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Thailand

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 5 months ago


Note: Many students from Thailand are Hmong. For more information on Hmong students please see the Laos Country Report.

 

National Overview: Thailand

Definition of Literacy -- age over 15 can read and write.

 

Written or Oral Language – Thailand has both a written and oral language

 

Literacy rate -- total: 92%, female: 90%, male: 95%

 

Overview of Education -- Even before United States and British missionaries introduced western education to Thailand in the 18th and 19th centuries, Thailand had a long tradition of Buddhist education. Education was conducted by Buddhist monks and was only instructed to boys and men. After World War II, the Thai government increased the emphasis on education in order to create a literate population that would be able to participate in elections. However, education still remained a privilege of the elite. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Thailand began to make education more accessible to the masses. These efforts stemmed from a desire to create a strong, career oriented population. Thailand continues to have on of the highest literacy rates in Asia.

 

Total expenditure on education -- 28.3% of total government expenditure, 5.3% of GDP.

 

Script/Alphabet used -- Thai is written in abugida script, which is derived from the Khmer alphabet.

 

Occupational distribution -- agriculture: 49%, industry: 14%, services: 37%.

 

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School Structure

Primary School:

  • Length: 6 years
  • Age level: 6 –12 years old

 

General Secondary School:

  • Length: 3 years
  • Age level: 12 -15 years old

Preparatory Secondary School:

  • Length: 3 years
  • Age level: 15-18 years old

 

Higher Education:

students may complete a four-year program to receive a bachelor’s degree.

 

 

 

 

 

Public or private schools and compulsory or optional -- there is public compulsory education for nine years.

 

School Attendance % -- nearly 100% of the population attends at least primary school.

 

Percent Education level achieved -- primary: 97%, secondary: 81%, higher education: 38%.

 

Post-Secondary Opportunities -- there are 16 public universities and 26 private universities in Thailand. Many students who can afford to do so study abroad.

 

Pupil to teacher ratio -- 21:1.

 

Teacher Qualifications -- teachers attend a special training college for teachers.

 

Languages in School -- public schools are taught in Thai, but private schools are often taught in both Thai and English. The educational elite usually speaks English.

 

Method of instruction and Subjects/Curriculum -- Schools are moving away from traditional lecture to more active learning. Standard subjects are taught. In the upper secondary school students may choose between vocational or academic subjects.

 

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Culture of Classroom

Physical Environment -- there are both urban and rural schools in Thailand, but there are more opportunities in the cities.

 

Culture of classroom including discipline – classrooms are generally stricter than American classrooms. Students are encouraged to be very studious.

 

Gender roles in classroom -- there are no formal distinctions between males and females in the classroom. However, dominant societal views on gender roles do play a role.

 

Parent involvement/Parent Role in Education -- parents help their children with their schoolwork and push them to always excel in their studies.

 

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Access to Education

Educational barriers -- there is a large disparity between urban and rural schools, making it difficult for rural children to receive a quality education.

 

Socio-political influences -- career skills are highly valued in Thailand and the curriculum reflects this. To ensure that more students receive career education several open college, which admit students free of charge, have been established.

 

Progress -- the Thai government is working to decrease the difference between urban and rural schools. It is also working to make school more uniform and relevant to Thai society.

 

Note: Many students from Thailand are Hmong. For more information on Hmong students please see the Laos Country Report.

 

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Bibliography

 

“Education and the Arts.” U.S. Library of Congress. www.countrystudies.us/thailand/59.htm.

 

“Thailand’s Education Policy.” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand. www.mfa.go.th/web/17.php. July 4, 2005

 

“Thai Language.” Wikipedia. www.wikipedia.org/Thailanguage. March 28, 2006

 

“The Education System.” Thai Royal Institute. http://www.magma.ca/~thaiott/edsystem.htm.

 

The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/th.html. January 10, 2006.

 

Tran, Thinh (Hubbs Center Student). Interview. February 2006.

 

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

http://www.uis.unesco.org/profiles/EN/EDU/countryProfile_en.aspx?code=7640. March, 2002.

 

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Last Revised

02 November 2006

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