Each new minister has cancelled previous policies and launched new initiatives, creating a bureaucratic nightmare for an already bloated ministry of 30,000 civil servants (lack of budget has never been a problem at the ministry). Meanwhile Thai students’ scores have dropped to near the bottom of global rankings. Yet now, finally, we have some stability of leadership plus a scientific approach to tackling the crisis. Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, a child psychiatrist who practised in the UK, took office in 2016. Having myself worked as a Department of Psychiatry biomedical engineer for many years, I can sense that Dr Teerakiat’s drive and dedication is bringing positive change, guided by his mantra for the job – “Example, Expectation, Consequence”. Immediately seeing the “big picture”, Teerakiat had all 40,000 Thai English teachers tested using Cambridge English standards. The results were shocking. Only 6 … [Read more...] about Teerakiat steering Thai education away from iceberg – but election looms
Teerakiat jareonsettasin
Teerakiat’s shares spark rule debate
Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin has come under fire for possible legal violations since he criticised the ethics of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (left, in photo) and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon in watchgate. (Bangkok Post file photo) Cabinet ministers holding shares in any firm which wins government concessions can keep their ministerial posts if they were acquired before entering the cabinet, according to Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan. Mr Meechai cited a Supreme Court ruling to that effect. He was responding to a query on whether Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin -- who reportedly has 5,000 shares in the Siam Cement Group, which won contracts for government projects -- can continue serving in the cabinet. Dr Teerakiat, who recently criticised Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon over his possession of luxury wristwatches, may himself come under National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) scrutiny for his so-called … [Read more...] about Teerakiat’s shares spark rule debate
Postbag
Undoing of the web Re: "Watch-scandal shenanigans sully decent debate", (Opinion, Feb 15, 2018).Paritta Wangkiat not only highlighted a critical issue regarding the anonymity of the internet, but may be talking about a point that could even be the internet's eventual undoing. The game of hatred, information warfare, fake news and half-truths has become the bread-and-butter of internet trolls, such as we have seen regarding the false online votes in "Watchgate".Paritta's article only serves to highlight the enduring value of mainstream media, especially print media, because those of us who pen letters to the Bangkok Post editor do not hide behind anonymity. In short, for better or for worse, you know my name and that means a lot in terms of the veracity of what I say.Jason A Jellison Re: "Prayut slams talk of cracks in cabinet", (BP, Feb 14)Education Minister Dr Teeerakiat Jareonsettasin apologised for referring to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon flashing 25 ultra-luxury watches … [Read more...] about Postbag
Don’t detest politics, PM tells youth
Young people should not detest politics, as Thailand needs a young generation of politicians to replace the old ones, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday told a group of young award recipients yesterday. In comments to the youngsters as they received trophies and certificates for National Children's Day this Saturday, Gen Prayut stressed the importance of the younger generation to Thailand's political realm of the future."Now, we do have some good politicians, but we need to create more politicians from the younger generation, since the old ones, though they have experience, are getting old," he said. "So youths should not detest politics since in the future, some of you will be participating in politics," he said.He said he wanted to see the recipients go back and develop their hometowns. He also wanted the Ministry of Education to expedite boosting the quality of education in rural schools so kids in these areas would not travel to study in urban schools.The trophies and … [Read more...] about Don’t detest politics, PM tells youth
Ministry probes for school bid graft
The Education Ministry is investigating potential corruption in a plan to construct multi-purpose field roofs for 11 schools in the Deep South provinces. The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) found irregularities when reviewing the 62-million-baht project budget to build dome-shaped roofs for schools in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.The OAG found the plan's bid winners were all computer companies, not construction companies. Construction costs were also listed much higher than the market price.According to the OAG, bidding collusion might have played a role in the procurement process as only a couple bidders were involved in the project. Some of their bids failed due to neglect to submit the required documents.The OAG recently approached the Education Ministry about the irregularities detected.Adviser to the Minister of Education Lt Gen Kosol Prathumchart says he was ordered by Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin to investigate the issue, after which he set up a special panel … [Read more...] about Ministry probes for school bid graft