GLORIA C.

TOLENTINO
PhDDEVED Student ED 806-Comparative Education

Select a country in the Southeast Asian Region. Identify and outline the goals of its
educational system. Examine the philosophy, mission and vision, and framework to
which they are anchored as well as its levels and stages.
Answer:
I have chosen Thailand to discuss its educational system as it shows a comparison
of how they implemented their vision, mission, objectives, and goals in their basic
education. I used to read some facts about educational systems from different countries
for me to know the differences in the implementation of basic education. As a typical
educator, I have a dream too to study in a foreign school that I think can give me what
education I wanted to pursue aside from what I have now. I believe that education
abroad seems to give an additional credential and elite educational background as we
expected. But since our educational system today is already upgraded like the other
Asian countries, then where should I go so that I would achieve better higher
education? This is one example question to deal with when we talk about good schools
and quality education abroad. Like in Thailand, I have good feedback from my friends
studying abroad and they suggested choosing some Asian countries that can now be
compared to other schools in western countries and Europe.
Thailand is popularly known because of its richness in culture and natural
resources. Thailand is located in Southeast Asia and was established around 1220. Its
national language was invented by King Ramkhamhaeng who was said to be the
greatest King of the Sukhothai Period. Before Bangkok has been raised to be the capital
of Thailand, Ayutthaya and Thonburi became subsequent capitals. King Bhumibol
Adulyadej is the current president and the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty
(Pichayasathit, 2001).
Same to the Philippine education, Thailand gives an emphasis the free education
for all citizens as an educational policy. Thailand National Education Act 1999 gives the
guarantee of availing the right of all children, without discrimination, to quality education.
The Thai government pushed through the 2005 Cabinet declaration that reaffirmed the
right of all children to enjoy education including the non -Thai children who lived in the
country Thailand. Furthermore, the kingdom of Thailand’s constitution 2007 Sect. 49
required the government to provide a minimum of 12 years of quality, free of charge
basic education. Then, the Thai government implemented the 2009 extension of a
mandatory that covers free education starting from primary education to higher
education. (12 years to 15 years).
As time changed, Thailand also introduced the 2 nd Decade of Education reform
which was concerned with globalization. Thai people believed that they need to upgrade
their educational system to prepare Thai citizens to be good, active, competent,
responsible, and global citizens (Wikipedia). The vision of education in Thailand is
concerned with the right of the Thai people who are given to opportunity “ to have
access to high-quality life-long learning”.
GLORIA C. TOLENTINO
PhDDEVED Student ED 806-Comparative Education

As UNESCO stated that the educational principles, goals, and objectives of

Thailand evolved due to the changes that occurred socially and economically. This is
reflected in the emergence of the National scheme of education and the National
Education Development Plan. In accordance with the 1992 (amended in 2002)
National Scheme of Education, Thai education should be highlighted the lifelong
education for all, all segments of the society to participate in the educational provision,
and the continuity of development in the learning process. Thai children are then
provided with their educational needs to enjoy lifelong success.

This act of national education of 1999 stipulates that “Education shall aim at
the full development of the Thai people in all aspects: physical and mental health;
intellect; knowledge; morality; integrity; and desirable way of life so as to be able to
live happily with other people. The learning process shall aim at inculcating sound
awareness of politics; a democratic system of government under a constitutional
monarchy; the ability to protect and promote their rights, responsibilities, freedom,
respect for the rule of law, equality, and human dignity; pride in Thai identity; ability to
protect public and national interests; promotion of religion, art, national culture, sports,
local wisdom, Thai wisdom, and universal knowledge; inculcating the ability to
preserve natural resources and the environment; ability to earn a living; self-reliance;
creativity; acquiring thirst for knowledge and capability of self-learning on a continuous
basis.” (Sections 6 and 7, as compiled by UNESCO-IBE).

As a result, Thailand people are more culture-based and democratic citizens

of their country. They are truly following the rules and regulations implemented by the
government and societies.

To establish educational reform, A 15-year National Education Plan (2002-

2016) was mandated by Section 33 of the 1999 National Education Act which aims to
integrate all aspects of life in educating Thai children. This involves the focus on
human-centered development and dealing with an integrated and holistic scheme of
education, religion, art, and culture as well. The plan covers the 3 main objectives: all-
around and balanced human development, building a society of morality, wisdom, and
learning, and the development of a social environment (OEC,2004).

The educational management in Thailand can be observed through the

mandate of the office of the Prime Minister, the ministry of education, the ministry of
interior, and some public agencies under the six other ministries. The role of the
ministry of education relies on its responsibility to manage education at all levels from
pre-primary to secondary, post-secondary, and tertiary level education, and to provide
non-formal education and supervises private schools at all levels.

The educational authorities in Thai education consist of the Office of the

Permanent Secretary, Office of the Education Council, Office of the Basic Education
Commission, Office of Vocational Education Commission, and Office of Higher
Education Commission. Some public agencies involved in the Ministry of Education
are the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, the Office for
the National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, and the Office of the
GLORIA C. TOLENTINO
PhDDEVED Student ED 806-Comparative Education

National Education Testing. The dissemination of works proceeds to the 225

Educational Service Area Office (ESAO) to App. 31,255 schools in the country.

We can describe education in Thai as the same as in the Philippines. The

Thai government provides education through the Ministry of Education which is from
pre-school to senior high school free basic education of fifteen years as guaranteed
by the constitution. Education in Thailand is mandating nine years of basic education
which is six years of elementary and only three years of lower secondary. During this
grade level, public schools offer free education until grade 9. The Thailand
government also provides three years of free pre-school and three years of free
upper-secondary education (senior high school) that are neither mandatory
(Wikipedia.com).

The qualified enrollees in elementary should be at the age of six and attend
for six years, and they call the level from Prathom 1 to Prathom 6. Schools require the
elementary class hour for at least 7 hours per day with a maximum learning time of
1,000 hours per year. Their secondary education starts with a learner age of 12 and
consisting three years of lower secondary education that covers Mattayom 1 to
Mattayom 3, and Mattayom 4 to Mattayom 6 to the three years of lower secondary
education. Furthermore, Thailand education has a compulsory education that ends
with Mattayom 3 (grade 9). Then finishing the grade 9 level, learners can now pursue
upper-secondary education in preparing for their college courses or their vocational
studies. Higher Education includes the lower than Bachelor’s Degree, Bachelor’s
Degree, and Graduate Level.

An additional education program in Thailand is homeschooling which is legal

in the country. This is mandated by Thailand's constitution and education law that is
concerned with alternative education which considers the family as an educational
GLORIA C. TOLENTINO
PhDDEVED Student ED 806-Comparative Education

institution to educate children. The Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of Homeschool Law

2004 that governs homeschooling gives the opportunity to the Thai families to enjoy
their right to basic education. Families interested in this law must apply to homeschool
and allow learners to be monitored annually.
In terms of educational framework, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is
responsible to provide the curriculum framework for basic education in Thailand. The
three components involved are the curricular framework that specifies its objectives,
standards, assessment, and methods of teaching and learning; the framework for the
national core curriculum to be organized through four 3-year key stages; the
framework for local curriculum providing schools with guidelines for adaptation of
learning contents appropriate to their localities (Wikipedia.com).

Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Thailand
Pichayasathit, S. (2001). The Education System in Thailand.
https://www.childresearch.net/papers/school/2001_10.html
GLORIA C. TOLENTINO
PhDDEVED Student ED 806-Comparative Education