Bangkok--16 Jun--SET
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education, are to co-train more than 30,000 schools participating in SET’s ‘Making Sense of Money’ project. With an allocated budget of THB 80 million, the schools are to act as national models for education in personal finances.
The chairman of SET’s Capital Market Education Division, Mr. Punsak Vejanurug, stated that SET and Ministry of Education have been managing the ‘Making Sense of Money’ Project since 2002. Past activities have included producing textbooks and teachers’ manuals, and staging training courses, personal savings promotions and a quiz game. SET allocated about THB 50 million to the project during 2003 — 2005, and this year will give another THB 30 million enabling expansion to 30,000 schools nationally.
The ‘Model School’ Project will create a network of schools that can use the ‘Making Sense of Money’ studying materials competently. Training and personal finance promotions will be provided for teachers, students and parents. The strategy is that participating schools will act as models for others in the area, helping them to develop relevant educational activities.
The goal of Model School Project is to ideally develop a primary and a secondary school in each of Thailand’s 76 provinces over the next three years. There are 45 schools in the 20 provinces selected as pilots for this year.
“In each area, SET will hold seminars entitled “Understanding Personal Finance”, “Making Sense of Money” and “Young Entrepreneurs”. There will also be a curriculum development workshop to help teachers use the materials effectively,” Mr. Punsak said.
“SET will give each participating school a SET Corner, which will be equipped with over 100 textbooks and general literature on personal finance, together with e-learning facilities,” he continued.
“OBEC fully supports this project which will have sustainable benefits, enabling schools to create a greater understanding of personal finance among students, parents and the public. These children now have an opportunity to develop a crucial set of life skills, which will enhance their lives and benefit the nation,” OBEC Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Areerat Wattanasin noted.
The provinces for the pilot schools are: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakorn Pathom, Samut Prakarn, Samut Sakorn, Saraburi, Ayudhya, Chacherngsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Nakorn Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnaj Charoen, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Phuket, Songkhla, and Surat Thani.
More information on the SET’s Making Sense of Money Project is available at www.tsi-thailand.org , and from the Krapook Khao Newsletter, distributed to participating schools.
For more information, please contact the Corporate Communications Dept.:
Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 / Kulvida Jintakawong Tel: 0-2229-2037 /
Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049 / Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797