Thailand’s government will change its budget allocation policy for education, from providing per-head subsidies to schools and universities, to new criteria focusing on areas where schools are located, and the standard of students. Under the new plans, students and general members of the public would be entitled to education, both inside school or through off-campus training, using education coupons to be provided free or at low cost at later stages.

The government's new policy will include providing alternative or vocational training along with mainstream education. It is aimed at enabling more people to develop themselves to full potential in various aspects of education, apart from classroom lectures. This would mean the country's entire workforce would develop a greater range of skills to work in the agriculture, industrial and service sectors.

The government will also promote the development of teacher quality and changes to the curriculum on a student centred basis, while evaluation criteria would give more weight to conditions of improvement in school performance and the qualities of learners.

The Nation 11/09/2014