OrBorJor to hire more temporary teachers

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is to pay for more temporary teachers to be recuited in a bid to relieve the staffing crisis in the province’s schools.

Launching the organization’s annual report for May 14, 2004-May 14, 2005, OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thebabutr told reporters that the teacher shortage – a result of the government offering early retirement sweeteners to senior teachers – was a “problem”.

But recruiting temporary teachers is just one way the OrBorJor is attempting to drive up the standard of education, said K. Anchalee.

“I expect that every school will offer the same standard and quality of education, but our young people should be offered more choices and better opportunities,” she said.

K. Anchalee added that the development of four “electronic libraries”, announced earlier this year, should help educate residents of all ages.

She said education was just one of seven policy areas where the OrBorJor was working to create “Better Phuket Better Life”.

The other areas are tourism, improving quality of life, basic infrastructure, information technology, management of the environment and nature, and politics and management.

K. Anchalee reiterated her aim of establishing Phuket as a “World Class Destination”, adding that the OrBorJor is currently negotiating with the Treasury department to acquire land for the Tha Chat Chai gateway arrival point for tourists.

But she added that the key to keeping everyone happy was “sustainable tourism”.

In terms of improving the quality of life, K. Anchalee spoke of the OrBorJor‘s commitment to developing batik as a “one tambon one product” specialty, and the 11.25-million-baht budget allocated to help prepare Surakul stadium to host an international football competition.

” ‘Better Phuket Better Life’ is the clear policy of the OrBorJor,” she said. “Phuket is growing fast, and it is important that we preserve the province’s culture and ensure that people have a good quality of life.”

K. Anchalee said that in the area of infrastructure, the OrBorJor is working to solve the problems of flooding during the monsoon and water shortages in the dry season.

Acknowledging that there is room for improvement in the island’s basic infrastructure, she spoke of OrBorJor plans to expand the road network, improve public transport and carry out tsunami relief projects.

She said the OrBorJor‘s information technology policy is to use computers “as tools for improving education and employment”. She added, “We want Phuket to be a learning society.”

The OrBorJor‘s environmental and nature management policy is to encourage cooperation between the OrBorJor and residents to protect and enhance natural resources.

And as for the final policy, politics and management, K. Anchalee said, “‘Efficiency and transparency’ is the motto of the OrBorJor.”