Money wasted on rice scheme should have gone to education
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The Yingluck government - through its rice price-pledging scheme - has deprived the country of an opportunity to reform its education system.
An estimated Bt220 billion has been lost on this rice scheme alone. In a few years, the damage could possibly run up to Bt1 trillion, as the government is too scared of losing its popularity if its stops the scheme completely.
The rice in the government’s stockpile is also degrading day by day.
It would have been wiser if the government had doubled the budget of the Education Ministry when it first came to office.
The public would not have raised a hue and cry against spending more on education as much as against a foolhardy populist scheme.
Derek Bok, a renowned American educator, once said: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”.
Vint Chavala
Lamphun
