BANGKOK– The Ministry of Education moved to reassure parents regarding its policy to reduce class hours.
After meeting with relevant agencies, Education Minister Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan affirmed that the class hour reduction scheme would sufficiently equip students for academic success.
According to Gen Dapong, the National Institute of Educational Testing Service has been instructed to issue tests that suit the new curriculum. The Office of the Basic Education Commission has also been ordered to support schools that still need improvement.
Schools participating in the class hour reduction scheme are to report their evaluations of the results. The ministry plans to expand the program to another 15,000 schools in 2016.
Gen Dapong said he was awaiting the results of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) of students being taught under the new curricula. He asked parents not to be overly concerned, saying he was confident that the program would be beneficial.
