will I be allowed to ask questions?"

No need, the teacher knows everything. It would be culturally incorrect to question the teacher as face may be involved. 

48 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Now the young Thai kids can read all those marvellous Thai history books which extol the glories of their motherland and proclaim Thailand as the very centre - no, hub - of all world courage, culture and progress!

 But hang on, why do they need books, they should be receiving this on their tablets!

Maths books should be top of the list as things don't add up here?

1.3 billion a misunderstanding?

 

Wow.......that's a big understatement.........

Substantial and quality systems of education.

 

The priority [not]. 

 

?

a 1.3 billion THB misunderstanding... these people are shameless.

 

And it will never be investigated, no public outcry, nothing..

On occasions I think Thais get what they deserve. Royally screwed.

7 minutes ago, james.d said:

a 1.3 billion THB misunderstanding... these people are shameless.

 

And it will never be investigated, no public outcry, nothing..

On occasions I think Thais get what they deserve. Royally screwed.

 

Plus schools were told to take money from other funds to buy books.

 

So full transparent accountability goes out the window, by order.

 

Nice example for the future, just move the money around....., it's OK.

 

 

2 hours ago, doremifasol said:

1.3 billion a misunderstanding?

 

Wow.......that's a big understatement.........

Indeed, it's an incredible amount of tea isn't it?

Would love to be positive but the truth of the matter is, by the time the funds have been allocated and distributed, the amount of mucky thieving paws that will take their cut sadly there wont be much left for the books.

Best nip round to the Benz dealership then Mr Director, before they are all sold out ...

Edited August 30, 20187 yr by JAG

17 hours ago, webfact said:

“misunderstanding”

I think they mean misappropriation. As for misundersting this is of course possible. "Thought the money was for pockets not schools. My bad. Sorry. Try again".?

Submarines! 

19 hours ago, scorecard said:

 But hang on, why do they need books, they should be receiving this on their tablets!

In many of the small towns and villages even though the books are paid for by the government the school's principal will charge many of the students for the books.

16 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Plus schools were told to take money from other funds to buy books.

 

So full transparent accountability goes out the window, by order.

 

Nice example for the future, just move the money around....., it's OK.

 

 

They could take it from the food budget, seems to have worked in other places.

In the village school where my son works he was told that there is no money available for printing paper, printer ink, batteries for remote controllers etc.

 

In the private school in the town where my daughter teaches it's actually even worse, she was told that foreign teachers have to supply their own printer/copier if they need to print or do any copying, they're not allowed to use the school resources.

They are government textbooks, they should be free.  They are mostly bs anyway, have errors and are simply sad

25 minutes ago, Redline said:

They are government textbooks, they should be free.  They are mostly bs anyway, have errors and are simply sad

Perfect for the masses!