Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn expresses concerns about small school mergers that may affect 10,000 schools nationwide.
EDUCATION
Small school merger plans: Princess concerned
28/10/2016
Post Reporters
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has expressed concern about a project to merge small schools with larger schools that is expected to affect at least 10,000 schools nationwide, Education Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan says.
Gen Dapong said that the Princess is aware of the scheme to merge small schools and has conveyed her concerns. The scheme is to be implemented by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec).
CONSENT FROM COMMUNITIES ADVERSELY AFFECTED
Gen Dapong said the policy to merge small schools has a number of challenges including consent from local communities which will be adversely affected if their schools are merged with other schools.
However, he said it is fortunate the scheme is largely welcomed by local communities.
PREPARATIONS TO ACCOMODATE STUDENTS AT LARGER SCHOOLS
The minister said Obec has set aside a budget of 500 million baht to improve larger schools which would accommodate students from smaller schools.
These large schools will be strengthened in terms of educational quality and resources to help attract the students.
He also gave assurances that the directors of small schools slated to be merged will not be made redundant.
If there are vacant seats left by retirees, they will get the jobs and they still are eligible for their retirement payments and benefits.
REVIVAL OF SCHEME PUT ON HOLD FOR SEVERAL YEARS
Obec dusted off the scheme in June after it was put on hold for several years.
The scheme was proposed out of concern that small schools lacked educational resources and teachers, resulting in poor educational quality.
It was considered that students would be better off if they could study at larger schools nearby.
Gen Dapong said 286 small schools would be merged in the second term of this academic year.
It is not clear if some of the smaller schools will eventually be closed.