"Sports classrooms" pilot project launched in Thailand

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - Thailand’s Ministries of Education and Tourism and Sports have collaborated to open "sports classrooms" in three local schools as a pilot project in a bid to foster sports science and psychological knowledge among students. Education Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkura on Monday signed a cooperative agreement on the sports classrooms pilot project, aimed to promote the pursuit of excellence in sports among Thai youths. Besides, the project will help improve students' sporting skills so that they will be able to compete at international events. Initially, the authorities will open "football classrooms" for male students and "volleyball classrooms" for female ones, where the students will be trained by experienced coaches. The education minister told journalists that the pilot project, supported by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, will initially start at three local schools before expanding to others. The three selected schools include Sukhothai Wittayakom School in Sukhothai Province in the Lower Thai North, Sarakhampittayakom School in Maha Sarakham Province in the Thai Northeast and Kanjanapisekwittayalai Krabi School in Krabi Province in the Thai South. Meanwhile, the tourism and sports minister pointed out that the initiative will improve the quality of life of younger Thai generations and to promote the importance of sports among the public. According to the minister, each of the three selected schools will receive only 80 students for the sports classroom project, starting from the second semester of the 2016 academic year. (TNA)