Education 

Thailand’s Education Policy

            In lieu of the 1997 Constitution and the 1999 Education Act, the Government is determined to launch educational reforms with the aim of developing Thailand into a knowledge-based society, which is a pre-requisite for becoming a knowledge-based economy. The reforms will provide the Thai public with equal access to life-long education and training, enabling them to acquire knowledge and capital to generate income and to eventually pull the country out of the economic and social crisis. Towards this end, the Government will abide by the principle that "Education Builds the Nation, Empowers the Individual and Generates Employment" as follows:
 
(1) Accelerate efforts to establish an educational system and network that is of high quality and truly beneficial to the general public.
 
(2) Emphasize quality, efficiency and justice in the management of public education of all categories and at all levels.
 
(3) Develop an education technology system and information network to increase and disperse the opportunities for education for all Thais in both urban and rural areas.
 
(4) Establish community colleges, particularly in provinces where institutions of higher education are still needed.
 
(5) Promote and encourage all parties concerned to assume collective responsibilities in managing education and training. The Government will assume the responsibility of establishing the system and policies, providing quality controls, mobilizing resources, and ensuring the preparedness of local government organizations, the private sector, and family networks. The Government is also committed to providing public education to the disabled, the handicapped and the under-privileged.
 
(6) Promote the role of Thailand as an educational hub for the neighbouring countries.
 
(7) Promote the integration of education, religion, culture and sports into the educational and training curriculum offered to children and youth.
 
(8) Reform the learning process through the "learner-centered approach", self-education and life-long education by emphasizing the power of creativity, encouraging a love for reading, and providing sufficient community-based libraries, learning centers and educational mediums for public use.
 
(9) Ensure that "teaching" becomes a dignified, highly respected and trusted profession. Develop high-quality teachers and educators who live up to basic ethical requirements.
 
(10) Improve the educational curriculum to ensure that children and youth are disciplined, hard working and competent.
 
(11) Provide the opportunity for those who have completed compulsory education (grade 9) and basic education (grade 12), together with the unemployed and the elderly, to be able to undergo vocational training in at least one profession, supporting them to become self-employed.
 
(12) Reform and improve the quality of vocational training, upgrading the curriculum of vocational schools so that they can confer bachelor's degrees. Such reforms are undertaken in light of the increasing demand for vocational training in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. Vocational education should also encourage on-the-job training by students.
 
 At present, the structure of the Thai education system is composed of three years of pre-primary education, six years of primary education, three years of lower-secondary education, and three years of upper-secondary education – in the fields of both general and vocational education.  Currently according to UNDP, the literacy rate is 93 per cent.
                                                                                                         Update 4 July 2005
 
Related links:
 
- Ministry of Education http://www.moe.go.th/English