Formal Education
Formal education services are divided into Early Year Education, Basic Education, Vocational and Technical Education and Higher Education.
Early Year Education
Over 74% of children, aged three to five receive early childhood education. While the majority of Early Year Education is provided by government primary schools, the Ministry of Education has actively encouraged private schools and local government to take a more significant role at this level. As a result, there has been a marked expansion in the provision of Early Year Education by the private sector. This is particularly evident in Bangkok Metropolis where the private sector provides 59% of total Early Year Education, compared with the national average of 28%.
Basic Education
Basic education in Thailand is divided into six years of primary schooling, (Prathom 1 to 6) followed by 3 years of lower secondary (Mattayom 1 to 3) and 3 years of upper secondary schooling (Mattayom 4 to 6). In 2003, compulsory education was extended to nine years, with all students expected to complete Mattayom 6.
Eight core subjects form the National Curriculum: Thai language, mathematics, science, social studies, religion and culture, health and physical education, arts, careers and technology, and foreign languages. Flexibility is built into the curriculum in order to integrate local wisdom and culture, so that it is consistent with set learning standards in each of the core subject groups. The promotion of thinking skills, self-learning strategies and moral development is at the heart of teaching and learning in the Thai National Curriculum.
Vocational and Technical Education
Formal vocational and technical education is conducted at three levels: upper secondary (leading to the Lower Certificate of Vocational Education), post secondary (leading to a Diploma or Vocational Associate Degree) and university level (leading to a Degree). There are currently over one million students enrolled in the various vocational study pathways.Student may choose to major in any of the following field of study trade and industry, agriculture, home economics, fisheries, business and tourism, arts and crafts, textiles and commerce.
The move toward lifelong learning and a learning society has been embodied in a credit transfer system to facilitate mobility between institutions; in the recognition of different types of qualifications from various institutions offering vocational training and the evaluation of prior learning and work experience from within the formal, non-formal and informal sectors. Reforms are currently being implemented to remodel the system towards a Thai Vocational qualifications (TVQ) based upon industrial practices and needs.
Higher Education
The means for student admission to the higher education sector is the High School Entrance Examination taken at the end of Mattayom 6 (Grade 12). Recent reforms have increased the importance placed on Grade Point Averages (GPA) for final university entry.
Higher education is predominantly provided at universities and colleges. The two distinct levels of educational attainment are the diploma level and graduate degrees. Over 2.2 million students are currently enrolled in the higher education sector and participation rates of university age students has increased significantly over the last few years from an average to the current average of 40%. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in higher education opportunities with 78 public universities and 89 private higher education institutions.