She succeeds Phornipha Limpaphayom, caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said yesterday.

Kasama was previously Education Ministry permanent secretary. That role will be taken by deputy permanent secretary Jaruayporn Thoranin, while Fiscal Policy Office director Naris Chaiyasoot will succeed Higher Education Commission secretary-general Phawit Thongroj, who retired this year, Chaturon said.

He said that while the C-11 grade reshuffle had been ratified, the Cabinet was unable to approve C-10 changes at all 20 ministries as these had yet to be seen by the PM.

Of the Education Ministry's five C-11 civil servants, secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission is considered the most senior because the office is central to the ministry. Its purview includes all elementary and secondary schools and almost 700,000 teachers and personnel.

Meanwhile, Naris promised to do his best as secretary-general at the Higher Education Commission. He takes up the new post on October 1.

As a former Thammasat University rector he understood the commission could not order universities about but could seek their cooperation.

Naris dismissed criticism of his appointment and asserted he would be able to work with university rectors. He would speak soon with all university presidents.

Many feared his lack of education experience would hold him back. But he embraced the criticism and said it would help him improve.

He admitted he had spoken "a little" with Chaturon during the World University Presidents' Summit last month.

Naris believed his profile and experience matched what Chaturon needed, which was reform of the commission's finances.

In spite of being away from university administration for two years Naris said he was a parent of children set to sit university-entrance exams. He knew the controversy the exam system had caused and would do his best to solve it.

University Presidents' Council chairman Pratya Vesarach called for educators to give Naris support.

Pratya urged Naris to tackle the admissions system. The public and universities had high expectations for education reform, and this work must proceed with determination. If Naris could advance education reforms all would welcome this.

Sompong Jitradap, an education lecturer at Chulalongkorn, said Naris had been a dark horse for the Higher Education post. While his name had been mentioned, educators knew little about his vision or achievements. He was a quiet man.

Sompong recommended Naris clarify education reforms to ensure all involved were on the same page.

He must also set out his priorities in solving problems with student loans, admissions and dangerous student-initiation activities.

But Kasama needed help to solve teaching and curriculum crises.