Education heads roll, PM Prayut enacts reshuffle

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: National council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has introduced a big shake-up at the Education Ministry in the push for education reform and greater efficiency.

Several top education officials, including the ministry’s permanent secretary, have been reshuffled.

With Article 44 giving him across-the-board power, Prayut signed an order to transfer several high-ranking education officials on Thursday.

The order will take effect as soon as it is published in the Royal Gazette.

Under the order, Education Ministry permanent secretary Suthasri Wongsamarn will be removed and appointed as secretary general of the Office of the Education Council. He will be replaced by Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, secretary-general of the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec).

Piniti Ratananukul, head of the Office of the Education Council, will become the new chief of Ohec.

Through the reshuffle, Office of the Private Education Commission secretary general Bundit Sriputtangul will swap posts with Education Ministry inspector general Adinan Pakbara.

In another move, Office of Basic Education Commission deputy secretary-general Rattana Sriherun will be made secretary-general of the Office of the Teacher Civil Service and Education Personnel Commission.

The PM also removed all board members of the Teachers Council, the Office of Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Education Personnel and the office’s business organization.

— Phuket Gazette Editors