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Published on February 9, 2008

"Instead of spending money on computers, why doesn't the government use this budget to hire teachers for schools that have a serious shortage of teaching staff?" Wallop Tangkananurak asked.

He sat as a member of the National Legislative Assembly, which ended its function after the newly elected government came in to office.

"In educational problems, the key is the quality of teachers," Wallop said.

He called on the new government to evaluate the impacts of the populist policies launched by the Thaksin Shinawatra-led administration before reintroducing the same measures.

"If you are going to revive the old policies, please learn from the past and don't repeat the mistakes," Wallop said.

Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat has already hinted he is going to revive many projects first launched when Thaksin was in power.

"If you are going to grant scholarships for rural students to study overseas, please also make sure they are not given to children and grandchildren of some local influential people," Wallop added.

Deputy Education Min-ister Boonlue Prasertsopha yesterday said representatives of all parties would be involved in the process to procure computers for schools to prevent concern about any alleged irregularities.

Boonlue said all six coalition parties were now drafting policies that would be announced to Parliament on February 18.

"The government will place emphasis on education," Boonlue said.

He added that he and Somchai gathered from reports by Education Ministry permanent-secretary Jaruayporn Thoranin that teachers' debts were also a major problem the new government was planning to tackle.

"Next week we shall hear reports from the Basic Education Commission," Boonlue said.

The Nation