Thai DPM:More small schools to be merged this year

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Education plans to merge more small schools with students of less than 60 this year, as part of the government's policy on further developing education quality and standards in Thailand. Speaking during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's weekly TV and radio broadcast Saturday morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana told the public that regional education chiefs are conducting a survey of the number of small schools in their respective areas before the planned merger begins, assessing that there should be more than 5,000 small schools countrywide currently. Phongthep explained that most of the small schools with less than 60 students nationwide have been found sub-standard in terms of education quality and cost-benefit effectiveness, as most state budgets have been used to fund salaries of teachers and other personnel, rather than the procurement of sufficient educational materials and modern equipment needed for enhancing students' knowledge and skills. The deputy prime minister acknowledged that the Thai Ministry of Education has earlier merged over 3,000 small schools, resulting in their improved education quality and standards beneficial to students. The deputy premier confirmed that, after the merger of more small schools, all students can continue their classes as the government will provide them with needed assistance, namely daily school bus service or bicycles, and all teachers and other education personnel will not lose their jobs; while the sites of small schools, where all their students are moved to new ones, will then be used for other public benefits. According to the deputy premier, the Education Ministry will continue to hand out tablet computers to Grade 1 and Grade 7 students nationwide and to further improve curricula as part of national educational reform, amid the changing regional and global situation. (TNA)