Major restructuring results in “Department of Learning Encouragement”
PUBLISHED : 3 Mar 2023 at 07:00
The National Assembly of Thailand on November 29, 2022, voted in favour of the Learning Encouragement Act, marking the historic elevation of the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONIE) to become the “Department of Learning Encouragement” with legal status as a juristic person.
This development facilitates the organisation to achieve a more flexible operation and comprehensively cover education care for people of all groups and ages in line with the educational guidelines of the Ministry of Education that focus on providing people with coverage, equity and equality in educational opportunities.
Strong foundation
ONIE began with the status of the Division of Adult Education established in 1940 and was promoted to be the Department of Non-Formal Education in 1979. Later, in accordance with the National Education Act of 1999 and the restructuring of the Ministry of Education in 2003, the organisation became the Office of the Non-Formal Education under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education. As a result, its juristic person status was terminated. The organisation was continuously developed until it became the current Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education on March 4, 2008, with the primary task of administering curriculums according to the Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551 (2008).
Mr. Komkrit Chankajon, ONIE Deputy Secretary-General Acting Secretary-General, stated that, “Our organisation has been elevated to a department-level agency, embracing the original philosophy focusing on ‘learning’ with the belief that everyone can learn by themselves, learn how to solve their own problems according to their needs, that will lead to a happy life. This concept significantly differs from ‘education’ which focuses on the perspective from the curriculum organiser and is subject-centred.”
Vision for the future
Mr. Komkrit emphasised that the new status as a department will create changes for the long-term maximum benefit to Thai people. “As many of our leaners have to study while working, we turn to focus on our core of learning that puts the learners at the centre, not the subject, and focuses on applying knowledge to real situations in their daily life, such as living in the digital age and being a lifelong learner in the 21st century.”
“When the philosophy changes, all activities and operations will be modified accordingly. As such, this change is truly a reform for the long-term maximum benefit to all Thai people.”
Groundbreaking reform
As a new department, the operation will entail many organisational changes.
Firstly, the department will develop its own curriculum based on learners’ actual lives and situations. Learning activities will focus more on self-learning in line with the needs of each learner.
Secondly, the department will adjust the organisational structure of the agency to respond to new missions. It is committed to listening to opinions and suggestions from its own personnel as well as related persons and stakeholders from all regions.
Next is human resource adjustment and new personnel management in line with long-term expected achievements under the concept that, “Everyone must stay, and everyone must progress.” The organisational restructuring will cause no harm to anyone and no personnel will be left behind.
Lastly, an effective measurement and evaluation system is of crucial importance to ensure efficient transition to the Department of Learning Encouragement in the short, medium and long terms.
Seamless transition
Mr. Komkrit also emphasised that this upgrade will benefit learners outside the normal schooling system and people of all ages and will not affect the big picture of national education management.
“Although our new curriculum is designed with a different philosophy, we are still strict with the educational transfer system. We have a clear and appropriate transfer system to support learners who have to leave the normal schooling system and enable them to complete compulsory education with us. Most importantly, curriculum design still focuses on nurturing learners to be good citizens of the country, developing both intellect and mind, and fostering skills to earn a living and support themselves. We still adhere to the mission of our organisation to reduce educational disparities in Thai society.”
“The elevation from the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education to the Department of Learning Encouragement requires collaboration, flexibility and opinions from all parties involved, from our own personnel and stakeholders to teachers and learners. This change is a major reform for the greatest benefit to the Thai people in the long run. Despite a short time frame, we believe that our agency and our personnel are committed and determined to do everything successfully in accordance with the objective of the Learning Encouragement Act.”
Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education
Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education
Wang Chankasem, Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300
Tel. 0 2628 5065-72
