BANGKOK, 29 October 2014 – Before chairing a meeting with heads of ministries today, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stressed the importance of English proficiency for Thais, ahead of Thailand’s entry into the ASEAN Economic Community next year.
The premier chaired a meeting with ministry chiefs today at the Ministry of Education. Ahead of the meeting, General Prayut visited an educational exhibition held by the ministry on the development of education in the Deep South and the country’s preparations for the AEC integration.
The premier noted that the Education Ministry is tasked with studying the languages of neighboring countries in a bid to further enhance the skills of Thai workforce. Teachers are also required to integrate Asean issues into their classes.
He also expressed concerns over the impact the southern unrest has on local educational development. Over the years, hundreds of teachers and students have been targeted in attacks carried out by insurgents. Schools have been damaged and a dramatic decrease in the number of teachers in the area has been reported.
