1. Education in Thailand:
A Work in Progress
By K. D. Hueston

2. Education in Thailand Overview
Where Is Thailand?
Contrasting Cultures
Bangkok, Modern Thailand
Peopled with Differences
Educational History, Politics, Economics
Buddhism & Education
Private & International Schools
Thai K-12 Public Education
Problems with Public Education
Ministry of Education Mandates & Goals
Thailand: A Work in Progress
References
Other Cultural Resources
(above: National Geographic, 2014; photo by Mike McCook;
music throughout, Thai Traditional Music, n.d.)

3. Where Is Thailand? Thailand: Is located in Southeast Asia.
Sits on the Gulf of Thailand.
Borders Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Has 200,000 total square miles (is similar in size to Spain).
(Britannica Online, 2014)
(Facts on File, 2014)

4. Thailand: A Place of Contrasts
Once an agrarian society, since the 1960s, the Thai government has promoted industrialization.
Still, even most urban Thai consider their homes to be their villages. (Britannica Online)
Thailand:
Has a population of about 67 million, is both rural and urban:
38% of the labor force is agricultural;
13% is industrial; and
48% is in the service sector.
Produces tin, tungsten, rice, handmade textiles, and electronics.
Has hot tropical beaches, mountains, rain forests, fertile central plains, dry seasons, and monsoons.
Has a diverse population that includes native Thais, ethnic tribal groups, and multinational immigrants/refugees.
(Facts on File, 2014; CultureGrams, 2014)
(Phuket beach—National Geographic, photo by Narong Rattanaya; Lisu women and children—Britannica Online, photo by Hilarie Kavanagh; northern mountains and rain forests—Global Road Warrior)

5. Thailand Is Modernizing
Bangkok is Thailand’s capital and primary urban center with about 6 million residents.
Bangkok is one of the most important financial cities in Southeast Asia.
Foreign investment is a primary “factor in the rapid growth” of the Thai economy.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
(Britannica Online, 2014)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is implementing Free Trade economic unification plans that will greatly increase cooperation in the region and lead to further first world development.
(ASEAN, 2014)

6. Thailand: Peopled with Differences
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Reuters/Landov)
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, has a king and legislature. However, the military now controls the legislature.
No official religion:
However, Buddhists seek official recognition.
Official language: Thai
However, some tribal people resist.
Along with thousands of other monks accompanied by elephants, a Thai Buddhist monk marches in Bangkok. (Britannica Online, 2014; photo by Saeed Khan)
A young woman in traditional dance costume crosses the street in Bangkok while tanks roll through.
(Britannica Online, 2014)
(Britannica Online, 2014)

7. Education History, Politics, Economics
In 1887, King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) founded the first Thai Ministry of Education.
Since the 1960s, Thailand has tried to become a first world country, partly through universal education.
The Thai army controls political gatherings, television programming, most public information statements, and the Ministry of Education.
Universal education is key to economic development but Thai public schools are overcrowded and understaffed.
For the poor, Buddhist schools and for the rich, private schools, are options.
(Facts on File, 2014; Britannica Online, 2014; CultureGrams, 2014)
Students attend a
rural public school
in Thailand
(Global Road Warrior, 2014; photo by Hanumann)

8. Buddhism & Education
(Heather’s Animations, n.d.)
Theravadic Buddhism is well-respected in Thailand. Most boys participate in some Buddhist training.
Free K-12 education at Buddhist monasteries is available for orphaned
and poor boys.
In 2013, the first Buddhist boarding school for girls opened; Buddhist nuns run this free school for poor and orphaned girls.
(Purcell, 2013)
(Global Warrior, 2014)
(Global Road Warrior, 2014;
photo by Tevaprapas Makklay)

9. Private Education in Thailand
Because public schools are overcrowded and understaffed, many wealthy Thai and international parents place
their children in international or fee-based private schools.
(CultureGrams, 2014)
International schools are a subset of private schools. Over 3,000 private schools existed in Thailand in 2004.
As of 2014, there are about 90 international schools, with at least two thirds of these located near Bangkok; many use English as the primary language of instruction.
Private and international schools offer teachers better pay and better benefits than public schools.
(Pinyakong et al., 2007, p. 8)
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
(Top: Heather’s Animations, 2014)

10. Thai K-12 Public Education
Structure of Thai K-12
Educational System
Anubon Ages 3-5
(preschool/K)
Prathom Ages 6-11
(two levels) Grades 1-3
Grades 4-6
Matthayom Ages 12-17
(two levels, Lower Secondary
three years each) Upper Secondary
The Thai system has two semesters: Mid-May to September and October to March
School days: Monday to Friday
School hours: 8:45 am to 3:45 pm
Students are graded on a 4.0 scale in secondary school.
Thai public secondary school teachers must complete a bachelors degree from a government-sponsored teacher training institute (Ingersoll, 2007, p. 90)
(Table created by K.D. Hueston, 2014)
Adult literacy in Thailand is about 94%.
Public education is “free” for Grades K through 12 (but parents must pay about $10,000 a year for supplies).
Instruction is in Thai.
Overall, quality is an issue. Public schools have very large classes (up to 40 students in a class); teaching styles are “often lecture based, relying heavily on memorization.”
As of 2004, secondary and university education was 24% of the national budget.
(Global Road Warrior, 2014)
(CultureGrams, 2014)
(Pinyakong et al., 2007, p. 13)

11. Thai Ministry of Education 2008 Directive on Curriculum: Problems Cited
Per the Thai Ministry of Education, in 2008:
Public schools did not have consistent curricula.
Evaluations did not match standards.
Quality of learning was less than desirable.
Thai teachers taught by rote.
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008)

12. Goals set by the directive:
Thai Ministry of Education 2008 Directive on Curriculum:
Mandates & Goals
Eight core subjects were mandated in 2008: Thai language, mathematics, science, social science, health and physical education, arts and music, technology, and foreign languages.
Goals set by the directive:
“morality, preference for Thai-ness, skills in analytical and creative thinking, technological know-how, capacity for teamwork, and ability to live in peace and harmony in the world community”
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008, p. 2)
(Directive of the Ministry of Education, Thailand, 2008, p. 25)

13. Education in Thailand A Work in Progress
Despite the 2008 Ministry of Education directive,
problems remain in Thai public schools:
Use of rote memorization rather than student-centered learning;
Crowded classrooms; and
Disparities in quality between rural and urban schools.
Thailand’s public education system remains a work in progress.
(CultureGrams, 2014)

14. Education in Thailand References
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (2008). ASEAN economic community blueprint, PDF Retrieved September 27, 2014, from ASEAN.org.
Hanumann. (n.d.). Lab lair school children [Photograph]. In Global road warrior. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from
Heather's Animations. (n.d.). Retrieved animated lanterns October 2, 2014, from
and
Ingersoll, R. (Ed.). (2007). A comparative study of teacher preparation and qualifications in six nations. Consortium for Policy Research in
Education. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
Khan, S. (2014). A Thai Buddhist monk marches April 25 in Bangkok as part of a group of thousands of monks, accompanied by elephants,
demanding that Thailand’s new constitution recognize Buddhism as the national religion [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia.
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
Kavanagh, H. (n.d.). Lisu women and children on the veranda of a hut in northern Thailand [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia.
iso3ltr=THA&nid=62.1&cid=147&next_nid=62.2&parent=Education
media/92876/Lisu-women-and-children-on-the-veranda-of-a-hut.

15. Makklay, T. [n. d. ]. Monks at Theravada Buddha [Photograph]
Makklay, T. [n.d.]. Monks at Theravada Buddha [Photograph]. In Global road warrior. Retrieved September 30, 2014,
from
McCook, M. (n.d.). Reclining Buddha, Bangkok [Photograph]. Retrieved September 30, 2014,
from
Paolobon140. (n.d.). A view of the entertainment and shopping area of Siam Square and Pathumwan [Photograph]. In Global road warrior.
Retrieved October 1, 2014,
from
Pinyakong, K., Virasilp, P., & Soboon, U. (2007). Development of private secondary schools in Thailand. IIEP (UNESCO).
Retrieved September 29, 2014, from
Purcell, A. (2013). Buddhist school for girls in Thailand. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2014,
from
Rattanaya, N. (n.d.). Rawai Beach Pier, Phuket [Photograph]. Retrieved September 25, 2014
from .
Royal Palace—Reuters/Landov. (2006). King Bhumibol Adulyadej [Photograph]. In Britannica online encyclopedia. Retrieved
September 27, 2014 from
Thailand. (2014). In Britannica online encyclopedia. Retrieved September , from
Thailand. (2014). In CultureGrams (World ed.). Retrieved September , from
and
Thailand: At-A-Glance. (2014). In World geography & culture online. Facts On File, Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2014,
from

16. Thailand: Education. (n. d. ). In Global road warrior
Thailand: Education. (n.d.). In Global road warrior. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from
Thailand: Elevation. (2014). In World geography & culture online [Map]. Facts On File. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from
Thailand: International Schools. (n.d.). In Global road warrior. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from
Thailand Ministry of Education. (2008). Directive of the Ministry of Education, No. OBEC 293/2551. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from
Traditional Thai Music. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2014, from

17. Thailand Other Cultural Reflections
For examples of Traditional Thai music, go to:
For beautiful Thailand travel galleries at National Geographic’s website, go to:
nd-photos/