Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2012

Education, Training, Religious and Culture Statistics Including Mass Communication Statistics Education statistics presented in this chapter were obtained from Office of the Permanent Secretary, Vocational Educational Commission and Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education. The 1951 National Education Scheme divided education into primary education, secondary education, pre-university and higher vocational education, higher and university education. Compulsory Primary education was 4 years schooling. Secondary education was divided into 2 sub-levels: lower secondary and upper secondary education. Lower secondary education consisted of general stream, special stream and vocational stream, each stream took 3 years schooling. Upper secondary education consisted of special stream and vocational stream. Pre-university education required 2 years of study in subjects which were necessary for university study. Moreover, there were special education, education for adults and additional higher education. The 1960 National Education Scheme, educational system was changed from the former time. The 7 years elementary education was divided into 2 sub-levels: lower elementary with 4 years schooling and upper elementary with 3 years. Secondary education was divided into general stream and vocational stream. General stream was divided into 2 sub-levels, the beginning level lasted 3 years and the end level lasted 2 years. There were 2 sub-levels of vocational stream, the lower and the upper. Each level ranged from 1- 3 years, depending on the characteristics of each vocation. The 1977 National Education Scheme divided education into 4 levels; namely pre-school education, elementary education with 6 years schooling, secondary education divided into 2 levels: lower and upper secondary level with 3 years schooling for each level, and higher education level. The 1992 National Education Scheme provided the learners with the opportunity to develop themselves through continuity and life-long education in the forms of formal and non-formal schooling systems. The formal education through school system consisted of four levels: pre-elementary, elementary, secondary and higher levels. Pre-elementary education aims to nurture and prepare physical, mental, intellectual and emotional skills to students for their further movement on to the elementary education. Elementary level undergoes at least six years of elementary education as a compulsory education. Elementary education puts emphasis on basic literacy and numeracy skills and cultivate desirable behavior in students.