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Published on February 20, 2008

Office of Basic Education Commission secretary-general Kasama Worawan na Ayutthaya yesterday said there were also urgent projects to be carried out before the next school semester beginning in May, including an increase in the per-head subsidy for students at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels.

The increase requires funding of Bt1.6 billion, which is expected to be approved. Another project is to increase Internet speed for 2,104 schools to 2 megabytes per second.

The 20,000 computers, worth about Bt900 million, are to be provided to 1,683 schools, 900 of which are classified as "dream schools" under a ministry self-development project.

The 100,000 bicycles are worth about Bt110 million and are set to benefit students from grade four to grade 12 in government schools in rural or remote areas.

Kasama said another ministry project to provide 1 million computer notebooks to students would be proceeded by consulting with the Information and Commu-nications Technology Mini-stry.

Another project is to provide scholarships to 1,000 students from grade six to grade nine in 11 selected schools in the three strife-torn southern provinces.

One special class for mentally handicapped children will also be opened in each province, starting next year. Special classes for gifted children will also be opened in schools ready to accommodate their capabilities.

The Nation