‘Very poor’ school students to be given additional financial aid

By The Nation

 

 

ABOUT 600,000 “very poor” students will soon receive an extra Bt800 per semester from the state, as the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) is stepping in to help reduce the educational disparities.
 

The extra subsidy will be handed out from next month onwards, according to the joint plan of the EEF and the Office of Basic Education Commission |(Obec). “The EEF has agreed to provide financial help on top of the financial support we normally give to students from cash-strapped families,” Obec secretary-general Boonrux Yodpheth said yesterday after his agency signed a cooperation agreement with EEF. At present, Obec offers financial support to nearly 1.7 million poor students across the country. 

 

If they are at the primary-education level, they receive Bt500 per semester from Obec. At secondary level, they receive Bt1,500. However, as surveys have discovered that some 600,000 students are very poor, the EEF plans to provide an extra Bt800 per semester to these students. 

 

EEF manager Supakorn Buasai said his fund would cover very poor students from Prathom 1 to Mathayom 3 levels. “We will use the Bt1.6 billion budget to subsidise their travel and living costs during their studies,” he said. 

 

“Moreover, we intend to help them with the development of life skills and occupational skills, and food.”

 

According to him, schools will submit the list of very poor students to Obec and EEF by early next month.

 

“After that, class teachers of those students will have to visit their homes with local leaders to determine whether they are really very poor,” Supakorn said. He expected the EEF to start paying these students via their schools around December 15. 

 

“After that, we expect to see evidence of reimbursement and a student-care plan. “For example, schools receiving the budget should provide proof that the money can be used to keep children in class throughout their semester,” he said. 

 

Although Thailand offers free education to its citizens, some children leave schools because their families are too poor to cover related expenses. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30358415

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-13

I am very pleased that the Thai State is assisting poor students, but I have to wonder as to the timing...

 

"...He expected the EEF to start paying these students via their schools around December 15..." 

 

Sooooooo, the first payments come into force just before an election? My! My! What a happy, remarkable and 100% unrelated coincidence!

 

By the way, given the huge amount of funds that were stolen before in a similar program, what new financial controls have been added to ensure that the poorest ACTUALLY receive the money? I am sure that there are many new safeguards, but the article is strangely silent in this area.

 

Hmm...

 

Double Hmm...

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh

Well good on them, until a savory program official start to siphon off funds.. 

Although Thailand offers free education to its citizens, some children leave schools because their families are too poor to cover related expenses. 

 

If Thailand offers FREE EDUCATION, please explain related EXPENSES, apart from living expenses  they should be none at all !!!!!! 

How about a proper food program so they can develop properly both physically and mentally. 

Pathetic,you can't even get papa half a dozen bottles of Lao khao with that.we know what the bungs are for.why don't they just hand it out on polling day.

2 hours ago, Khun Paul said:

Although Thailand offers free education to its citizens, some children leave schools because their families are too poor to cover related expenses. 

 

If Thailand offers FREE EDUCATION, please explain related EXPENSES, apart from living expenses  they should be none at all !!!!!! 

 

For one: school uniform. And often there is 4 kinds for each school, 

The everyday, the sport day, the boy scout, and the traditional style.

 

Not even the 1500 the come close to cover those, and with kids usually a new size everybyeay or other year!

 

The rest, like pen, pencil, ruler, glue, workbook, and whatnot, plus sometimes other projects or excursions.

 

Yes, free education, but not free everything.

However, is same in all countries pretty much, apart from the way too many uniforms, and the suffering thru the flag ceremony/brainwash every single day.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

However, as surveys have discovered that some 600,000 students are very poor, the EEF plans to provide an extra Bt800 per semester to these students. 

 

 

Billions for submarines & trains they dont need.....$24 per semester for Thailand's future

 

Me 1st religion of LOS continues for those who pull the strings

2 hours ago, tingtong said:

 

For one: school uniform. And often there is 4 kinds for each school, 

The everyday, the sport day, the boy scout, and the traditional style.

 

Not even the 1500 the come close to cover those, and with kids usually a new size everybyeay or other year!

 

The rest, like pen, pencil, ruler, glue, workbook, and whatnot, plus sometimes other projects or excursions.

 

Yes, free education, but not free everything.

However, is same in all countries pretty much, apart from the way too many uniforms, and the suffering thru the flag ceremony/brainwash every single day.

Yes, the different uniforms cost a lot for the poor families, would be better to remove the uniform rules and supply all extra books, pens, pencils etc. for free 

>According to him, schools will submit the list of very poor students to Obec and EEF by early next month.

 

>paying these students via their schools

 

What can go wrong here...  

5 hours ago, tingtong said:

 

For one: school uniform. And often there is 4 kinds for each school, 

The everyday, the sport day, the boy scout, and the traditional style.

 

Not even the 1500 the come close to cover those, and with kids usually a new size everybyeay or other year!

 

The rest, like pen, pencil, ruler, glue, workbook, and whatnot, plus sometimes other projects or excursions.

 

Yes, free education, but not free everything.

However, is same in all countries pretty much, apart from the way too many uniforms, and the suffering thru the flag ceremony/brainwash every single day.

You forgot the compulsory extra lessons.

"ABOUT 600,000 “very poor” students will soon receive an extra Bt800 per semester..."

 

If 300 baht can buy a vote, I would venture to guess that 800 baht should be able to buy a higher grade and a little more face. It appears that the big winners here will be the teachers giving out those grades. 

Edited November 13, 20187 yr by jaltsc

5 hours ago, tingtong said:

 

For one: school uniform. And often there is 4 kinds for each school, 

The everyday, the sport day, the boy scout, and the traditional style.

 

Not even the 1500 the come close to cover those, and with kids usually a new size everybyeay or other year!

 

The rest, like pen, pencil, ruler, glue, workbook, and whatnot, plus sometimes other projects or excursions.

 

Yes, free education, but not free everything.

However, is same in all countries pretty much, apart from the way too many uniforms, and the suffering thru the flag ceremony/brainwash every single day.

The uniform for almost every day of the week is more than a little taxing and certainly unnecessary. 

In fact the base idea of a forced upon homogenous, good little soldier style defeats the principles of an independent individual through deep subliminal suggestion......of course this is what the broad authoritarian system is eager to promote generation after generation - and quite reflected throughout most every curriculum. 

 

Adding other expenses to the average Thai family - the numerous and ever-changing text books that are required can be quite a financial burden on many, and should be offered with no charge by the educational systems. 

Everyone should realize the importance of education. It the children’s future..... give the a running start.