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The Education Ministry is seeking an extra Bt30 billion to finance its planned mega-projects, which include enhancing teacher efficiency, upgrading schools and developing an information-technology system.

Permanent secretary Chinapat Phumirat yesterday said the projects had been agreed at a meeting with the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission.

The programme will focus on training more teachers - particularly in "shortage" areas such as maths and science - for the primary and secondary levels.

Meanwhile, school buildings that are at least 30 years old will need further investment for repair and maintenance.

On vocational education, the plan is to upgrade state-owned institutions with more educational equipment. In addition, Chinapat said, universities would be improved with a view to turning Thailand into an education hub in Southeast Asia.