Sukavich Rangsitpol

Sukavich Rangsitpol (Thai: สุขวิช รังสิตพล Sukkhawit Rangsitphon; born 5 December 1935) is a Thai education reformer, and politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister (1994, 1996–97) and Minister of Education (1995–97).

In 1995, as minister of education, Rangsitpol laid out his plans for educational reform in Thailand. The goal of education reform is to realize the potential of Thai people to develop themselves for the better quality of life and to develop the nation for peaceful co-existence in the world community.The reform was considered a landmark movement after nearly 100 years of education under the previous system.

Rangsitpol completed a bachelor's degree in political science at Thammasat University in 1960 and the Management Development Program of the Asian Institute of Management, Manila, in 1976, Management Program for Executive, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1985 and DistinguishedSenior Executive Program, Harvard University in 1991

He was chairman and managing director of Caltex Oil Thailand during the early 1990s before became a politician.

He also was the eighth President of Political Science Association of Thammsat University .and he was the 9th President of Thammasat University Associationbetween 1989-1992 He also received Honorable Doctor of Philosophy from Ramkhamhaeng Universityand Mahamakut Buddhist University.

Rangsitpol became a Senator in 1987, National Legislative Assembly in 1991, and a Senator of the Thai Senate in 1992.

Between 1993 and 1994, he was the governor of the Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (ETA).

In 1994, while he was the Director of Mass Transit Authority of Thailand, his achievement was The master plan of Bangkok Metropolitan Mass Transit (1994/2537).

In 1995, Rangsitpol joined the New Aspiration Party (NAP) and was appointed deputy prime minister in Chuan Leekpai's cabinet in October of the same year. The world's longest bridge (between 2000-2010) was an achievement of Rangsitpol, deputy prime minister of the Chuan Leekpai Cabinet (1992-1995).

Foreign investors have regained confidence in Thai markets following his new position as deputy prime minister.The world's longest bridge (between 2000-2010) was an achievement of Rangsitpol, deputy prime minister of the Chuan Leekpai Cabinet (1992-1995).At that time Thailand already had already had two failed projects Lavalin Skytrain and Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System. One of his election platforms was to get a mass transit system in Bangkok by 2000. Foreign investment was set to increase if he remained in office for two years. Thailand's top diplomat in Hong Kong said. Unfortunately, It was not meant to be.

He served as minister of education in Banharn Silpa-archa's cabinet in July 1995, he also launched a series of education reforms in 1995. The aim was to enhance the quality of education from 1995 to achieve educational excellence by 2007.

In 1995 as the minister of education, Rangsitpol, launched a series of education reforms with the stated goal of helping the Thai people to develop themselves for a better quality of life and to develop the nation for a peaceful co-existence in the global community.

Since December 1995, activities have been conducted in four main areas:

• School reform - Efforts were stepped up to standardize the quality of education at all levels and types of schools and educational institutions. Educational coverage has been expanded.
• Teacher reform - Teacher training and recruitment were reformed in public and private schools. Educational administrators and personnel have been developed.
• Curriculum reform - Curriculum and teaching-learning processes have been reformed to raise academic quality at all levels.
• Administrative reform - Educational institutions have been empowered to make administrative decisions and offer appropriate educational services consistent with the local lifestyle and conditions. Provincial organizations have been strengthened to facilitate this, while private participation of the family and community has been promoted and supported.

He implemented the School-based Management (SBM) policy in 1997 to overcome a profound educational system crisis.

• The government provides free 12 years of education for all children. Eighth Thailand's National Social and Economic Development Plan was also written to support the implementation of an education reform program. This program was later added to the 1997 Constitution of Thailand and gave access to all citizens.

• The educational budget increased from 133 billion baht in 1996 to 163 billion baht in 1997 (22.5% increase)

• Since 1996, first-grade students have been taught English as a second or foreign language and computer literacy.

• The Thai government approved professional advancement from teacher level 6 to level 7 without having to submit academic work for consideration.

World Bank report that after the 1997 Asian financial crisis Income in the northeast, the poorest part of Thailand, has risen by 46 percent from 1998 to 2001 due to Education For All. Nationwide poverty fell from 21.3 to 11.3 percent.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, representing Bangkok's 13th constituency. After New Aspiration's electoral victory, He became a deputy prime minister and Minister of Education. The Member of the Constitutional Drafting Council was elected by the National Assembly (Thailand) on 26 December 1996, after 1996 Thai general election.

The 1997 constitution of Thailand was the achievement of him as deputy prime minister and education minister of Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Cabinet (November 1996- November 1997). The Prime Minister resigned after 1997 Asian financial crisis.

The constitution of Thailand enacted on 11 October 1997 to replace the 1991 Constitution, and was widely hailed as a landmark in Thai democratic constitutional reform as well as his 1995 education reform.

The 1997 constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by a popularly elected Constitutional Drafting Assembly, hence was popularly called the "People's Constitution". The 1997 constitution created a bicameral legislature. For the first time in Thai history, both houses were directly elected. Many human rights are explicitly acknowledged in the text, and measures were established to increase the stability of elected governments.

There are List of massacres in Thailand before and after the "People's Constitution" and it is remained the only one with out any violence.Moreover, he served as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)

After the election in 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra, the Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, became prime minister. The New Aspiration Party joined the government . Shortlyafter that New Aspiration Party was merged with the Thai Rak Thai Party.

He joined the Thai Rak Thai party (governing party) with Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Chalerm Yubamrung returned to be the Leader of the Mass Party Chingchai Mongkoltham and decided to continue the New Aspiration Party. While Lieutenant Colonel Thita Rangsitpol Manitkul WRTA join the opposition party and became Deputy Secretary of the Democrat party.Colonel Thita Rangsitpol Manitku remains the only MP moving from the opposition party government during her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives.

He was re-elected as a representative of the TRT party list. As one of 111 executive members of the TRT, he was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d'état. He expressed no wish to return to politics after the ban expired.

1. 1995 Thailand Education Reform
2. 1996 "During his trip to the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol was conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education by the Philippine Normal University. His will to reform education and strong leadership in educational management were highly commended."
3. 1997 ACEID awards for excellence in education
4. 1998 Educational innovation and information