Phuket to be lab for English experiment

PHUKET: On a visit to Phuket’s schools yesterday, Education Minister Suwit Khunkitti announced that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants to see Thais, particularly those in Phuket, speaking English as well as Singaporeans do. Phuket will be the first province to receive support in the government’s policy to improve English skills across the country, K. Suwit said. “We want to develop Phuket into an international city and a cyber port,” he said. “Phuket also has a lot of investment potential, especially from foreign investors who are interested in investing in Phuket businesses,” he added. The minister met with officials from the Department of Non-formal Education, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and Phuket schools to discuss arranging English curriculums for students and other Thais.