On that very same day, a nationwide anti-corruption campaign was being launched, with the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) chairman Pramon Sutivong declaring that graft plaguing the country was reaching "mega-critical" proportions.
The education minister didn't use exactly the same words to describe the state of the nation's education, but it was clear he was suggesting things had gone terribly wrong with the system.
"Our teaching method is wrong. Our curriculum is outdated. Our |teachers aren't qualified, and |university graduates, despite having studied English for 12-16 years, can't speak it at all," he lamented.