Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand is not ready to decentralise decision-making power in education as the country lacks quality educational personnel.
Gen Prayut said yesterday it was not the time to decentralise the Thai education system as there are not enough good teachers and no solutions to the problem in sight.
He spoke yesterday morning at a seminar at the Ministry of Education, where he presided over the opening ceremony of an education function.
The two-day event features exhibitions, seminars and presentations on ideas to improve the quality of education for both students and teachers.
The seminar highlight was a presentation by Gen Prayut entitled "Thailand Moves Forward: New Dimensions of the Thai Educational System".
The system may need to be reorganised, said the premier. Staff and administrators of all outlets, ranging from private schools to universities, need to work closely together with state institutes, he said.
He ordered the Education Ministry to work on satellite-based communication for distance education, to provide access to students in remote areas.
Not only would it address the issue of the lack of teachers, but it would also reduce tuition costs for students, he said.
Gen Prayut admitted he is concerned over the country's lack of quality personnel in all fields, as the Asean Economic Community will soon be launched.
Thailand needs to intensify its efforts to improve staff capacity, not just in education but also in medicine, engineering and business, he said.
The Education Ministry should produce quality teachers so students learn skills relevant to Thailand's development, he said.
He urged Thai children to read more and engage in critical thinking activities such as problem-solving and decision-making to build skills in those areas.
"Television, social media and cell phones interfere with studying and doing homework," he said.