Thai PM wants literacy promotion

BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has aired his government's policy on literacy promotion and urged concerned agencies to also teach and develop alternative and vocational subjects to improve students' skills. The prime minister made the remarks on Thursday while opening an education fair organized by the Ministry of Education in Bangkok, set from May 21-22. The prime minister also recommended teachers to raise social responsibility awareness among students, rather than encouraging them to study for their own benefits, in order to support and achieve national development. Besides, the prime minister emphasized the development of capable teachers, acknowledging that the Thai government has allocated considerable budgets to support the development of national education but more cooperative efforts are needed to achieve national goals. Education Minister Narong Pipatanasai said, meanwhile, that the two-day fair, which includes academic discussions and demonstrations and exhibitions on educational development, are divided into nine zones, namely those on literacy and vocational promotion, preparation for the ASEAN Community (AC), remote education, educational expansion, the higher education which meets demands for the private sector and royally-initiated educational projects. (TNA)