Minister discusses trilingual education

PHUKET TOWN: Education Minister Pongpol Adireksarn visited Phuket Technical College on Friday to discuss the relevance of both vocational education and trilingual (Thai-English-Chinese) programs to Phuket schools. “We talked about the importance of vocational education,” he said. “The Ministry would like to adapt the subjects in each institute to be in line with the major businesses in their areas.” K. Pongpol explained that with Phuket having so many hotels and resorts, it is necessary for vocational students to learn engineering, for example, because it is related to the tourist industries in the province. He added that the fishing industry is also interested in becoming involved with vocational training in Phuket. Chian Srirueang, director of the Phuket Educational Office, told the Gazette that his staff are cooperating with many schools in Phuket, including Satree Phuket, Phuket Wittayalai and Chalermprakiat schools, to launch trilingual education. “We plan to launch a Chinese-language program at high-school level next year,” K. Chian said. “This will complement the existing Chinese curriculum at Phuket Thai Hua primary school.” Teachers of Chinese may come from the Phuket Chinese Hokkien Association or may be graduate students of Chinese from the Prince of Songkhla University. Parents and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization will share the costs of the program. K. Chian said that the Minister also felt that Phuket should begin programs for languages other than English and Chinese in order to reflect both the range of nationalities visiting the island and its international business partners.