Thailand's Prime Minister's reform plan seen as too ambitious

SCHEME WILL BOOST EDUCATION, STEM GRAFT

• Published: 2/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced his Thailand Reform Plan, aimed at improving quality of life for Thais, ridding the country of corruption and creating good governance nationwide.

Political observers have welcomed the plan in principle, but warn that it may be too ambitious. They warn of obstacles if state officials fail to cooperate.

Mr Abhisit yesterday said the plan would cover four major areas of development _ enhancing economic equity, expanding social welfare, promoting access to education, and improving the judicial system.

The national reform blueprint was based on months of data-gathering and brainstorming sessions held since the government announced it was working on a reconciliation scheme in the aftermath of the red shirt protests in April and May last year, the premier said.

The ultimate goal was to improve Thais' quality of life, he said.

The reform will seek to ensure good health for children.

Breastfeeding will also be promoted, as this is key to improving child nutrition, said Mr Abhisit, adding that only one in four children in Thailand are breastfed.

The government aims to open preschool facilities in all tambons and ensure all children have access to them.

Of more than 7,000 tambons nationwide, 481 still do not have a child development centre, the prime minister said.

In education reform, the government wants to help children study in the formal education system.

As many as 1.7 million children are not in formal education, said Mr Abhisit.

These children would end up facing difficulties as adults in finding work and escaping poverty, he added.

Children with disabilities will be given priority, said Mr Abhisit.

The government will also look into the incidence of school drop-outs.

Each year, about 46,000 students aged between 10 and 18 drop out of education, he said, adding that two thirds of that number quit permanently.

For people of working age, the government plans to set up a new body to implement measures to improve their quality of life and cut their cost of living.

Details about how the government will help the workforce _ and in particular informal labourers _ will be announced next Sunday.

The government says these policies will put billions of baht into ordinary people's pockets through the promotion of land ownership, reductions in the cost of living, a welfare scheme for labourers, and anti-corruption measures. It also includes low-interest loans and cheap health insurance schemes for motorcycle taxi and taxi drivers, among others.

Mr Abhisit said the national reform scheme will also tackle corruption and flaws in the judicial system.

Social activists said the reform blueprint would have a better chance of improving quality of life if authorities working the measures implement them fully and straightforwardly.

"The prime minister must put pressure on authorities to take the plan seriously,"said former Bangkok senator Wallop Tangkhananurak. "Officials who refuse to carry out the measures should be disciplined."

Mr Wallop said he believes the plan stands to benefit children and their parents.

He said the government promised to provide all children with quality schools and competent teachers, but doubts if these goals will be met.

Former Bangkok senator Montree Sinthavichai, secretary-general of the Children Protection Foundation, said the national reform scheme should not be regarded as a gift to Thais. The government was merely doing its job, he said.

"On top of all else, the government must make society more equitable. If there is equitability, we're certain all social problems can be solved soon," said Mr Montree.