Photos • Biography • Facebook • Twitter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Wijit Srisa-arn)

Wichit Srisa-an
วิจิตร ศรีสอ้าน
Wichit Srisa-an in 2007
Minister of Education
In office
9 October 2006 – 6 February 2008
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Preceded by Chaturon Chaisang
Succeeded by Somchai Wongsawat
Personal details
Born(1934-12-22)22 December 1934
Chachoengsao, Thailand
Died30 September 2023(2023-09-30) (aged 88)
Political party Democrat Party
SpouseSukon Srisa-arn
Alma mater Chulalongkorn University
ProfessionPolitician

Wichit Srisa-an ( Thai: วิจิตร ศรีสอ้าน, 22 December 1934 – 30 September 2023) was a Thai academic, education administrator, and politician. He founded three universities ( Sukhothai Thammathirat, Suranaree and Walailak), and served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs from 1987 to 1994 and as Minister of Education from 2006 to 2008. [1]

Democrat MP

Wichit was a Democrat MP following the 2001 general election which the Thai Rak Thai party won in a landslide. He became head of the Democrat Party’s committee on educational issues. [2]

Minister of Education

Srisa-an was appointed Minister of Education in the military-appointed government that followed the 2006 coup. As Education Minister, he cancelled several key Thai Rak Thai-government policies like Thailand's participation in the One Laptop Per Child program and planned to install broadband internet connections in all Thai schools.

Key policies Wichit enacted included:

  • The cancellation of Thailand's participation in the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program. [3]
  • The cancellation of plans to install personal computers and broadband internet connections in every public and secondary school in Thailand. [3]
  • Forcing 430 prestigious schools across the country to accept half of their students from the local neighborhood. All other schools would be required to accept all applicants; if applicants exceeded seats, a random draw would choose which applicants would be accepted. [4]

Due to escalating violence in the South, all schools in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces were shut down indefinitely from 27 November 2006. Over 1,000 schools were closed. [5] [6]

Death

Wichit Srisa-an died on 30 September 2023, at the age of 88. [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wong, Tat Meng (29 November 2008). "DOCTOR OF LETTERS, honoris causa CITATION: PROFESSOR DR WICHIT SRISA-AN" (PDF). Wawasan Open University. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. ^ The Nation, Opposition slams PM's U-turn, 10 October 2001
  3. ^ a b Bangkok Post, Education Ministry axes 3 schemes, 28 November 2006
  4. ^ The Nation, Famous schools ordered to take in half of new students from neighbourhood, 14 November 2006
  5. ^ The Nation, All schools in restive south to be closed, 27 November 2006
  6. ^ The Nation, Over 1,000 schools closed, 28 November 2006
  7. ^ "สิ้น 'วิจิตร ศรีสอ้าน' อดีตรมว.ศึกษาธิการ บิดาแห่งสหกิจศึกษาไทย". Matichon. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Wichit_Srisa-an&oldid=1187815005"