Sukavich Rangsitpol ( ; born 5 December 1935) is a Thai education reformer, business executive, and politician. He served as deputy prime minister (1994, 1996–97) and minister of Thailand's education (1995–97).

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

Life and career

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. He started working as a sales representative for Caltex Oil Thailand in 1961, being promoted to sales supervisor, district manager, general sales manager, and general manager over the following decades. He finally served as chairman and managing director of that company during the early 1990s.

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, Rangsitpol joined the New Aspiration Party (NAP) and was appointed deputy prime minister in Chuan Leekpai's cabinet in October of the same year. Together with Chamlong Srimuang and transport minister Vichit Surapongchai, he formed a team to tackle Bangkok's traffic problems. The world's longest bridge (between 2000 -2010)  was an achievement of Rangsitpol, deputy prime minister of Chuan Leekpai Cabinet (1992-1995).

Rangsitpol was appointed minister of education in Banharn Silpa-archa's cabinet in July 1995.

Rangsitpol, as Minister of Education, 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.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, representing Bangkok's 13th constituency. After New Aspiration's electoral victory, Rangsitpol became a deputy prime minister in addition to his post as Minister of Education. Moreover, he served as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) 

Rangsitpol lost the deputy premiership in November 1997 when Chavalit was ousted by a no-confidence vote during the Asian financial crisis.

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 shortly after that. The New Aspiration Party was merged with the Thai Rak Thai Party. Mostly to join the Thai Rak Thai party (the governing party) with Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, except for Chalerm Yubamrung, who returned to be the Leader of the Mass Party Chingchai Mongkoltham decided to continue the New Aspiration Party and Lieutenant Colonel Thita Rangsitpol Manitkul, WRTA Member of the Parliament and Deputy Secretary of the party. Offset to the Democrats. (Opposition Party) remains the only MP moving from the opposition party government. During her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives. 

In 2005, he was again 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.

Thailand Education Reform 1995 
In 1995, the minister of education, Rangsitpol, launched a series of education reforms 1995 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.

Existing operational approaches have been revised and amended to mitigate or eliminate problems and enhance the quality of education until educational excellence is achieved in the year 2007.

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

 School reform - Efforts have been 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 have been reformed urgently and comprehensively in public and private schools. Educational administrators and personnel have been developed continuously.
 Curriculum reform - Curriculum and teaching-learning processes have been reformed urgently to raise academic quality of all types and levels.
 Administrative reform - Through devolution, 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 devolution, 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.

Therefore, Rangsitpol introduced School-based management (SBM) in 1997 during a reform to overcome a profound educational system crisis.

According to UNESCO, Thailand's education reform has led to the following results:

 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. 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.

World Bank report that after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, income in the northeast, the poorest part of Thailand, rose by 46 percent from 1998 to 2006. Nationwide, poverty fell from 21.3 to 11.3 percent.

Awards and recognition 
 1995 Thailand Education Reform
 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."
 1997 ACEID awards for excellence in education
 1998 Educational innovation and information

References

1935 births
Living people
Chevron Corporation people
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