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.
Secondary level is divided into two levels; 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 to higher education. It also aims to prepare students to meet the labour market and to promote their
entrepreneurship skills. There are two streams; vocational stream is provided 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,
undergraduate 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 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.
