Thailand as an educational hub
Government pushes for Thailand to be an education hub in ASEAN, establishes coordinating centre to prepare for the AEC at the end of 2015, with goals to develop 2 schools in each province to have international curriculums to be ready by the beginning of the 2016 academic year
Maj .Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Deputy Government Spokesperson, announced that Thailand is in preparation for the coming of the AEC, particularly in the area of education, with the Ministry of Education currently in the process of establishing an education coordinating centre as part of efforts to develop Thailand into a hub for education in the region.
The coordinating centre will be the central agency for coordinating the implementation of ASEAN related affairs, mobilsing ASEAN policies in the provinces, as well as the dissemination of information and research about ASEAN. The Centre will also serve as a venue for the exchange of information and a training centre to enhance the international competitiveness of Thai citizens.
As for the development of Thailand into an education hub, the main goals are to develop the quality of Thai secondary education to be on par with international standards, for Thai education institutions to be able to take on both Thai and international students from the ASEAN region, and a policy to open the education sector by building on the 14 special classes concept at the pioneering school s that joined the programme in 2010. There will also be the integration of work between the education institutions of each province, as well as collaboration with the coordinating centre so that new curriculum can begin in the 2016 academic year, and the goal of having 2 international curriculum schools in each province of Thailand is ultimately achieved.
“Thailand is becoming part of the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of this year and so there is the necessity to undergo several major reforms and preparations. Education is one area which will not only have to be reformed but also undergo a vigorous preparation process for the AEC. The Prime Minister views this as a positive development, in line with current national reforms and Thailand’s preparations to be ready for the coming of the AEC.
By: The Royal Thai Government