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Published on November 19, 2007

 The Education Minis-try is hoping to introduce a new management model to three of the country's best schools next year.

The schools are Suan Kularb Wittayalai, Triam Udom Suksa and Samsen Wittayalai.

"We have invited the executives of these schools for a discussion," Dr Somkiat Chobphol, the deputy secretary general of the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec), said.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said the new model, "School-Based Management", would give these executives a freer hand in running their schools.

"They can issue their own policies," he said.

Deputy Education Minister Varakorn Samkoses explained the schools would become like public organisations with the right to set their own guidelines about how to recruit their teaching staff and their students.

"They will be able to give higher pay to their teachers and they can set tuition rates by themselves," Varakorn said.

The Education Ministry's move is bolstered by the success of the Mahidol Wittayanusorn School. Established as a public organisation in 2000, the school is the country's first specialised science school. One of its main objectives is to fully develop the potential of exceptionally gifted and talented students.

According to Somkiat, this school receives a budget of Bt100 million a year. Its management is independent of the Education Ministry's policies. The school can hire teachers and students based on its own guidelines, which focuses on the excellence of scientific knowledge.

Currently, the number of students in each class of the Mahidol Wittayanusorn School is 24 as compared to around 50 at other secondary schools. Varakorn said the students at the Mahidol Wittayanusorn School were of a high quality and they would likely outperform students at the prestigious Triam Udom Suksa School in the near future.

Despite their reputation, prestigious state schools have a limited budget. For example, Suan Kularb Wittayalai School is given only Bt9 million a year yet shoulders expenses of Bt30 million.

Top education officials now believe the school-based management model should be the right solution to fully develop efficient schools - which will in turn benefit their students.

While Suan Kularb Wittayalai, Triam Udom Suksa and Samsen Wittayalai are being encouraged to trial the school-based model, Wijit believed more than 300 schools across the country could be ready for the concept as well.

Chularat Saengpassa

 The Nation