Overview of the General Education System

The history of education in Thailand can be traced back to the Sukhothai period (1238–1378) when learning occurred at Buddhist temples and focused on moral and intellectual development. The invention of the Thai alphabet by King Ramkhamhaeng in 1283 made a pivotal change to Thai education, and later on, the Ayutthaya period (1350–1767) birthed the creation of the Thai textbook called Chindamani. Further educational developments were also established in the 19th century under King Rama IV and continued under King Rama V, who founded the first university, Chulalongkorn University, in 1917, laying the foundation of modernization in Thailand’s education.

In modern times, Thailand’s education system is structured into four main levels: pre-primary education, primary education, secondary education, and higher education. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is the central body responsible for education administration, covering both public and private institutions. The MOE administers national policies and ensures education is made accessible, equitable, and high-quality. Thailand’s national curriculum is centralized and outlines standards across academic subjects, moral and ethical education, physical education, and extracurricular activities.

The English language has been prioritized. It is commonly taught from early grades to enhance bilingual proficiency, and university admissions often require English proficiency exams like the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Educational institutions include public (government-funded), private, international, and religious institutions. International schools often follow foreign curricula, such as British or American systems, and are open to expatriate families or Thais aiming for overseas education.

In recent years, improvements have been made to decentralize some administrative functions and to improve teacher training around the country. Results are shown through statistics, as the literacy rate in 2021 was 94.10%, a 0.33% increase from 2018, to which the World Population Review ranked second among 184 countries around the globe.

Compulsory education in Thailand starts from age 6 to 15 and encompasses primary and lower secondary education. There is also early childhood education aimed at younger learners ages three to five and offered in nurseries, childcare centers, and kindergartens. Although optional, it is highly encouraged by the government, which makes it popular in urban places like Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. These educational institutions are supervised by the Office of the Private Education Commission, Ministry of Education.

Moreover, primary education begins at age 6 and lasts for six years (Prathom 1–6). The curriculum covers literacy, numeracy, life skills, character building, and general knowledge integrated across eight core subject areas, such as Thai language, mathematics, science, health education, and foreign languages.

After the completion of primary school, students automatically move to secondary education. It is divided into two levels, the lower secondary school (Matthayom 1–3) as compulsory and upper secondary education (Matthayom 4-6), where students can choose between vocational and academic streams. In lower secondary school, students continue to gain basic academic skills along with early vocational exploration. This progression is smooth and structured to ensure every child completes at least nine years of education.

Data indicated that in 2022, approximately 9.84 million students across all levels of education in Thailand were enrolled in public schools. Public institutions are governed by the Office of Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education.

Thailand’s higher education objectives are to develop human intellectual potential and advance knowledge and technology. Currently, Thailand has 156 higher education institutions (HEIs), including public universities, private universities, autonomous universities, polytechnics, and specialized colleges, all regulated under the Ministry of Education.

Degrees offered include lower than bachelor's, four-year Bachelor’s, and graduate degrees such as Master’s and doctoral degrees. Admission to bachelor's programs is mainly through the Thai Central Admission System (TCAS), a national framework offering five admission rounds: portfolio assessment, quota admissions, direct admissions, central exams, and individual faculty admissions. TCAS was established to promote fairness and decrease the costs for students across different socio-economic backgrounds.

In 2019, Thailand founded the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) to oversee research and higher education more unified. As part of reforms, the government encouraged public universities to become autonomous institutions, giving them more administrative freedom while reducing their financial dependency on the government.