Thai primary students will return home tonight with a big batch of medals from an international maths competition.
The contest was held in Hong Kong this week.
Chinnaworn said the Thai's medals came through two categories, as a team and to individual contestants.
The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) fielded two Thai teams in the international contest, and another Thai team jumped in independently via their school, Anubarn Suteetorn.
In the team category, Sujessada Udomsrirungrueang from Rajavinit School in Bangkok, Warit Singha from Anubarn Nakhon Ratchasima, Sirapop Jitmaneesilp from Srinakharinwirot University's Prasarnmit Demonstration School in Bangkok, and Thanpitcha Ketchaimongkhon from Anubarn Suteetorn School in Nakhon Pathom each won a gold medal. They represented Thailand in Team A.
The independent team from Anubarn Suteetorn won honorary mention.
In the individual category, Sujessada, Warit, and Kongiat Tiprat from the Prasarnmit demonstration school each earned a silver medal.
Sirapop, Thanpitcha, Nattaphon Tham-archeep from Rajavinit School, and Nathanon Akraprap from Kasetsart University's demonstration school in Bangkok each won a bronze medal.
Three other bronze medallists came from Anubarn Suteetorn. They are Pattara Kittipongpat, Annop Tantayanont and Nanthathanat Madode.
"I would like to congratulate them all on their success. They have bolstered Thailand's reputation in the international arena," Chinnaworn said.
He said the whiz kids would return from Hong Kong to Thailand tonight via Thai Airways Flight TG 639. Their arrival time is 10.25pm.
Chinnaworn said Obec planned to send Thai students to more international maths competitions in South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia over the next two months.