CITY / SECONDARY EDUCATION

New schools, buildings sought

The Education Ministry is seeking cabinet approval for a plan to build five new secondary schools in Bangkok and to increase the number of school buildings in more than 50 educational establishments.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said the ministry is trying to find secondary school places for city students who have finished their primary education.

In the coming academic year, an extra 10,000 seats are needed to cater to demand in secondary schools in the capital.

The shortage of secondary school places is particularly serious in Bangkok education zone 2, which covers Klong Sam Wa, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang and Kannayao, and more schools must be built there, said the minister, adding that the ministry had just recently approved the opening of the Triam Udom Suksa Suwinthawong School in the zone.

While waiting for more school buildings, the ministry is trying to temporarily solve the shortage of secondary school places by lifting the cap on student numbers in the first year of secondary school classrooms to more than 50, he said.

Kasama Voravan na Ayudhya, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), said of five new secondary schools to be built, four will be in zone 2, and one in Bang Khunthian, which is in zone 3. They are expected to absorb up to 3,000 secondary school students next year, and help solve Bangkok's secondary school shortage problem for the next three to four years.

She said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has agreed to build more primary school buildings.

She said the BMA has sought approval for the construction of 59 new school buildings in 53 BMA schools with a budget of 1.29 billion baht.

Bangkok Post
Tuesday April 03, 2007