TH-SEC EDUC QUALITY IMPROV

The original SEQI was designed as a first stage investment in improving the quality of secondary instruction in science and mathematics, curriculum areas of importance in building the competitiveness of the Thai labour force. The project supports the improvement of teacher education in 17 campuses of the Rajabhat Institute (RIs) in these subjects through faculty development and the establishment of modern science laboratories and faculty research.The Office of the National Primary Education Commission (ONPEC) and the Department of General Education (DGE) components were initiated at the request of the MOF in early 2002 after the cancellation of a portion of the original SEQI loan amount. ONPEC and DGE were allocated $5.6 million and $11.8 million, respectively, to support student learning outcomes in science, mathematics and English in lower and upper secondary schools. This is in line with the Government.s effort to provide quality education and expand compulsory education to 9 years.The project DO was slightly modified to support the English language program in schools when ONPEC and DEG became part of the project in early 2002.