One computer for every 10 students

       The Education Ministry will use part of its Bt45.38 billion share of the government's Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand) scheme to provide schools one computer for every 10 students.
       "Currently, the ratio is one computer per 40 students on average," Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday.
       The ministry will spend Bt7.94 billion on computers, Internet access and E-teaching materials, while Bt5.46 billion will be aimed at upgrading school standards, for example, by improving the teacher-student ratio, he said during a television programme.
       The ministry will strive to ensure that all 32,000 schools across the country offer functioning libraries with e-books, a nice atmosphere and good librarians.
       Some Bt6.58 billion will go directly to the vocational-education sector for modernising infrastructure and improving human resources, while Bt6.98 billion has been promised for teacher development.
       The ministry's Educational Management Education Office will separately receive Bt2.96 billion for instilling children with Thai pride.
       Students will gain a sense of identity through the promotion of ethics, sufficiency economy, Thai language, the history of Thailand, Thai music, Thai arts, Thai sports, Thai culture and the constitutional monarchy.
       Educational support systems have been earmarked Bt1.33 billion.
       "We will have a Tutor Channel to ensure educational opportunities for all," Jurin said.
       Tutorial sessions will be broadcast every Saturday via Channel 11, many cable TV stations as well as the Vocational Education Commission's R-Radio station.
       "This means children in remote areas will have access to tutorials just like urban children," he said.
       The project to develop an information-technology network for educational development, or UniNet, will get Bt5.17 billion so distance-learning programmes will be more viable and practical.
       The ministry plans to start implementing all key projects under the Strong Thailand scheme this month, he added.
       Somkiat Chobphol, deputy secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission, said the scheme would devote Bt722 million to eradicating illiteracy among primary students within three years.
       A nationwide test showed that up to 4.18 per cent of third graders could not read and 5.81 per cent could not write.
       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government had already announced the promotion of reading as a national priority.
       "We are determined to encourage a love for reading because reading is a key skill for lifelong learning," he said.