The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has promised to keep 49 small schools open amid a controversial plan to merge several upcountry primary schools.
The 49 schools are considered exceptions as they promote "participation-based management" that allows officials and residents to jointly manage the schools, Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat said.
His announcement came after Obec officials inspected the 49 schools proposed by the Thai Alternative Education Council Association, a non-governmental organisation that opposes the merger plan. Obec said it is moving forward, however, with a plan to close several other small schools with low teaching standards.
The commission is still considering which schools would be merged or shut down.