Population Policy

The Fifth National Economic and Social Development Plan 
(1982-1986). Part V, Chapter 2, p.181-182.

Date:     1982-1986

Source:     Office of the Prime Minister, National Economic and Social Development Board, Bangkok, Thailand

Subject:     population policy, population education, IEC

3.2.3  Population education

1. Promote the teaching of population education as an independent subject at all educational level or as part of the regular curricula to meet the needs of each age group.
   
   

2. Create a better understanding of population education by organizing, at least annually a seminar programme for education administrators at the policy-making level. In addition, continuous training programmes will also be arranged for all levels and groups of government and private rural development workers, volunteers and school teachers.
   
   

3. Encourage community workers and volunteers who have had training in the field to disseminate population education to community members in every village and "tambon".
   
   

4. Disseminate population education by organizing radio and television programmes, exhibitions and distributing newsletter as well as encouraging both government and private agencies involved in the dissemination of information to incorporate population education in their programmes.
   
   

5. Promote the development of an appropriate curriculum for population education by requesting regional education offices and non-formal education centres to produce books, journals and learning kits to be distributed to schools, libraries or local centres. At least 15,000 kits on population education will be distributed to village volunteers, community and private organization workers for use in training the general public.
   
   

6. Support research studies and evaluation so that the findings can be applied to further the development of population education.
   
   

7. Assign responsibility to the National Commission on Population Education for implementing programmes which accord with stipulated policies and plans. The Commission shall also serve as the centre for coordination, collection of data and for providing services and disseminate information on population education. Adequate funding and staffing must be provided to ensure the effective operations of the Commission.

3.2.4  Information, education and communication aspects of population activities

1. Establish a Coordinating Committee for Information, Education and Communication for Population Activities to serve as the centre for coordinating the activities of both the government and private agencies, and also for monitoring and evaluating their performance in accordance with the established policies
   
   

2. Encourage agencies responsible for formulating national population policy and planning to organize a national seminar for representatives of relevant government and private agencies, in order to outline a master plan for the implementation and coordination of projects which are concerned with information, education and communications.
   
   

3. Provide additional financial resources to those agencies responsible for disseminating information and providing education on population activities in high fertility areas and to those areas with a low family planning acceptor rate.
   
   

4. Request the Ministry of Public Health and relevant government agencies to allocate more resources to private associations involved in carrying out family planning activities so that they will have the opportunity to assist as much as possible in disseminating and providing, education and communication services on population activities.
   
   

5. Encourage government and private agencies which have not yet undertaken action, to integrate the information, education and communication of population activities into their work programmes.
   
   

6. Encourage relevant educational institutions to organize training programmes for their staff who are responsible for information, education and communication services applicable for population activities and to develop the curricula in this field so that it can be integrated into the regular course of study.
   
   

7. Organize seminars for members of the mass media, public relations units of private business firms, government agencies and private organizations to explore means for promoting closer cooperation in the provision of information, education and communication services on population activities.
   
   

8. Train leading figures in folk entertainment to integrate information, education and communication services on population activities into their programmes.
   
   

9. Encourage educational institutions and relevant agencies to carry out studies and research in order to develop appropriate techniques for implementing information, education and communication services on population activities.

To summarize, activities in family planning will play a major role in successfully implementing the Fifth Plan. Related improvements such as those noted earlier, are necessary to foster and encourage a more effective master plan for curbing the growth of Thailand population. Annual operation plans for both government and private sectors defining domestic work programmes and areas of international cooperation, particularly among ASEAN countries will also be developed.