Member of the Pheu Thai educational team Phawit Thongroj disclosed that his party had discovered that the 15-year free education scheme, which was previously adopted during the Democrat-led administration, was contributing to economic disparities in some parts of the country. He explained that the scheme had set the same amount of financial support for all students despite their different needs. Moreover, the scheme is said to have failed to provide the youngsters with access to extracurricular books as the budget allocated is only adequate for in-class textbooks.
Therefore, Mr Phawit pointed out that Pheu Thai would modify the free education scheme by taking into account the financial status of each students family in order to determine the amount of support on an individual basis. The schools will also be allowed to decide whether they would like to participate in the scheme as some of them might have been displeased with certain conditions that tend to complicate their management system.
However, Mr Phawit said Pheu Thais direction towards the free education scheme had only been briefly drafted. There will be more clarity after the incoming government has announced its policies.
News from NNT