Previously, there were rumours that the Science and Technology Ministry would be dissolved but Suvit said the ministry would instead be merged with the Higher Education Commission and other agencies such as the National Research Council of Thailand and Thailand Research Fund. In the meantime, the Education Ministry is preparing to split the Office of Higher Education Commission as a separate entity so that the country’s higher-educational institutes can deliver better results on facilitating the “Thailand 4.0” initiative. The National Science and Technology Development Agency, the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand and; Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency will be under the new ministry’s umbrella. In addition, research universities and other higher educational institutes will be supervised by the new ministry, which will also oversee nationwide campuses of Rajabhat University. Suvit said he would discuss with PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakul to set up a working group on merging the Science and Technology Ministry with the Office of Higher Education Commission and related agencies.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 20, 2018 18:00 UTC