Government Emphasizes Investment in Human Resources

(14/01/2013)

The Government is emphasizing efforts to bring about a balance of human resource development in order to strengthen the country and move it forward. Speaking in the weekly program “Yingluck Government Meets the People” on 12 January 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stated that the Government has provided more budget allocations for investment in human resources. She said that, in the second year of her administration, the Government would move toward building a balance of development. Investment in human resources would be included in the Government’s agenda and a balance would be created in terms of labor and education, so that graduates would be produced in response to the demand in the labor market. The Prime Minister said that frequent meetings would be held to ease problems concerning human resource development in an integrated manner. Experienced persons in education would be invited to offer suggestions and give advice, since the Government considers efforts to equip children with knowledge and ability an urgent issue. She said that the Government attached importance to development of children at all stages, from the pregnancy of the mother to adulthood. It has provided tablet computers to schoolchildren to encourage them to use technology for learning. In addition, she said, the Government wanted to promote both intelligence quotient and emotional quotient among children. Attitude quotient is another factor that needs to be emphasized. The Prime Minister said that Thai society has been changing a lot, and amidst changes, Thai youth should be taught to be aware of virtue, especially ethical conduct and gratitude to parents, teachers, and ancestors. Teachers in particular must help develop the potential of children, so that their potential would be tapped. They are like parents whom children can look up to for help, so teachers play an important role in developing human resources and reshaping society. Thailand celebrates National Teachers’ Day on 16 January each year to underline the importance of teachers and to show gratitude to them. 16 January was chosen as Teachers’ Day to commemorate the enforcement of the Teachers Act on 16 January 1946, and it was celebrated for the first time in 1957. The Office of the Teachers Council is organizing the celebration of National Teachers’ Day 2013 on 12-16 January. The celebration is also meant to honor Her Majesty the Queen, who is recognized as Mother of the Land, on the occasion Her Majesty’s 80th birthday anniversary, 12 August 2012. Various activities to mark this special occasion in Bangkok include a ceremony, presided over by the Prime Minister, to pay respect to senior teachers, as well as an award presentation to honor teachers, along with discussions and exhibitions.