Four schools in the province match the criteria set by the government: Baan Naithon, Baan Kok Wat Mai, Koh Naka, and Koh Lone. The last two are on islands off Phuket.
Yesterday the heads of the four schools met with education office officials to discuss options.
Sasitorn Horboot, Policy Analysis Officer with the Bureau of Policy and Planning, said, “No small school in Phuket will close down because Phuket, as an island, is considered a rural area. So the small school will be developed instead.
She added, “We did discuss the option of some kids in small schools being sent to bigger schools nearby. For example in grades 4 and 5 at Naithon School there are only eight children. They might be sent to another school nearby but this is still being discussed.”
Before any decisions are made public hearings will be held with parents of students in the four schools invited to give their opinions.
If parents do not agree to send their children to other schools then other options are available, for example using TV-based distance learning.
The first hearing is due to be held this afternoon at Baan Naithon School.
The plan to close the 6,000 schools has been widely criticised. The government argues that the quality of teaching in these schools is poor, something that teachers vehemently dispute. But a recent Suan Dusit poll showed 60 per cent of respondents thought it a bad idea.
Although the government plans to buy 1,000 minivans to transport students to schools further away, many parents worry that their household budgets will take a knock from increased transport costs.
The Education Ministry has also floated the idea of expanding the closures to all schools with fewer than 120 students, of which there are almost 15,000 across the country.
Just what will happen to teachers from the small schools that are closed is not yet clear.