Narong sets literacy goal for students

Narong sets literacy goal for students

Education Minister Narong Pipatanasai has declared 2015 as the year of zero illiteracy among Thai students.

The ministry is aiming to improve the illiteracy rate after a recent survey by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) found about 26,000 Prathom 3 students nationwide are having difficulty reading and writing, Adm Narong said.

Narong: Problems in remote areas

The number of illiterate students was as high as 35,000. Most were migrant and hilltribe pupils in remote areas, he said.

"Illiteracy is a crucial obstacle for students to improve themselves and study at higher levels. Proficiency in reading, writing and understanding Thai is a key to basic education," he declared in a video conference to executives from all 225 educational service area offices.

"I am confident teachers will be able to cut the illiteracy rate to zero. But some migrant and hilltribe students might still have a problem with reading and writing as it is not their mother tongue," he said.

Obec secretary-general Kamol Rodklai said his agency would evaluate students' reading and writing skills two times a year.

For instance, Prathom 3 students will be required to read, understand and write basic words, covering at least 1,200 words, and be able to use Thai correctly, Mr Kamol said.

Educational service areas will work with schools to evaluate proficiency among students and identify problems in meeting the goal.

Learning materials would be developed and intensive courses offered to students with poor performance, he said.

"Literacy underpins students' academic development. Students can think, analyse and learn independently to acquire the 12 core values for Thais and 21st century skills. This declaration is necessary to help boost attentiveness in the sector,'' Mr Kamol said.

Students need skills in critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration and media literacy, he said.

"We want scores in the National Test and the Ordinary National Educational Test among Prathom 3 students studying Thai to increase 3%," he added.

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