Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket push for local control of schools
Administrators of many local schools in two northeastern provinces have submitted a letter to the Education Ministry asking that control of their schools be transferred to local administrative bodies under the long-delayed education reform plan.
Speaking with Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an on Wednesday to submit the letter, Sophon Rattana, chairman of the Federation of Teachers in Government High Schools, said the transfer of power to the local bodies would ensure greater quality of education for Thai youths. A number of schools in Si Sa Ket and Khon Kaen had earlier filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court against the ministry for its delay in handing over authority to run government high schools to the local bodies. The court turned down the petition, saying the complainants must remind the ministry 90 days in advance before submitting the petition. Sophon said the 90-day period would end in November and schools in both provinces may file a petition against the ministry then. Sophon gave a list of three people who might be petitioned: Wijit himself, the permanent secretary, and the secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission. Wijit said he was busy with handling regular spending plans and would look into the matter over the transfer in late November. He added that the Surayud administration, albeit an interim government, supported the transfer of power as part of the overall decentralisation scheme.
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