Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2012

Secondary level is divided into two parts; lower and upper secondary levels. Lower secondary education offers a three-year course which is geared towards developing the students’ ethics, knowledge and abilities. It allows the students to explore their needs, areas of interests and aptitudes and enables them to meet their appropriate careers. Upper secondary education is a three-year course as a fundamental stage for the students who will proceed on to higher education. It also aims to prepare students to meet the labor market and to promote their entrepreneurship skills. There are two streams; vocational stream provides in vocational and technical colleges for the students who are good at skills while academic stream is offered in general education schools for the students who are academically-talented. Higher level is a post-secondary education which is divided into three levels: diploma, under graduate and graduate levels. The provision of formal education is flexible, depending on the different ability groups, school location and the nation ’ s needs. There is vocational training for the students who are good at skills and who want to meet the labor market. Teacher training is for those who are interested in teaching. Special education is provided for the people who are disabled and difficult in learning. Welfare education is for the poor and remote rural students. Purposive education is offered based on the schools’ potential and the nation’s needs such as nursing, military and police cadet and transport and telecommunication as well. In 1999 the educational system was based on the National Education Act of B.E. 2542 (1999). All individuals shall have equal rights to receive basic education provided by the State for the duration of at least 12 years, free of charge. Compulsory education shall be for nine years, (grade 1 - grade 9 ) formerly it was at least 6 years. In this Act there shall be three types of education: formal education, non-formal education and informal education. Formal education is divided into two levels: 1. Basic education; education levels before higher education, consists of 3 levels namely, pre-elementary level, elementary level and secondary level. 2. Higher education is divided into two levels; lower degree level and degree level. 87 Education, Training, Religious and Culture Statistics Including Mass Communication Statistics