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 labour 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 remoted 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 consists of
12
years of education before higher education.
2.
Higher education is divided into two levels: lower than-degree level and degree
level.
In
1969
, the Private College Act B.E.
2512
was enacted for social suitability so that the
private sector can establish the institutes for higher education, and was abrogated in order to
adjust the Private College Law. The Private Higher Education Act B.E.
2522 (1979)
was
promulgated until
1992
. As for present situation suitability the Private Higher Education Act B.E.
2522
(B.E.
2535
Revision) has been promulgated until now. The Private Higher Education
Institutes, according to this Act, are divided into
3
types: universities, institutes and colleges.
Statistics on higher education were obtained from Commission on Higher Education, that
presented statistics data on student enrollments, graduates and teachers, etc., but excluded the
