Provinces rush to comply with govt’s sweeping education order

“We will push for the efficient implementation of policies to reduce class hours and to focus teachers’ attention on the classroom, among other things,” he said.
On Monday, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued instructions to dissolve area-based educational committees to be replaced by provincial education committees. In addition, the order established the Education Reform Steering Committee (ERSC) to supervise educational agencies across the country.
The ERSC chair is Education Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan, while governors will head the provincial committees.
Karoon yesterday downplayed concerns that backlogs in the workload would accumulate because provincial governors were already busy with other duties.
“These committees should be established within two weeks,” he said, “The education minister has also explained clearly that where necessary, ad hoc panels can be set up to facilitate the work of the provincial education committees”.
He also assured that Obec would prepare information on the recruitment of assistant teachers and about an increase in teachers’ salaries for the provincial education committees to consider.
“This way, the committees will be able to make decisions as soon as they are established,” he said.