Education in Thailand

The education system in Thailand has three stages and is provided mainly by the Thai Ministry of Education. In the Thai constitution 12 years are free learning in school guaranteed, with 9 years of compulsory education are provided.

The twelve years of schooling is divided into six years of primary school and six years of secondary schooling, which in turn is divided into two three-year phases. In front of the primary school years, a pre- kindergarten education of about two to three years is offered in many places. In addition to these types of schools also usually paid independent schools, which make a significant contribution to the educational infrastructure, as well as vocational schools exist.

The control and management of public and private universities rests with the University Ministry.

  • 5.1 Dual Training
  • 5.2 student numbers
  • 6.1 access
  • 6.2 Training programs
  • 9.1 infrastructure
  • 9.2 administration
  • 9.3 budget
  • 9.4 research

Education System in Thailand

In the context of education, there are four phases:

  • Prathom 1-3 ( Age: 6-8 ), compulsory education
  • Prathom 4-6 (ages 9-11 ), compulsory education
  • Matthayom 1-3 ( Age: 12 to 14), compulsory education
  • Matthayom 4-6 (Age: 15 to 17), divided into an academic and a vocational track

Students who choose the academic branch, set their education usually continued at the university. Vocational schools offer programs that prepare students for work or for further study.

Access to Matthayom 4-6 via the successful passing of an examination. After each phase, the students have the national training test (NET, National Education Test) exist in order to proceed to the next stage can. After Matthayom 6, students can participate in two tests: the ordinary national training test (o- NET, Ordinary National Educational Test) and Advanced National Education Test ( A- NET, Advanced National Educational Test).

Public schools are run by the Thai government. The private school sector consists of for-profit private schools and non- contributory profit-oriented schools, which are usually run by charities. So, for example, directs the Archdiocese Bangkok alone 43 more primary and secondary schools. Schools on the administrative levels Muban (village) and tambon ( community) typically offer at kindergarten ( anubaan ) and primary school, while unit schools until the age of 14 years and a separate secondary schools for 11 in the towns of the district - will be offered to 17 -year-old.

Because of the monetary situation rural schools are far less well equipped than the schools in the cities and also the standard of education is low. Therefore, many secondary school students take a daily Directions of 60 km or more in purchase to attend urban schools can.

School year

The school year in Thailand is divided into two semesters. For primary and secondary schools, the school year begins around May 15 and ends in March of the following year. Between the semesters are two-to three-week holiday in September. The long school free time in the summer ( in Thailand in March, April, May ) corresponds to the hot season and the annual water festival ( Songkran ) in mid-April, the Thai New Year. Schools comply with all public and Buddhist holidays; international schools usually close over the Christmas holidays until the New Year.

School uniforms

The wearing of school uniforms is compulsory for all students and most of the staff and teachers.

Students

Boys typically wear white shirts with shorter arms open collar and knee-length dark blue, brown or black trousers and long stockings and brown or black sneakers. Girls wear a white blouse with a bow tie hanging knee - long dark blue or black skirts, short white socks and black loafers. After 4 Matthayom the blouse and the fly is replaced by a light blue shirt with an open collar. Often the name of the student as well as the abbreviation of the school are sewn on the shirt or blouse.

In kindergarten the children wear uniforms consisting of white camisole. For the boys are red shorts and red for the girls skidding provision. In all Thai schools Thursday is typically the Scout day. Then beige Scout uniforms and dark green of the girls leader costumes are worn as a dress or a combination of the boy. To this end, one usually wearing yellow scarves. Some schools vary the colors a little.

The uniforms of university students are in the country: long black pants and white long-sleeved shirts for men, white blouses and pleated skirts or smooth for women. From the third year of study, men wear a dark tie.

Employees and teachers

In the lower ranks of public employees to wear uniforms in the military style. At private schools, the staff and teachers are asked to wear discreet attractive uniforms, while there is no dress code at universities. Here sufficient office even clothing.

The curriculum of primary education consists of eight subjects:

  • Thai
  • Mathematics
  • Natural sciences
  • Social Studies
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Art and Music
  • Technology
  • Foreign languages

As part of the One Child, One tablet policy of the government of Yingluck Shinawatra all first-graders in public schools are equipped with tablet computers using the Android operating system since the fall of 2012. From Matthayom 4, students may occupy one or two electives. Most Popular today are the natural sciences and mathematics. In addition, other foreign languages ​​and deepening of social studies are offered.

Vocational training

The Commission for Professional Teaching currently runs 404 vocational schools and colleague, of which 21 are in Bangkok. About one million students attend vocational schools in the country that are aligned with the German model of dual training.

The technical and professional training starts from Matthayom 4, when the students are divided into either the professional or academic branch. Currently, learn about 60 % in the academic branch and 40 % in the vocational stream. The government is making attempts to reach an equilibrium number of students.

The technical and professional education is offered in three levels:

Vocational training is also provided by private institutions.

Dual Training

The active participation of the private sector is critical to the success of the dual vocational training. In 1995, the Department of Vocational Education (Department of Vocational Education and Training ) according to the German model, the dual training in the VET sector a. The students learn both the theoretical foundations of their discipline as well as the practical implications in private enterprises.

Student numbers

The Thai Commission for Vocational Training (Vocational Educational Commission ) has for the year 2005, the following figures:

  • Technical College 290 058
  • Industrial and Community College 137 377
  • Business and Tourism College 3480
  • Commerce Colleges 16,266
  • College of Arts and Crafts and goldsmiths 2739
  • Polytechnic College 36 304
  • College of Agriculture and Technology 34 914
  • College of Industry and Shipbuilding 2391
  • Fisheries College 1510
  • Centers for Agricultural Engineering 806
  • Private vocational schools forming 340,000

Tertiary education

The public and private universities in Thailand are under the supervision of University Ministry. Between about 2001 and 2006 the number of universities in the country increased dramatically since the government under Thaksin Shinawatra renamed many public institutions in a somewhat controversial step in universities.

In the Times Higher Education Supplement ranked the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on the 46th place for social science and on the 60th for biomedicine. The Commission on Higher Education awarded in September 2006, the award "excellent" at three universities in the country:

  • Chulalongkorn University
  • Chiang Mai University
  • Mahidol University

In more than half of the provinces there are Rajabhat Universities, formerly Rajabhat Institutes, which provided traditional for the training of teachers.

An overview of the universities in the country offers the list of universities in Thailand.

Access

At the end of secondary school students must complete the central university admission system ( CUAS, Central University Admission System); it consists of 50% from the results of the O -NET and A -NET tests. the other half is derived from the average grade of the Matthayom 4 Since 2001, many changes and experiments on state-wide authorization system for the universities were conducted, but has not yet found all accepted solution. After the victory of Phak Palang Prachachon in December 2008 and the return to democracy changes were announced to the system again. These consist introduced in 2009 General Aptitude Test in English with reading, writing, analytical thinking, problem solving and English language.

Currently ( 2009) surveys the universities about 70 % of the students on their own directly, while the remaining 30 % is distributed from the national access system.

Training programs

The Thai university system is based in the U.S.. There are bachelor's and master 's degree programs and postgraduate programs.

Most bachelor's degree programs require four years studying at full presence. Exceptions include pharmacy and architecture, which require five years, and the doctor of dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine, which require six years. The Master programs of one or two years. Finally, the production of a thesis or a final exam is required. After the master's degree, students can apply for a two-to five-year doktorales program. It consists of courses, research and the successful making of the dissertation.

International Schools

As an international school are as defined by the Thai government " All educational institutions which, unlike the Ministry of Education to work for an international curriculum or after a self-organized curriculum, during the teaching and learning is used a foreign language, and the students regardless of their origin and nationality are allowed, but not opposed to the ethics and stability of Thailand ".

The curriculum must be examined and approved by the Ministry of Education. Learning the Thai language and culture is a must for every learning level and each student. The Ministry of Education writes yet another front:

  • School location
  • Size of the area
  • Number of students according to the dimensions of the classrooms
  • Installation of sanitary facilities

The administration and the Rector / Director must be Thai nationals.

Teacher training

The education is provided either at universities (controlled by the Ministry of University Affairs ) ( controlled by the Department of Teacher Education in the Ministry of Education) or by Teachers College instead. The training programs are nowadays mostly student-centered and many universities offer demonstration schools with primary and secondary education on where to teach members of the university or education teacher.

Organization of the education system in Thailand

Infrastructure

Practically all villages ( Muban ) entertain an elementary school, most communities ( tambon ) in turn provide schools for grades 1-9 available and all districts ( amphoe ) offer schools up to secondary ( matthayom 1-6). Many counties also have professional schools for pupils from 15

Since public schools are not sufficient to provide all students, provide private schools - which are monitored by the government - an important additional component of the educational infrastructure in Thailand Represents the level of private schools is often higher than that of public schools. Expensive and exclusive private schools, mostly on an international basis, provide an exceptionally good education, and most of the graduates go their Curriculum at renowned international universities on.

Charities also provide for the basic needs of education with low training costs. The level is relatively high. Some of the inexpensive private schools are mainly conducted for profit, to gain access to government funding and less to offer a good education. They must be distinguished from public schools in terms of building, resources, competencies znd class size hardly.

At rural schools often leads to absenteeism among students but also among teachers, due to family responsibilities or because of field work. Some schools close during the times is planted and harvested in the rice.

Management

The structure of the management in the Thai education system is very complex and leads to multiple responsibilities of different bodies in the many ministries and departments that are responsible for the training and preparation of the guidelines. Since 1980, the responsibility for the primary level of general education is no longer with the Interior Ministry, but the Ministry of Education. The training of teachers is controlled and monitored by both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of University Affairs.

Budget

Thailand is from about 27 % of its gross domestic product on education. Most of the money comes from the state budget, but also bear the provinces and other local authorities at the moment. The Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the OECF help with loans and technical assistance in the further development of the Thai education system.

Research

The beginnings of educational research in Thailand dates back to 1955, when the International Institute for Child Study was established in Bangkok, the Behavioural Science Research Institute is now called, and both basic and applied research is carried out. In the 1960s, the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission began, a division of the Office of the Prime Minister, with research projects related to training situation in the country. Successor of this first approach led to the initiative of the education reform in Thailand during the years 1999 to 2002. Nowadays educational research is largely run by the universities, especially faculties of pedagogy.

The National Library of Thailand and most other university libraries are networked and accessible via the Internet.

History of the education system in Thailand

Thailand, or under its old name Siam, is a monarchy, which is constitutional since the overthrow of King Prajadhipok in 1932. However, the king is traditionally revered almost like a god. He is at the same time are also protectors of the main religion of the country, of Theravada Buddhism. In contrast to all other Asian countries between the Middle East and China, Thailand was never a direct colony of a European power. Since the end of the 19th century found and finds a long-lasting modernization and opening process of the country instead of having virtually all spheres of life of the people, including the formation detected.

The education system in Thailand has a long development. In ancient times only the Buddhist monks were responsible for the education, by teaching the children in the temple premises. In the 19th century the institutions of the king took over gradually the training, and today Thailand has a modern and functioning education system, which is intended to lead its citizens to quality of life and to sustainable development.

The history of the Thai education system can be divided into four periods:

  • Vormodernisierung (before 1870 )
  • First phase of modernization (1870-1932)
  • Second phase of modernization after the creation of a constitutional monarchy (1932-1978)
  • Third phase of modernization of the democratic society and national development (since 1978)

Vormodernisierung

In ancient times, the objectives of the absolute rulers were mainly in securing national integrity and create a stable order in the country. This may explain why long time discipline and order, obedience to superiors and other soldierly " virtues" in Thai society played a major role.

Agriculture was not only a way of life, a way of life that shaped the basis of traditions, beliefs and everyday life and shapes. The close relationships in small rural communities, together with the deep-rooted Buddhist faith meant that attention was more focused on spiritual and moral values ​​than on other important aspects of education.

In the phase before modernization, there were three social institutions that were responsible for the formation: the family ( baan ), the temple ( wat ) and the Royal Palace ( wang ). Most boys were sent to school. The family cared for the informalle education, mostly focused on agricultural issues and social aspects. The temple was teaching boys in the areas of Buddhism and language education. The palace took over the training of young government officials and soldiers. Girls were formed predominantly in the family, where they should be educated to good housewives. Housework, social skills and professional knowledge were the main topics.

During the time of the kingdom of Sukhothai (1238-1378) the royal house covered with his ratchabandit, the royal higher education, the educational needs of their own family, while the temple were responsible for the common people. Under King Narai the Great (1656-1688) which was created chindamani of Phra Horathibodi, which is considered the first textbook of the Thai language and writing, and probably can be seen as a counterweight to the growing influence of French Jesuits, who were active in mission under King Narai Siam. After the violent death of King Narai the contacts with the West were largely interrupted. It was not until the mid-19th century was initiated by the English and French explorers and merchants, a new exchange.

After about 1860, under King Mongkut of Siam was more involved in overseas trade, especially with Europe. The influence of the West became more and more palpable, even through the growing stranglehold of the country by the colonial powers, England in the West ( Burma) and the south ( Malaya ) and France in the East ( Cambodia and Laos). It was recognized that the knowledge of Western languages ​​was necessary and hired foreign teachers to such as Anna Leonowens.

An impression of a somewhat different conception of discipline and order in the Thai school in the country a hundred years ago gives Ernest Young:

" The school opens at nine. The boys arrive in between ten and eleven, and the headmaster puts in his appearance When He Has finished his breakfast. The only part of the time unwritten -table did is punctually kept is the time for closing. "

" School starts at nine clock. The boys are between ten and eleven, and the school teacher will appear when he has finished his breakfast. The only point of the unwritten teaching hours, which is adhered to on time, is the school day. "

First phase of modernization

With the beginning of the reign of King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) the training was seen as a means of creating national security and for the modernization of the country. An oriented to the west education system was gradually introduced. The first school opened in 1871 in the royal palace, to form the sons of the king, the princes and higher officials. The aim of the king, it was to provide equal opportunities for his own children and the children of the poorest in the country.

Compulsory education was introduced by a law of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI. ) 1921. Between 1898 and 1921, there were four reforms of the Thai education system. Priority was initially the training of new elites who could contribute in a modernized management. In addition to the ethical training, the new elites had to also get basic knowledge in science and technology in order to understand not only the modernization, but if necessary, be able to drive. They had foreign languages, mostly English, but other languages ​​to master, but at the same time uphold the Thai culture. Patriotism and loyalty to the royal house was a basic requirement. To make the common people in the modern education system partake of that time, Chulalongkorn sought the temple to be included in the education system and its use as a traditional educational platform. This failed for many reasons.

King Vajiravudh (Rama VI. ) Recognized the necessity of compulsory education, which should provide pupils with basic knowledge and ethical education, along with the qualities of a good citizen, and the ability to supply themselves by their own labor itself. But he also recognized hazards that could arise due to the westernization of the traditional culture of the Siamese and tried this, to be offset by strengthening of national sentiment. To this end, he built a military school as a model school, which should take into account " good citizens " who were loyal to the royal family and were in good physical condition. This was accompanied by the establishment of the Boy Scouts being which plays a role in Thailand today.

In his book on the principles of official practice saith the king of 10 virtues of a good citizen:

  • Competence
  • Endurance
  • Wisdom
  • Knowledge of appropriate practices and proper behavior
  • Duty
  • Honesty
  • Knowledge of human behavior
  • Flexibility
  • Ability to take care of herself
  • Loyalty to the nation, religion and monarchy.

The first phase of modernization is characterized by the creation of a formal secular curriculum of schools that were located outside the temple. The influence of the West, mainly from England ( God, King and Fatherland), also led to an increasing number of students studying outside of Siam. 1916/17 was the first university in the country, Chulalongkorn University, was founded.

Second phase of modernization (1932-1978)

The third period in the history of the Thai education system ranges from 1932 to about 1978. 1932 was the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in the country, which since the days of the kingdoms of Sukhothai ( founded in 1238 ) and Ayutthaya (founded in 1351 ) in the area of ​​present-day Thailand the power had held. The crash was not final, as 14 years ago in the German Reich, but after tough negotiations led to a Constitutional monarchy with the king as the representative of the State without affecting the daily business of government - and thus also on the education policy.

The new government pursued a policy of standardization of training, with the old values ​​of loyalty to the nation, society, family, and held up towards themselves were. After the accession to the United Nations in 1946, Thailand has benefited in many ways from their plans and projects. The first national development plan for education in 1951 brought important changes to the education system in Thailand. Here is the first attempt was made to make the objectives of education in the country course and merge. Beginning of the sixties was the Office for National Education Planning, which touched down a plan, in which the students came to the preservation of the national heritage, creating good citizens for democracy and the strengthening of national identity to the fore. The national development and workforce training was emphasized for reasons of social and economic needs of the country.

Between 1954 and 1977 resulted in a gradually inflated curriculum that was easily affordable for students and teaching ends any more. Pupils were taught were taught in a more theoretical basis. They knew about the rightness or wrongness of their actions, but not their consequences or outcomes. Nevertheless, initiated four principles the contents of the training plan: the values ​​of the heart education, health ( physical education ), the humanities and vocational training.

Modern development of the education system in Thailand

The National Assembly passed in 1977 a new design for education, improved curricula for primary and secondary schools envisaged. The system was changed to 6-3-3, six years of elementary school, three years lower upper secondary, and three years.

The primary school then covers four areas: ( 1) learning skills, (2 ) the promotion of life experience, (3 ) Personality development and (4) work-oriented training.

The curriculum for secondary schools applies the same principles, but it offers the students more freedom in allocating courses. Previous curricula relied on separate courses on social studies, civics, ethics, geography and history. When changing the social environment, the contents were no longer effective. The new curriculum had only two courses in civics: Social Studies as a compulsory subject and Buddhism as an elective. In addition, the civic education has been integrated into all courses of the curriculum, for example, students are encouraged to science in the classroom to rational to be analytical and objective. The scientific method is compared with the four noble truths of Buddhism that promise to solve all the problems of life. The civics extends both on regional Thai content, as well as on neighboring countries, Asia and the world.

Since 2001, the Ministry of Education began developing new national curriculum that emphasizes the student-centered model of teaching. Between 2001 and 2006 brought some of the major improvements of the Thai education system: computers in schools and better conditions for foreign language teaching. Especially should lead to a significantly improved situation in the exchange of students and knowledge with other countries. However, experiments with a decentralized accountability of the education system to the provincial level proved to be impractical. And also various ideas for a transparent admission process for the university failed due to

  • Different political interests,
  • Attempts of universities to act independently, and this counter-movements,
  • Serious errors in the management, and
  • Unsuitable Curricla in schools.
Songkran (Thailand) Android (operating system) Ministry of Interior (Thailand) Analysis David K. Wyatt
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