Thailand Education System
The Thai education system
Access to education in Thailand has risen consistently over the past two decades. All Thai children are guaranteed an education under the 1999 Education Act, and children of other nationalities living in Thailand gained the same right in 2005. A 2009 decision increased free education from 12 to 15 years.
Admission to a school is through an entrance exam. On the completion of each level, students need to pass the NET (National Educational Test) to graduate. Children are required only to attend six years of elementary school and at least the first three years of high school. Those who graduate from the sixth year of high school are candidates for two decisive tests: O-NET (Ordinary National Educational Test).
Pre-school (which is optional), is offered from age three, in Thailand, with compulsory schooling at the primary level (Prathom Suksa) from the age of six. After primary school, children move onto secondary education (Mathayom Suksa), which is split into a lower and higher level. The lower level, which covers students aged to about 15, is compulsory. Schools in the Thai public system are generally open for all students, but some more prestigious schools select students based on entrance exams and can be fiercely competitive.
On the other hand, U.S. educators frequently use the terms K-12 education to refer to all primary and secondary education, from Kindergarten prior to the first year (or 1st grade) of formal schooling, through secondary graduation (12th Grade).
Primary School (Prathom Suksa)
From the age of six, it’s compulsory to attend primary school in Thailand. For primary age children, learning time can not exceed five hours a day. This stage of schooling is provided free of charge.
Primary school lasts for six grades, and the curriculum is broad, covering basic skills like Thai language and maths, social studies, physical education, and languages. Technology and some vocation skills may be covered, and English is taught from the first year of primary. Theoretically, children can be held back a grade if they fail the end of year exams, but in practice, this doesn’t happen often, as students can retake the tests or attend a summer school to catch up.
Secondary School (Mathayom Suksa)
Secondary education is six years long, but only the first three lower secondary years are mandatory. At the end of lower secondary education, students take exams that determine whether or not they can proceed to the higher secondary program. Teaching days get progressively longer, with lower secondary around six hours a day, and the higher secondary program running for at least six hours every day.
Entrance to the best schools at the secondary level, even within the public system, is competitive. Entrance exams are used, with the more prestigious secondary schools seen as offering a better chance of a university place later in life.
After completing the compulsory lower education program, students can also choose a vocational route, and attend a specialist school. As well as following core subjects, qualifications are offered in fields such as business studies or engineering.
Despite Thailand’s universal access to education and a 96.7 percent literacy rate, Thai students scored below the global average on PISA tests in 2014, ranking 35th out of 40 countries. Recent reports from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) also indicate that the country has fallen behind.
The future of education in Thailand may appear a bit rocky, but there is potential for improvement. With national attention on schools, and many families so passionate that they’ve come up with ways to combat the issue in their own homes, opportunities for students are bound to continue multiplying.
References
ONEC. (2000). Royal decree establishing the office for national education standards and quality assessment (public organization) B.E. 2543 (2000).Bangkok: Golden Point Co. Ltd.
ONEC. (2001). National Education Act B.E. 2542 (1999). Bangkok: Prig Wan Graphic Co, Ltd.
Sawin
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to read how the education in Thailand is so exactly like the one in Spain. The only differences I found was that our primary begins in first grade and ends in eighth grade. After the last grade you don’t have to continue if you don’t want to. If you do, you have a choice of higher education leading to a degree or technical school (trade school).
Thank you for sharing
Toni
I always wonder what would happen in the US if we adopted some of the practices in other countries. I work in a public school but just like in daycare, we have students who are dropped off at school at 6:45 am and are not picked up until 6 pm. That means they are in school slightly over 11 hours per day. Reading about Thailand, not even those that move on to pursue a higher education are in school that long.
ReplyDeleteI did research on the Ghana school system and it appears that their students also took the PISA, ranking last in 2015. I, by know means, have done extensive research on Thailand's reading program nor am I someone who reads data all the time, to analyze for others. I answered sample questions of the PISA and I am wondering if Thailand has such a high literacy rate how often are they required to write about what they read as a large portion of the sample test required me to write my answers after reading. Just a thought I have.
Susaye
Sawin, very interesting. I wish the U.S. would consider some of the practices that other countries have to offer in education, especially the free education (12-15 years) what a blessing for them. I also did a research on Finland educational system and they have very little standardized testing which is another practice the U.S. could look into.
ReplyDeleteCynthia