Bt2 billion for English teaching
The Cabinet yesterday approved a Bt2-billion budget for a large-scale project to provide intensive English teaching in both schools and tutorial classes.
The project is aimed at upgrading the standard of English competency among Thai people to an international level. Headed by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, the project will begin this year and run until 2010. The three target groups are high-school and university students - who are expected to improve their current skills by 50 per cent; students with special qualifications or talents who are expected to master advanced usage of English; and at least 60,000 members of the workforce. The Cabinet also approved a further Bt529 million for additional Mandarin teaching under the same period to ensure all 12th-graders underwent adequate and proper Chinese study. Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday approved Bt150 million in relief for those affected by flooding. Caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said the emergency fund would provide help to the many who had lost homes and possessions in the floods. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was concerned for the welfare of those in flood-hit areas, he said.
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