Govt rates three public organisations as very poor

THE STANDARDS of just three out of 35 public organisations fall in the “improvement needed” category, according to an Office of Public Sector Development Commission report, 

A source disclosed that another three have been listed as “outstanding” institutions and role models for management.

Fears that low rankings could mean some agencies being axed has given rise to public uproar.

The source identified the organisations needing improvement as the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute, Moral Centre, and Thailand Institute of Justice.

“The Office of Public Sector Development Commission has evaluated the performance of 35 public institutions in fiscal years 2013 and 2014,” the source said. 

 

Role models

It said the three graded “outstanding” were Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, Banphaeo Hospital, and the Healthcare Accreditation Institute.

“These three public organisations are role models in terms of work methods, mechanisms used, governance, and efficiency,” the source said, “There was no complaint about their management at all”.

It added the evaluation results were submitted to the Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday.

According to this source, the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) had been ranked in the “general category” alongside 28 other public institutes, offices, agencies and centres. Earlier this week, word spread that OKMD might be axed, together with agencies under its supervision – TK Park, the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC), TK Park, and Museum Siam.

The rumours caused uproar among people who had viewed these places as sources of inspiration. 

The general-category group included the Community Organisations Development Institute; Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency; the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment; Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre; International Institute for Trade and Development; Convention and Exhibition Bureau; Agricultural Research Development Agency; the Energy Fund Administration Institute; Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta); Software Industry Promotion Agency, the Support Arts and Craft International Centre of Thailand; the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand; Office of Knowledge Management and Development; Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency; Ordinary National Educational Test; Highland Research and Development Institute; Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology; Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation; Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office; Synchrotron Light Research Institute; Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute; National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand; Defence Technology Institute; The Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture Office; Healthcare Accreditation Institute; Film Archive; National Innovation Agency; Electronic Government Agency; and Electronic Transactions Development Agency.

Dasta deputy director-general Chuwit Mitrchob said his agency was established to work in areas where bureaucracy could not work efficiently or fast enough. 

“Dasta is not redundant,” he insisted amid speculation that some public organisations might face the axe soon if they failed to shape up or improve their performance.