The Education Ministry has announced it will implement a new curriculum in schools nationwide by mid-2017, with subjects including history, civic duty and moral education.
Kamchorn Tatiyakawee, Education Ministry permanent-secretary, unveiled the move yesterday following a meeting with Education Minister Adm Narong Pipatanasai and ministry executives.
Mr Kamchorn said the ministry had conducted studies, collected data, and organised brainstorming sessions with various sectors to develop the curriculum, which will incorporate the three subjects to raise awareness of the identity of the Thai nation.
"We expect the new curriculum will be ready as a pilot programme at the beginning of 2017, before it is implemented by the second half of the year,'' he said.
The curriculum was the idea of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Mr Kamchorn said. It aims to foster knowledge and understanding about history and civic duty, and promote loyalty to and respect for the three major pillars of Thai society — the nation, religion, and the monarchy.
The ministry is also developing a curriculum for boy scouts and girl guides, which will teach them the importance of democracy and its principles at both primary and secondary education levels, Mr Kamchorn said.
The "sufficiency economy" philosophy will also be included in social studies at the basic education level.
Students will be encouraged to adopt the concept in their daily lives, Mr Kamchorn said.
At the meeting yesterday, Adm Narong also warned the Ministry's offices to steer clear of corrupt activities as Thailand has enacted a new anti-corruption law, Mr Kamchorn said.
The law extends a maximum penalty of capital punishment for government officers.