2022-06-12-ADB-Recent_Developments_in_Basic_Education_in_Thailand_Issues_and_Challenges_19页_433kb

Summary of ADBI Working Paper on Basic Education in Thailand

1. Introduction

Despite significant public investment in education, Thailand's basic education system faces persistent issues with low learning outcomes. The paper examines progress in access, analyzes student performance in national and international assessments, and identifies key challenges such as educational inequality. The author argues that poor quality in education hinders economic development and risks trapping Thailand in the middle-income trap.

2. Progress in Basic Education

Thailand has made strides in expanding access to basic education over the past few decades. Gross enrollment rates increased from 1995 to 2020 across primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels. Dropout rates declined significantly, with enrollment driven by reforms in 1999 and the extension of free education. Literacy rates among the population aged 6 and above reached 93.9% in 2018, though the country lags behind regional peers.

3. Learning Outcomes

Students' performance in both national and international assessments remains poor. National examination scores (Ordinary National Education Test) show declining performance in core subjects like mathematics, science, and English for primary and secondary levels. International assessments, such as PISA, reveal scores below the OECD average, with persistent disparities between urban and rural regions. Learning outcomes vary widely across provinces, with rural areas performing notably worse, indicating resource and quality gaps.

4. Issues and Challenges

Key challenges include inequality in education driven by small schools and insufficient resources in rural areas. About half of Thailand's schools are small, limiting access to qualified teachers and infrastructure. This inefficiency in resource allocation perpetuates disparities, particularly for disadvantaged students. Demographic changes, such as an aging population and declining fertility rates, also reduce demand for basic education, requiring efficient resource reallocation. The need for educational reform is urgent to enhance workforce quality, address aging society, and promote equitable access.

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

The paper concludes that current policies emphasizing access overlook quality and equity, hindering economic advancement. Recommendations include strengthening accountability measures, reallocating public funds to improve rural infrastructure and teacher training, and supporting initiatives like the Equitable Education Fund. Further research is needed to assess factors influencing low outcomes and develop targeted interventions to ensure high-quality basic education for all.