Coupons for kids to buy books eyed
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Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej yesterday floated the idea of giving children coupons to buy books that interested them.
He said he would consider if some of the ministry’s budget could be allocated to produce and distribute coupons to students to shop for what they wanted, as the books donated or given by authorities might not be what they wanted.
He was speaking while Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony of the 10th Bangkok International Book Fair and 40th National Book Fair that runs until April 8 under the theme “Read for Life” at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Suchart said this was a good chance for students to look for good books because there were more than 400 publishing companies. Some of them also offered more and more e-books.
To promote a lifelong reading habit, Suchart said he would study the possibility of waiving import duties on foreign books.
The coupon details were left for further discussion.
The Princess praised the organisers and other parties for trying to nurture a lifelong learning society in Thailand and presenting various media for people’s education and intellectual development, which would improve the quality of life while promoting awareness in society.
The event features an exhibition on the Princess’s books, including her latest translation of a Chinese book into Thai, titled “Mooban Lek Trakul Pao” (Small Village of Pao Family).
Worapan Lokitsataporn, president of the Publishers and Book-sellers Association of Thailand, said the association has organised the 24th Thor Fan Pan Nangseu Hai Nong project to give Bt400 coupons to underprivileged children to buy books on April 14.
It has also joined with the Basic Education Commission to present Bt2 million to some 100 flood-hit schools to buy books for their libraries on April 30.
