International Conference, "Green Society, Governance and Competitiveness"

(04-05-2013)

The Assistant to the Minister of Education, Dr. Phuangphet Chunlaiad, chaired the opening of the 2nd international "Green Society, Governance and Competitiveness" conference on 30 May 2013 at Jeera Bunmak Auditorium of the National Institute of Development and Administration (NIDA).

After the opening ceremony, Dr. Phuangphet said that the aim of the event was to focus on academic  knowledge exchange through the presentation of various topics that relate to the title of the event. NIDA will select some knowledgeable and interesting topics to be adjusted and applied to modern teaching under the concept of globalization as well as the green society that helps preserve the environment.

The rector of NIDA, Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, talked about the Green Society concept that is currently an issue of hot debate because the world is concerned over the global warming and environmental threat. Many nations have declared the concept as important for the national agenda for industrial sectors as well as for society as a whole. This means that society has to campaign for sustainable environmental conservation.

Prof. Dr. Sombat said that the Green Society, Governance and Competitiveness are closely linked because they indicate the capability of all countries for competitiveness. Even a small country like Singapore has a competitiveness capability that is ranked 6th out of all the countries in the world. Thailand needs to develop, extend and apply its own knowledge paradigm to remain competitive.


At present, the Ministry of Education is adjusting the educational curriculum to facilitate Thai students' abilities to think, analyze and use languages in the upcoming ASEAN Community in which English will be used officially. Besides, it will be better if Thai children can speak other ASEAN languages. However, Thailand has to work hard to encourage its people to use English more often as other countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines can use English fluently. Thailand needs to improve itself to be able to compete with its ASEAN neighbours.

MoE towards ASEAN Community

(03-06-2013)

The Assistant to the Education Minister, Dr. Phuangphet Chunlaiad, chaired a meeting of the preparation committee for the ASEAN Community of the Education Ministry on 29 May 2013.

After the meeting, Dr. Phuangphet said that the Ministry of Education was preparing many activities for the AC, one of which is the Kick-Off towards AC at the end of June, 2013, at Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi. This event, presided over by the Prime Minister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, aims to raise the awareness of Thai people and students of capacity building and strengthening the cooperation of all sectors for the ASEAN Community.

What the Ministry of Education is now emphasizing is English communication for Thai people. They are encouraged to speak English with confidence, even if only in short sentences, until they are used to the language. After Thailand becomes a member of the AC, there will a lot of mobility of services, business and professions among the nine member countries of ASEAN.

To prepare Thai people to speak English fluently, the Ministry of Education has created a manual of English conversation and provided training for ASEAN languages at 25 ASEAN studies centers throughout Thailand. For example, English and Burmese will be taught in northern Thailand, English, Chinese and Lao in eastern Thailand and Bahasa and English in southern Thailand.


In terms of the new ASEAN academic calendars, Thailand is responsible for serving as a center for managing educational standards. Thai schools have to have new academic calendars that match those of ASEAN countries, England and the US. Moreover, the Ministry will have to solve problems of educational standards for Thai students who study overseas because some of them have reported that their academic results had been downgraded by some foreign universities.

OVEC Welcomes more Volunteer Chinese Teachers

(03-06-2013)

The Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Dr. Akanith Klangsaeng, chaired the opening of an orientation for 121 volunteer Chinese teachers at Ratchada City Hotel in Bangkok.

Dr. Akanith said that this event involved many resource personnel concerned with volunteer Chinese teachers program in Thailand, particularly Mr. Chuen Yongsan from Hanban in Thailand, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu Kerdlapphol from the Thai Immigration Office and representatives from the Office of Teaching and Learning Chinese in China, the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education.  A total of 161 volunteer teachers will teach at 101 vocational colleges under OVEC's supervision, some of which will have two teachers for ten months. The aim of this activity is to develop learning and teaching of Chinese in vocational colleges to create an effective and sustainable economic-based society where Chinese is a communication tool.

The volunteer teachers in Thailand are important human resources who help to advance Chinese teaching and learning in Thailand as well as to enhance Thailand's Chinese communication skills in ASEAN and the world. As Thai vocational education will move forward to participate in the professional world, with language and culture diversity, they should develop themselves and their quality.


Finally, Dr. Akanith concluded that language was a symbol to strengthen understanding and friendship without borders. The language exchange program of Thailand and China will, without any doubt, contribute to cultural and technological exchange that will create a borderless world.

Concerted Effort to Fight against Drugs

(03-06-2013)

On 27 May 2013 at IRPC Technology College in Rayong, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, chaired the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding concerning preventing and solving the problem of illicit drugs in schools. On this occasion, Mr. Sermsak introduced a policy for drug suppression in Thai schools called "White School".

This project aims to respond to the Thai government's policy to solve these drug problems and is part of the National Agenda. It also parallels the work done in the Ministry of Education's campaign and carried out in conjunction with Rayong, to encourage students to stay away from drugs, so that qualitative and quantitative success in fighting against drugs can be achieved.         


The White School policy is carried out with the cooperation of school administrators, representatives of teachers, parents and students, the police and Buddhist monks in local communities where the schools are located. This strong cooperation will boost the power of drug suppression measures enforced by the schools and will increase the confidence of the policy makers to solve the drug problem. This policy includes five measures: protection, searching, rehabilitation, safeguarding and administration. Those measures will not be successful without the 4 Musts and 2 Don'ts. The 4 Musts are strategies, work-plans, databases and networks and the 2 Don'ts are information covering and expulsion of students from school.

OHEC Organizes ASEAN Camp Program

(31-05-2013)

The Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), Mrs. Waraporn Seehanart,  recently spoke about the ASEAN Camp program from 9 to 12 August 2013 at the Ban Thai Resort in Suphan Buri. This event aims to enable university students to broaden their horizons and exchange their knowledge through various activities that make them understand what the ASEAN Community is.

"The ASEAN Camp will include extra-curricular activities that facilitate the learning process differently from in-class study because it changes cognitive, places and contexts of learning. More importantly, students are allowed to learn by themselves. They are expected to create knowledge and understanding by themselves – this is a step towards profound learning and understanding in the future which, in turn, will lead to good perceptions about ASEAN and its members," said Mrs. Waraporn.

The Deputy Secretary General  of OHEC added that OHEC had already circulated a request  askingThai universities to send one of their bachelor degree students for  selection for the camp by 14 June 2013. In addition to Thai university students, 40 students from the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Laos PDR and Indonesia will also take part in the activity.


Any Thai universities that wish to send their students to the ASEAN Camp can ask for further information at 02 610 5416.

UNESCO Executives Shares Educational Experiences

(31-05-2013)

The Deputy Secretary General of Education, Mr. Sombat Suwanpitak, on behalf of the Secretary General of the National Commission on Education of the United Nations, chaired the opening of an exchange program for senior officers of education for UNESCO in Japan, China and South Korea on 28 May 2013.

Mr. Sombat said that discussion and the sharing of experiences among those senior officers concerned the formulation of ways to move towards Education for All and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific by 2015. South Korea, China and Japan have successful models, such as lifelong education in South Korea and sustainable development in Japan. Those successful programs can be shared with other countries to create joint educational management protocols in Asia and the Pacific in 2015.

Morality and Ethics Training for New Public Officers

(31-05-2013)

The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Mrs. Siriporn Kitkuakul chaired an opening of a training program to promote ethics and morality standards amongst the public officers of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Education on 24 May 2013 at Kaew Kai Tham Dharma Practice Center in Prachin Buri.

Mrs. Siriporn said that controlling one’s mind through Dharma practice required strong determination to succeed. Dharma practice is the beginning of promoting ethics and morality for living with others. This training focuses on prayer and meditation. Although some trainees may not achieve 100% of what they are taught, they will still be able to think and do better in their daily lives.


Aiming to provide knowledge and understanding of the morality and ethics of living with others as well as promoting good attitudes at work, this training saw 52 new staff members and senior officers in attendance  between 24 and 27 May 2013.

Ways towards Community College

(30-05-2013)

The Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, visited Pattani on 22 May 2013 to monitor the Pattani Community College and present the policy of the Education Ministry at a seminar, "Ways towards Community Colleges and Policy on Mobilizing the Drafted Act of Community Colleges".

Mr. Sermsak said that this visit also enabled him to meet local people in Pattani which was a good occasion because he believed that knowing other people was equal to half way on the road to success.

Mr. Sermsak added that this seminar was very important because Thailand had 20 community colleges responsible for solving socio-economic problems while developing and creating professions for local communities. In Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas, Satul and Songkhla, there are five community colleges. This symbolizes the strong determination of the Thai government to make use of education to bring peace back to the deep south.

According to Mr. Sermsak, Thai Community Colleges were originally initiated by the former Prime Minister, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, in 2001 who wanted them to be academic institutes for 30 milkion working people all over the country. At that time, Dr. Sirikorn Maneerin, the then Deputy Education Minister, successfully mobilized seven Community Colleges during 2002 until 2011. This year marks the first decade of the Colleges.

For the next decade of Community College establishment, Mr. Sermsak then proposed three main tracks of development as follows:

1) area-based administration for an educational management structure that is useful for creating and developing the professions of the local people;
2) a competency-based curriculum which is important for strengthening both the community and knowledge of graduates; and
3) a community-based curriculum which upholds the philosophy of all Community Colleges, "Teach by Community and Use Community's Questions to Develop It".

To create professions and develop the country at the same time, Community Colleges need to connect local community development and socio-economic imorovement more. At the same time, they have to maintain traditional culture and lifestyle of the community so that the "major education of local communities" will no longer be an alternative education anymore.

At present, administration of Community Colleges is under the ministerial regulations which do not accommodate much to their work. The Ministry of Education will propose to change them to reflect the regulations of Thai universities on 28 May 2013. Mr. Sermsak said that he would finish the work as quickly as possible so that the new regulations will be implemented for all Community Colleges in Thailand.                         


Finally, Mr. Sermsak reconfirmed that the Community Colleges would not be merged with the non-formal and informal education because their intention and vision were different.

OBEC Plans to Buy Vans for Small Schools

(30-05-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, reported that the Ministry of Education proposed a budget to buy 1,000 vans for small schools under OBEC's supervision with the aim of creating effective teaching and learning and upgrading the quality of the learners. These vans, to be taken care of by local administrative offices, will be used to pick up students to and from schools as well as local community members. However, there is a concern that drivers of the vans will not be as qualified as those driving OBEC’s school buses.

Dr. Chinnapat added that, even though ways to put this into practice were unclear, after the vans had been approved, the major issues of driver competency, petrol bills and safety regulations should be obvious. For example, the vans should have two plates with orange background and the message, "School Van", written in black. The first one will be placed at the front and the second at the rear of each van.

OEC Approves Education Plan

(30-05-2013)

The Secretary General of the  Office of the Education Council (OEC), Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannarong, recently reported that, following the latest meeting to report important missions to the Thai cabinet, the main discussion focused on educational strategies between 2013 and 2015, the framework and approaches for the follow-up on and evaluation of results of educational management under the governmental policy of 2012 to 2015, the report on the  assessment of educational management according to the educational policy of 2012 as well as the framework and direction for educational research in Thailand from 2012 to 2015. All of these will be signed by the Minister of Education.

Dr. Sasithara added that the OEC had to organize an international academic seminar in 2013 entitled, "Education for Thai Future" on 23 to 25 June 2013. It will highlight progress in research, a meeting with the  British Council, educational policy with the UNESCO and organizations for economic and development cooperation with Europe concerning:

1. Overall Education System,
2. Teaching Policy,
3. Curriculum,
4. Measures of Achievement and
5. Mobile Learning.


Beside these, there will be discussions on Education for All, the Global Monitoring Report, teacher development plans and a presentation on education in the future.

Phongthep Attended Public Seminar on Small School Merging in Chiang Mai

(29-05-2013)

On 19 May 2013, the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, participated in a public seminar, "Enhancing Efficiency of Administration for Small Schools," at Wat San Klang Nua School in San Kamphaeng District and Ban Phueng School in Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai.

In terms of Wat San Klang Nua School, its teaching and learning system has been adjusted gradually, with the approval of the school committee, the parents and the local community, since 2000. Initially, students from three other schools: Ban Mon, Wat San Klang Tai and Wat San Klang Nua, were asked to study together. Since then, Ban Mon School has offered kindergarten courses; Wat San Klang Nua has provided primary education and Wat San Klang Tai has been used for various school activities and community services, such as an OTOP Center and a Non-Formal and Informal Education Service Center.

According to the School's director, Mr. Yongyuth Wongchai, the merging of the three schools has been done since 2000 after a public hearing with students, parents and local community members. The merger yielded good results as students enjoyed impressive learning achievements and there were enough teachers to work full time. Now, OBEC is providing support for school buses to transport students to and from the school.

Mr. Phongthep said that merging of small schools should only be done after public hearings in which local people unanimously approve.

Some recommendations were also made at this public seminar, especially regarding financial support for the principal school after merging and expanding educational opportunities to the lower secondary level so that students will not have to study at schools located very far away. Mr. Phongthep said that it depended on the number of students and the availability of schools. Lately, some merged schools have already started to provide secondary education.

Mr. Praphat Pothi is the director of Ban Phueng School. The school accepts students from Wat Mae Ho Phra, Mae Na Pak and Fai Witthayakarn. Its management is done according to the plan for school administration to develop the effectiveness of managing a cooperative network through the use of proper innovations, in terms of technology, learning resources, teachers and educational personnel. This also includes support for school buses for transportation to other learning centers and academic camps.

The Ministry of Education does not have any definite rules to merge any schools but focuses on upgrading the quality of Education in Thailand. This can be done in various ways, so cooperation is needed from local communities, local administrations and religious affairs to develop small schools, especially those in remote areas.


From the public seminar at Ban Phueng School, major recommendations concern the need for a center of child development and provision of a budget for building renovation, computer rooms, more classrooms and a playground.

OVEC to Organize Packaging Contest

(29-05-2013)

The Secretary General of Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Mr. Chaipruek Serirak, recently reporteded that the Prime Minister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, would like to upgrade the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) goods made in local communities throughout Thailand so that their quality is comparable to products exported from other countries. So, in June, OVEC will organize a contest for the best design of processed food packages in which vocational students can take part. In terms of the contest's rules and design criteria, OVEC will discuss these with the Thailand Packaging Center and the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) soon.

"Schools participating in this contest have to use products from their communities. The products should be of high quality and have good nutritional quality. The packaging should come with beautiful designs and be able to keep the products fresh for as long as possible. The creator will have to present the products' ingredients and explain how they are beneficial to health. In this way, OTOP will be internationalized and its manufacturers will be required to maintain this quality and to develop it further," said Mr. Chaipruek.

Panita to Probe Exam Cheating Herself

(29-05-2013)

On 22 May 2013, the Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Mr.Chinnapat Bhumirat, responded to a question asked by journalists regarding his receipt of an official document regarding the appointment of an investigation committee to look into the case of cheating in the recent assistant teacher exam. He said that he had not yet received it and he would like to consider an appeal for the case and its necessity.

When asked why OBEC did not follow any legal procedures to tackle the case of exam leaks, Mr. Chinnapat said that he would give information to the investigating committee himself because some details might lead to confusion if he provided it at that point in time..

The chair of the investigating committee in the case Mrs. Panita Kamphu Na Ayutthaya, said that the Minister of Education had also asked the committee to interrogate two more OBEC executives: the Deputy Secretary General of BEC, Mr. Anan Ra-ngabthuk and the Inspector-General of Education Mr. Suthep Chittayawong, as the former assistant of the BEC Secretary-General. Both will be interrogated regarding disciplinary acts and corruption.


According to a news report from the Ministry of Education, the two executives from OBEC were interrogated and Mr. Suthep was found innocent because, at the time when the incident took place, he had had an accident and had broken his arm. He returned to work after the exam results had already been submitted to Local Offices of Education Service Areas.

OVEC Signs MOU with NSTIPO

(28-05-2013)

The Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Work-integrated Learning (WiL) with the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (NSTIPO), Lanna Rajamangala University of Technology and Siam Michelin Co. Ltd. The MoU will focus on creating and developing human resources for the technical industry at the lower vocational level to respond to the needs of the present industrial sectors of Thailand.

According to the Deputy Secretary General of OVEC, Dr. Akanit Khlanhsaeng, the WiLprogram will take a total of five years. The NSTIPO will be responsible for creating human resources with OVEC while Siam Michelin will work on curriculum development and financial support. In so doing, relations between the business and academic sectors will be strengthened and industrial sectors will have an appropriate and effective labor force. Moreover, the MoU will upgrade the quality of vocational education in a wider area. Initially, Sattaheep and Tha Luang Cement Thai Nusorn Technical Colleges will start working on this program together.


The Director of NSTIPO, Prof. Dr. Wanlop Surakamponthon said that, under the current teaching and learning program, academic skills and the quality of graduates at all levels do not help them to work well, even those with Ph. D. degrees. Therefore, the NSTIPO is responsible for mobilizing a policy on the development of personnel for the sciences, technology and innovation. This policy will begin with staff and technicians with skills on tire manufacturing to bridge the gap between demand and supply. It is expected that the human resources developed in the program will be of a quality suitable for the future needs of the industrial sectors in Thailand.

More Budget for Educational Development Needed: EC

(28-05-2013)

The Chairman of Educational Commission (EC) Mr. Prakob Rattanpan attended a meeting and gave an official visit to educational organizations to obtain information and discuss with the Permanent Secretary of Education Mrs. Panita Kamphu Na Ayutthaya and senior officers of the Ministry of Education.

After the meeting, Mr. Prakob said that results from discussion with executives from Office of the Non Formal and Informal Education, Office of the Teachers and Educational Personnel and Office of the Private Education Commission were impressive. He also asked about increasing salary of private school teachers of bachelor degrees to 15,000 Baht and found that nothing was done. So, the teachers should get this benefit as soon as possible. In terms of budget for educational development that has been cut or reduced recently, Mr. Prakob said it is much needed to promote equal educational opportunity.


Mrs. Panita added that one of the projects whose budget was cut or reduced was the Genius Book House organized by ONFIE. The proposal was for funding amounting to 900 million baht but, since only 450 million baht was awarded, only 50% of the local communities in Thailand will benefit. Moreover, OPEC needs more money to pay for increased salaries for private school teachers because it is now using its budget for 2013 which is insufficient. More finance is needed for 2014. Furthermore, the project for developing an ICT infrastructure in southern Thailand for which the additional budget of 200 million baht was cut although it is considered to be very useful to solve problems with the basic infrastructure of ICT in the three provinces of the country’s southern border.

Phongthep to Talk about Foreign Teachers in Thailand and Visa Extension

(28-05-2013)

The Secretary General of the Private Education Commission (PEC) Mr. Bandit Sriputthangkul recently announced that the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, will ask the relevant organizations for a discussion on ways to help foreign teachers in Thai schools before 2015 when the country will become a member of the ASEAN Economic Community.

At present, the PEC requires many foreign teaching staff for general sciences and mathematics because, previously, the Foreign Affairs Ministry regulations and National Security Rules did not allow them to teach these subjects in Thailand.


"Currently, foreign teachers are allowed to stay in Thailand for a maximum of two years. After that, they have to leave and go to one of our neighboring countries, such as Laos, and re-enter Thailand. This causes unnecessary expenses and wasted time for them. How can we adjust the rules to help these teachers and encourage them to stay longer?  Other countries focus on this issue because it is considered an educational export that boosts national income. The longer the teachers stay here, the more income the country will earn because foreign teachers often have to pay more than Thai people do," concluded Mr. Bandit.

Phongthep Visits School in Lopburi

(27-05-2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana,  attended an edition, of  the TV program, "Civil Forum for Strong Community", called "Good Community School" at Ban Nong Pradu School in Lopburi on 18 May 2013. The Secretary to the Minister of Education, Asst. Prof. Prasaeng Mongkolsiri also attended the program.

After the program, Mr. Phongthep said that this trip allowed him to get opinions from local students and people at and around Ban Nong Pradu School. He also had the chance to seek opinions from local leaders of the community, particularly on the issues of the quality and learning achievements of students after the merging of small schools.

According to the local leader of Ban Nong Pradu, merging schools resulted in good learning achievements of students and many parents and teachers were pleased with it. Previously, a teacher had to be responsible for many subjects, but after small schools had become larger, teachers only needed to teach their specialist subjects.

As far as school administrators are concerned, they need to work as usual and help executives of the schools they moved to. When there are vacant positions, the school administrators will fill them and work in other areas. Also, students' parents suggested that meetings with the teachers should be organized soon to discuss ways to develop and administer the school.

Some parents were still worried about their children’s transportation expenses. So, the Ministry of Education reaffirmed that students who moved to bigger schools would not have to pay these expenses. Other parents proposed to the Ministry that the bigger schools should provide courses to the lower secondary level. But above all, most of the parents felt impressed with the bigger schools because they were of better quality and were located in the center of the community.

The Minister of Education explained that merging small schools together was a process of educational development in Thailand. Nonetheless, public hearings should be organized for the sake of high quality education in Thailand. Schools that still provide quality teaching and learning will be supported by the Ministry. The Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Kamol Rodklai, will consider opinions from the public hearings and use them for educational reform in the future.


This TV program was broadcast on Channel 11 Thailand on 22 May 2013 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Education and Global Citizenship in Buddhism Perspective

(27-05-2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, gave a lecture entitled, "Education and Global Citizenship: a Buddhist Perspective" at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of United Nations Day of Vesakha Pucha. The lecture was attended by 1,400 academics, Buddhist leaders and monks from 87 countries.

Mr. Phongthep said that the Thai government was concerned with reforming Thai education to suit world society and globalization, so it put an emphasis on school development based on religious principles, especially Buddhism. By so doing, students will learn civil responsibility and democratization in order to be able to understand problems in accordance with the Lord Buddha's principles of compassion, sympathy, gladness of another's good fortune and detachment. If Thai students understand these principles, society will be peaceful.


The rector of Maha Chulalongkorn Rajawitthayalai University, Phra Phrom Bandit, as the chair of the Association of World Visakha Pucha, said that the United Nations had recently certified the Association to be a special advisor for the UNESCAP because it was also working on peace-keeping. As a result, any statements made by the Association will also be submitted to the UNl.

MOE Joins Social Work with Business Sectors

(27-05-2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, chaired the opening and gave a special lecture for the academic seminar, "A Socially Enterprising University", on 17 May 2013 at the Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok.

The Minister of Education said that universities and academic institutions were mainly responsible for creating good human resources for society and for private and public organizations. Therefore, the government is asking them to promote national mobilization by creating new entrepreneurs, especially university students and new graduates, to strengthen social development with business companies.

In addition, academic institutions have to allow knowledgeable people in the  academic sphere, such as university teachers, scientists and academics, to help create modern innovations and to register their intellectual property as, by doing that, they will increase the value of the country's products so that more income can be used for national development.


The academic seminar, "A Socially Enterprising University", was a forum to encourage learning and sharing of experiences in social work, with universities in Thailand as  focal points to create human resources who understand  the importance of social development and environmental conservation in the country.

Meeting held to prepare for aging society in Thailand

(28-05-2013)

Ministry of Labour holds a meeting of concerned authorities to discuss preparation for and ways to address population aging in Thailand.

Ministry of Labour held a meeting of the ministry’s Taskforce on the Determination of Elder Persons Measures and the Monitoring of Elder Persons’ Rights, which was set up in according to Older Person Act B.E. 2013. The meeting, the first of its kind, was chaired by Mr. Peerapat Pornsirilertkit, Inspector-General of Ministry of Labour and chairperson of the taskforce.

Thailand became an aging society in 2005. It is expected that in the next 30 years, the number of elder persons will increase by 12.1 million, form 8.4 million to 20.5 million while the number of young and working-age people will decline.

This change in the population structure will affect the country’s economy. Growth in products and services will be limited due to less number of consumers. There will also be shortages of labour, while labour productivity will decrease.

In an aging society, a country will need to rely more upon working-age people. The country, therefore, will need good social protection system and ensure its people have enough saving for living after they are retired.

It has been found that most elder persons are not well educated and they mostly work in agricultural sector. They often face with poverty, health problem and insufficient saving for living after retirement.

In case of Thailand, the government gives elder persons old-age allowance. The allowance is calculated using ladder formula to increase protection for elder persons. The government is trying to bring elder persons back into work system and improve their skills so they could perform their work more effectively as well as to ensure they have good quality of lives.

To achieve all these, cooperation among concerned agencies from government and private sector such as Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Social Development and Social Security, Ministry of Finance is needed.

As for Ministry of Labour, it is drafting measures to promote employment opportunities. They concern employment promotion measure, legal measures (income tax reduction and extension of retirement age) and others (working environment improvement, skill training, promoting community employment, saving promotion, and promoting the use of elder persons’ knowledge).

MOL, THPF, PMAT jointly hold Toward Happy Workplace in ASEAN Economic Community for Executives Seminar

(21-05-2013)

Permanent Secretary for Labour presided over the opening of a seminar entitled Toward Happy Workplace in ASEAN Economic Community for Executives, aimed to help prepare Ministry of Labour to become a learning center to collects and spreads knowledge on happy workplace and Thai labour development in the lead up to the formation of ASEAN Community in late 2015. The seminar, which took place at Montien Hotel, was attended by executives, civil servants and officials from all Ministry of Labour’s agencies.

Mr. Poonsak Sethanandha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, said following the birth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after the signing of the declaration by its 10 members namely, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, the bloc is now moving toward a formation of its economic integration under which commodities, services and economic factors can move freely from one member to another.

Despite the prospect of the AEC, there could still be challenges, he said. Thailand, therefore, must be ready for management of human resources, influx of migrant workers, and brain-drain problem. In hiring workers, the country also must have options of highly-skilled workers in term of both quantity and quality.

Ministry of Labour, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) and the Personnel Management Association of Thailand (PMAT) jointly held the seminar entitled Toward Happy Workplace in ASEAN Economic Community for Executives for executives, civil servants and officials from all Ministry of Labour’s agencies. It was aimed to help prepare Ministry of Labour to become a learning center to collects and spreads knowledge on happy workplace and Thai labour development in the lead up to the formation of ASEAN Community in late 2015.

MOL revokes employment license of A&S business 1994

(20-05-2013)

Ministry of Labour has revoked an employment license of A&S business 1994 Ltd, a job placement firm, after the company failed to send job-seekers to work overseas as promised and charged job placement fee higher than what stated in the ministerial regulation. The revocation took effect on April 30, 2013.

From March-September 2011, A&S business 1994 Ltd agreed to send nine job-seekers to work in Israel, promising them an agricultural worker position and 4,500 shekel monthly income under a five year contract. The company charged some 30,000-220,000 baht job placement fee for each job-seeker or a total of 1,064,000 baht but failed to send them to that country. The rate is also higher than the limit determined by the ministerial regulation. The company also failed to issue applicant certificate to the job-seekers as required by Department Employment. The company had also been revoked its employment once for one year.

The Central Employment Registrar issued an order to revoke the employment license of the A&S business 1994 Ltd, effectively from April 30, 2013.

Ministry of Labour improves labour early warning system

(20-05-2013)

Ministry of Labour (MOL) holds a seminar on development of labour early warning system for 2012-2014 as it plans to improve the system database and labour early warning model for better forecast accuracy. The seminar helps improve analytical skills of MOL officials on labour economics and enables them to develop new econometric models for forecast of labour situation.

Mr. Poonsak Sethanandha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, said when opening the seminar on development of labour early warning system for 2012-2014 of Office of the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, that the project aims to improve forecast accuracy on labour trend and to develop new models to predict labour situations in longer term and in other dimensions such as in industrial sector and oversea markets.

Mr. Poonsak said the labour early warning system must be improved in parallel with labour early warning model which has been continually developed for over a year. The model was first developed under a research program and tested to make monthly and quarterly forecast on labour situation.

The ministry has continually worked to improve the system so it can better response to labour situation and deepen its understanding of the labour market. The ministry needs to speed up improving analytical skills of MOL officials on labour economics and enables them to develop new econometric models to forecast labour situation on their own and follow situations in each industry more closely.

The development project for labour early warning system for 2012-2014 has objectives to improve database of the system to suit with standard industrial classification for 2009, develop labour early warning model for better forecast accuracy, develop new labour early warning models which can predict labour situations in longer term and in other dimensions such as in industrial sector and oversea markets, improve the labour early warning system in parallel the development of labour early warning model and enhance analytical skills of MOL officials on labour economics and enables them to develop new econometric models for forecast of labour situation.

Ministry of Labour holds training to improve English skill of officials

(17-05-2013)

On May 17, 2013, Mr. Poonsak Sethanandha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, presided over a ceremony to launch a training programme to help improve English skill of officials at M2 de Bangkok Hotel in Sutthisan area. The programe was aimed to help enhance officials’ ability to perform labour services in the lead up to the formation of ASEAN Community in late 2015.

Mr. Poonsak said the training programme consists of two parts. The first part was implanted during January 22-23 for the first batch of participants and January 24-25 for second batch of participants. Today’s event is the second part of the programme, aimed at reviewing and evaluating progress of 90 officials who participated in the first part of the training programme. They are complaint service officials and 1506 hotline service officials from Ministry of Labour’s agencies.

At the event, there were practice session on fundamental knowledge about how to make answer and question properly, pair-up conversation practice, group practice on how to deal with questions, role play practice as information seeker and receptionist, and demonstration of group exercise by Mr. Pongtana Vanichkobchinda (Ph,D.) and his team.

Ministry of Labour expects the participants to get skills and experiences in modern English communication from the training so they can use them to perform their services as the formation of ASEAN Community is just around the corner. The ministry wants to see service receivers get maximum benefit for the labour services and good relations between service providers and receivers.

Mr. Poonsak told the participants to use their skills to help the ministry realise its objectives. He also told the event organisers and lecturers that event has boosted the participants’ interest and given them inspiration for adaption in preparation for the formation of ASEAN Community. They also gave cooperation in all the activities.

On the occasion, the Liberty English Institute gave certification to all the participants of the programme as evidence of their development in providing labour services and advices.