Basic Education in Thailand

All children in Thailand, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic background, or economic status, have an equal right to receive 15 years of free basic education from preprimary to the upper secondary level. The Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551 (2008) has been adopted as a guideline for schools to plan instructional practices, set expectations for student learning, and design student performance assessments. There are four levels of evaluating and measuring learner ability and achievement: classroom, school, local, and national. The initiation of a large-scale national assessment system aimed to examine the quality of all educational institutions. Thailand has attempted to provide the most suitable education for all groups of learners according to their needs and interests. Specialized schools have been established to cater to gifted and talented learners in mathematics and science, sports, art and music, and also the underprivileged and the disabled. For better access, digital technology and innovations such as Distance Learning Television (DLTV) and Distance Learning Information Technology (DLIT) play a crucial role in providing learning opportunities for all and solving teacher shortages. Thailand has placed considerable effort into and substantially invested in resources to try to ensure that every child receives quality basic education. However, some actions and measures are urgently needed to solve serious problems in the basic education sector, such as resource allocation and teacher supply. The ultimate goal is for learners to achieve positive learning outcomes and realize their full potential.