Primary education reforms to begin in mid-July

BANGKOK: -- A major overhaul of the country’s primary education system will kick off in the middle of next month, Thai Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik told a media conference here on Wednesday.

The minister said a 'roadmap' had been developed to reform the primary education agency’s administration; improve teachers’ skills and welfare; and modernize schools nationwide.

“We have drawn five realistic development plans, some of which could take up to four years to complete,’’ the education minister said.

The government wanted the administration of primary education to be more efficient and was prepared to increase spending to achieve its aim. He said schools would be modernized and equipped with computers, while teachers would receive regular skills training and better welfare. The roadmap would also see the development of improved, new curricula.

Mr. Adisai said senior administration officials would be briefed in the middle of next month before the plan was implemented. “We need to make sure administrators understand the roadmap."

He said the Office of the Primary Education Committee would present the plan to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who would chair its next meeting.

Mr. Adisai has assigned his deputy, Mr. Rung Kaewdeang, to oversee the primary education reforms in the country's three violence-plagued southern border provinces.

“I am generally satisfied with the educational development plan for the deep south. But I have suggested the roadmap include a short term plan to deal with the security threat against teachers, whom are killed almost daily,’’ Mr. Adisai said.

Thailand has been battling renewed insurgent unrest in the three Muslim-dominated provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat since early 2004. More than 650 people have died in the violence.

“We cannot only keep telling local teachers to watch out. We need to have an aggressive plan to ensure their safety,’’ he said.

--TNA 2005-06-09

BANGKOK: --  A major overhaul of the country’s primary  education system will kick off  in the middle of next  month, Thai Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik told a media  conference here on Wednesday.

Once again, we'll see... An overhaul of the Thai education system has been scheduled to occur real soon now for about as long as I can remember. No reason to believe this announcement is any more credible than similar past announcements.