Regarding access to higher education, nearly one quarter of the higher education age-group
have enrolled in higher education institutes, excluding open universities, Table 1. Thailand
should be proud of this quality access to higher education. However, we recognize that at
regional level access to formal education at all levels, in particular higher education, varies
markedly between regions, especially with that of Bangkok area. Factors detrimental to access to
quality education are socio-economic background and concentration of schools and higher
education institutes in Bangkok and big cities. Moreover, quality education, not quantity
education, is a determining factor of the present millennium in the age of the new economy.