The quality of education that children receive in Thailand is also a major concern. Studies have shown that the learning level of Thai children in major subject areas has declined over the past 10 years. In recent years, results of the National Achievement Test have been dismal, with average scores for Grade 6 and Grade 12 students in core subjects below 50 per cent.
UNICEF is also working to mainstream the Child-Friendly School (CFS) concept into national education system. Currently, there are about 1,500 schools applying CFS concepts for over 240,000 children. In addition, UNICEF is promoting the use of students’ mother tongue as medium of instruction in the classroom, and the government has adopted this as the new language policy in schools.
The Child-Friendly School (CFS) model is simple — it promotes the operation of schools “in the best interest of the child”. Under the CFS model:
• Educational environments must be safe, healthy and protective, endowed with well trained teachers, adequate resources and appropriate physical, emotional and social conditions for learning