Wichit Srisa-an

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]

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

Srisa-an was appointed Minister of Education in the military-appointed government that followed the 2006 coup. As Education Minister, he has 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.

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

On 19 September 2006, the Thai military overthrew the elected government in a coup. The junta appointed Surayud Chulanont as Prime Minister and Wichit Srisa-an as Education Minister. 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. 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.
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