“That will be enough for me … You don’t need to remember me,” Dapong said in response to a question about what he wanted to be remembered for.

Suthichai Yoon, adviser to the Nation Multimedia Group’s editorial board, recently sat down with Dapong for an interview aired by the Timeline on Nation22 TV channel over the weekend.

The ministry has prepared six plans with 65 modules to address 33 educational problems in the country.

The six areas are curriculum revamp, teacher development, production of human resources based on the country’s needs, information and communications technology, structural overhaul for educational agencies, and educational assessment.

“I am doing my best,” the general said.

After decades serving in the Army, Dapong rose to the helm of the Education Ministry six months ago. If the next election takes place according to the roadmap, he will likely have 18 more months to steer the educational sector.

“Education reform must be completed within one year in terms of action plans, work plans and structural overhaul,” he said.

Dapong said he was determined to implement reform during his term because elected governments could be reluctant to do so out of concern that their support base might be affected.

Under his supervision, some results have already materialised in the curriculum arena.

More than 3,000 schools have slashed class hours so their students have more time for well-rounded development under a pilot project that kicked off in November.

At targeted schools, classes finish at 2pm, leaving two hours for extracurricular activities such as music and sports.

“Some activities are really impressive,” Dapong said, recounting good memories from his field trips to various schools.

For example, teachers from a Surin-based school took their students out to an ancient palace and assigned them duties as tour guides.

“In the process, students learn about languages,” he said.

Extra-classroom activities would also enhance students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

While Dapong has encouraged children to spend more time outside the classroom, he does not ignore the need for a solid academic foundation.

This minister, after all, is trying to revive the requirement for students to repeat a class if they fail it.

At present, failing students only need to take tutorial classes and the final exam again – and again – until they pass.

The scrapping of more stringent measures a few decades ago has in some ways spoiled students to the point that they see challenges as unbearable.

“If we keep spoiling children, they will never stand up to any challenge even after they grow up,” he said.

Dapong admitted that he used to go to cram schools as a kid to improve his chances of entering the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School.

“But in hindsight, I reckon that such tutorial services aggravate inequality. Poor children can’t afford such tutorials,” he said.

Better teaching and educational-performance assessment would help to an extent.

Tests should be strictly in line with a curriculum’s scope and be more open-ended rather than multiple choice.

“For teacher development, I am preparing to ask for Cabinet approval to provide 4,000 teaching positions for graduates from a five-year education programme,” he said.

As his plan seeks to assign teachers to their home provinces, it is expected to attract some highly capable people to the teaching profession.

The Information and Communications Technology Ministry’s mega-IT infrastructure project will also benefit students. “Every school will have Internet access,” he said.

The minister’s focus was on decentralisation for structural overhaul and efforts to ensure that the country’s educational services respond well to the country’s needs.

“We for example will place strong emphasis on enhancing vocational education quality,” he said.

Dapong does not see his military background as any disadvantage in his current job. “Because I wasn’t in the educational field before, I’m |ready to listen. I also have the courage to make decisions. Sometimes, I even use the military style or get a bit |dictatorial to get work done and achieve good goals.”