Education textbooks to get royal update

The Education Ministry is amending textbooks on the royal institution to reflect the accession to the throne of King Rama X.

Permanent secretary for education Chaipreuk Sereerak said yesterday the ministry is in the process of updating textbooks on the subject across all levels of education.

The adjustment would centre on adding information on the accession of His Majesty the King and the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, he said.

A boy braves the sun as he holds a framed picture of His Majesty above his head.

Mr Chaipreuk was speaking after a discussion with agencies, under the supervision of the ministry, including the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, the Office of the Higher Education Commission, the Office of the Private Education Commission and the Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education.

He said content related to the royal institution must be updated to keep up with the country's changing situation and the new reign, adding he has instructed all agencies to review the content of textbooks under their supervision to see what details must be altered.

The alterations will be made in two phases: during the remainder of this year's semester and the next academic year.

Flysheets with updated information will be inserted into existing textbooks that will be used during the next semester, and new textbooks with detailed updates will be printed and prepared for the upcoming academic year.

"For basic and vocational education, changes will be reflected in social, religious and cultural studies. For higher education, books used in the faculties of social science and history will also be updated," he said.

Mr Chaipreuk also suggested educational institutions check the accuracy of all textbooks before buying them from publishers.

He said textbooks distributed under the government's 15-year free education policy are now being published.