The concept of basic education itself needs to be broadened beyond literacy and numeracy to include a wide range of skills and knowledge for living. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn highlighted:

... the need to meet basic learning needs... by emphasising such topics as occupational development, knowledge of health care, food preparation, child care,... nature and the environment.

President Moi expanded upon the theme:

We must increasingly look towards education to help solve such problems as unemployment, population growth, declining agricultural production, and the damage being caused to our environment.