Guidelines for Educational Development in the Southern Border Provinces

(24/12/2012)

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana has stressed the need to produce personnel for diverse professions in the southern border provinces as a major force to shape the future of the country. Mr. Phongthep gave guidelines for educational development in the South in his keynote address at the opening of the seminar “Building the Model Ummah through Effective Education” at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus, on 20 December 2012. He stated that educational development in the South must emphasize efforts to provide greater opportunities for local people to help develop society. Emphasis should be placed on the teaching and learning of science and technology, as well. Several higher educational institutions in the South, especially Princess of Naradhiwas University, also focus on education in science and technology. Mr. Phongthep said that people in the southern border provinces have several strengths. For example, they can communicate in the Malay language and Arabic, and many of them speak English. With this advantage, they have good opportunities to work in various countries, such as those in the Middle East, which is now in need of foreign workers. As English is the working language of ASEAN, it is also important that Thai people in all parts of the country be equipped with a good knowledge of English. He called for the use of education to promote the role of women in the South, saying that the United Nations Development Program is encouraging women to play a greater role in politics, so that they would be able to move forward together with their male counterparts. It is through education that the potential of women will be fully tapped. Mr. Phongthep said that the Government was ready to develop human resources in the South to bring about a better future for local residents. However, peace must be restored in the deep South, so that educational management could be carried out more effectively. The Thai government attaches an urgent priority to resolving the situation in the three southern border provinces, namely Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. Teachers in the three provinces have been affected by violence and have submitted a proposal on security measures for teachers. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in her recent visit to the South, agreed to set up a special task force to deal with security for teachers. She also promised to provide them with better welfare and improve the economic situation in southern region. In this regard, the Government will allocate more funds for both development work and security operations in the deep South. It will also look into a special curriculum and education system, as well as job opportunities after graduation for southern residents.