"Newsline" program TVT. 11
June 28, 1999 at 22.00-22.30p.m
The Interview on "Education Reform"

Speaker: Dr Vichai Tunsiri
An Extraordinary Committee of the Senates
Host: Mr. Suthipong Tatpitakkul

Khun Suthipong : (Introduction) The education in Thailand is now entering into a new era, since the House of the Representatives has already passed the National Bill to the consideration of the Senates, and is going to be implemented in the form of the nation-wide education reform very soon.
Tonight, we have Dr. Vichai Tunsiri who is one of the members of the Extraordinary Committees of the Senates (กรรมาธิการวิสามัญพิจารณาร่าง พ.ร.บ. การศึกษาแห่งชาติ วุฒิสภา)

Khun Suthipong: Good evening Dr Vichai, welcome to Newsline. How necessary is it to reform as you know it?
Dr Vichai : It has been very urgent that we should have the reform, we have been talking about the reform for the last twenty years. But, we couldn't do it, we couldn't change the system bit by bit. We did systematic change, overhauling of the system itself. This is a big reform in the history of Thai education.

Khun Suthipong : What is the current status of the National Education Bill?
Dr Vichai : The Bill itself was proved by the Senates for the second and third reading last Friday (25 June, 1999). It now travels back to the House of Representatives, and ready to be discussed on Wednesday 30 June, 1999 for the last consideration.

Khun Suthipong : Once, if this Bill passed and put into use, what differences we expect to see?
Dr Vichai : There are many features we would say. Firstly, for the benefit of people, that is the provision for the basic education for all. This basic education would be 12 year-education from elementary grade 1 to secondary grade 6.

Khun Suthipong : 6 for the elementary and 6 for the latter one…the high school one. So total 12 years, you have been saying that means free for all?
Dr Vichai : Yes, everybody has access for education.

Khun Suthipong : And what is the current status now?
Dr Vichai : The current status that we have compulsory education which is free for all. In Thailand, we used to have 6 year-compulsory education.

Khun Suthipong : When you said compulsory, what do you mean, that means we have to go to school at least 6 years? And what if they don't?
Dr Vichai : Usually in Thai education system, we have what we call "exemption" for the very poor or handicapped people or the people who live very far away such as on the mountain.

Khun Suthipong : So the New Bill is it still 6 year-compulsory?
Dr Vichai : No, it is 9-year compulsory now, plus three more years for basic right for education and that is up to secondary level.

Khun Suthipong : So, if I understand correctly, the Government will provide the education for the people who would like to go to up to 12 grades, but compulsory is only 9, I see. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this 9-year-change?
Dr Vichai : I would say 95% of the population of the age group will benefit from the nine year compulsory. This is different from the situation in the past which we had only six year compulsory education. But I guess, some other poor families, they would like their kids as helping hands because some of so poor people, they need the kids to work. This is disadvantage of compulsory education in depriving the poor family of the helping hands. And they have to send children to school up to nine years. But if you have twelve years for basic education that it is basic right they don't have to go if they don't want you.

Khun Suthipong : I see, what are other advantages of the new Bill?
Dr Vichai : The new Bill has so many provision for, I would call "solicit changes" in terms of the administrative reform in terms of the attempt to unify the three leading agencies, Ministry of Education, Ministry of University Affairs and the Office of National Education Commission, these are the three separated lead agencies in Education. Now, we will unify the three of them into one single Ministry of Education. It is good to be called the Ministry of education Religion and Culture.

Khun Suthipong : How soon will we see this new name?
Dr Vichai : The new name need to be insistent once the new Bill is passed. We need another Bill to regulate to make provision for different Department in the Ministry, so in the next three years, there would be the reform committees to work out the details of the Bill to go with the Act.

Khun Suthipong : One last question, what will the Thai people benefit from this reform?
Dr Vichai : At least, I think we are in competition of the world for market, we need new skills, people who have ability to work competitively with other people in other part of the world. So, you need basic education for at least 12 years, this should be the best for continuing education throughout their lives. Whether they want to be trained for vocational skills or whatever. I think there will be the large benefit for our people to be competitive in the world market.

The content of the interview is taken from Newsline Program on June 28, 1999 by Wannapa Pliensri/ Wallapat Sritongsuk