Report Thailand's Future at Risk: Education and Job Woes Loom

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand's development faces a critical test, as a recent report highlights alarming issues in education, health, and job readiness. The Human Capital Development in Thailand report, jointly released by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), UNICEF, and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), signals that the nation's long-term economic prospects may be jeopardised without urgent intervention.

 

Despite widespread access to basic services, the report reveals that many Thai children lack essential skills, health, and support. Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative for Thailand, emphasised the significance of investing in youth, stating, “Thailand stands at a pivotal moment. This ambition must be matched by investment in people, especially children and youth.”

 

One of the critical health issues noted is malnutrition, with problems such as stunting, wasting, and obesity affecting young children. Shockingly, only 75% of children aged two to nearly five years are developmentally on track, with disadvantaged families at a higher risk.

 

Education is another worrying area. While a majority of children complete compulsory schooling, only 42% of Grade 2 students meet the expected literacy and numeracy standards. The 2022 PISA results further highlight poor performance in maths, science, and reading, particularly in rural regions and among non-native Thai speakers.

 

The educational disparities extend into adulthood. Only 59% of Thais aged 25–34 have completed upper-secondary education, with young men, individuals with disabilities, and low-income youth being most prone to dropping out. Alarmingly, less than 3% of working adults receive further training, and just 39% find employment after completing courses.

 

Additionally, The Nation reports a concerning trend: 12.5% of young individuals aged 15–24 are not engaged in education, employment, or training, a situation most prevalent among the low-income and marginalised.

 

NESDC Secretary General Danucha Pichayanan commented on the workforce challenges, stating, “There are serious mismatches between education and job market needs. Investment in human capital isn’t just smart—it’s essential.”

 

The report advocates for comprehensive reforms, including increased education funding, inclusive social protection, and aligning school curricula with job market demands. It also calls for greater investment in mental health and learner well-being.

 

Kim echoed the urgency for decisive measures, stating, “The evidence is clear, and the solutions are within reach. What Thailand needs now is bold, inclusive policy action.”

 

As these findings underscore the urgency of the situation, Thailand's government and society face a crucial opportunity to reshape the future by prioritising human capital development. Addressing these challenges is not just vital for the nation’s economic ambition but for building a robust, inclusive society.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-31

 

 

[Sir Dude]

Well, not a huge surprise as Thailand's education system is still stuck in the past regarding student development and methodology, and all the rest. It all goes wrong in high school as it's just 6 years of brainwashing nonsense and conditioning... and by the time they reach university, it's generally too late for most, but not all.

In today's modern world, you need both hard skills and soft skills, but the focus here is always on hard skills. However, in the incoming AI influenced future, many are not being skilled properly for the oncoming change. As for soft skills, things like communication, time management, organization, responsibility and critical thinking skills are woefully neglected... and that just makes many of the graduates not fit for purpose.

If you want a successful society and business environment, then you have to encourage free-thinking and innovation... not traditional dogma and conditioning so that it serves the elite. You have to make a choice and we all know which one is chosen here... you reap what you sow.

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

Yet more reasons for the baht to strengthen even further.....when will it end?

[JoePai]

Nothing new, these reports come out every few years and nothing is done

[blaze master]

Those in power do not want an educated healthy population. They want more meat for grinder. 

[MikeandDow]

Its all typical Thai   all talk no action   take the floods as an example how many years and millions of baht wasted on nothing,  its just corruption which is a way of life in thailand  

[dinsdale]

It's all about the establishment keeping the poor poor and lacking in education to maintain the status quo. Even when the public vote for reform the establishments squashes their voice.

[ikke1959]

Every time a lot of talking and promises and nothing will chance... The Government doesn't want educated people as they are a threat for their power... So although they promote critical thinking, we can see what happen if critical comments are being used ... Jailtime without bails.. and outdated materials and lessons, overloaded classes and a lot of non educational activities, just to keep the power.. and to be sure kids don't start to learn there is the non fail policy.. Lazy kids are being made in schools as no study or efforts to do anything will be rewarded

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's development faces a critical test, as a recent report highlights alarming issues in education, health, and job readiness. The Human Capital Development in Thailand report, jointly released by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), UNICEF, and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), signals that the nation's long-term economic prospects may be jeopardised without urgent intervention

Long term... it's already suffering, has been for years.

Students are taught the very basics to become minions for the elite monopolies.

After school or graduation what opportunities await the students.

Girls... head south 

Boys best of luck

[NemoH]

All these portfolios do not generate money for the Ministers in charge compared to military, Energy, Casinos - culture 🤣🤣🤣

I am quite surprised by health ministry too… but after all - with C being declared a global scam… all the money has already been earned by the earlier batch … so sadly - not much money there anymore….. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[mfd101]

No no, what we need is more tourism! More! More! More!

[mogandave]

The education my boy got/is getting from Thai schools is far superior to the education he’d have likely received in a California public school. 

 

 

[KhaoHom]

90% of farang teachers outside top tier int'l schools are complict. They offer zero education to students. Absolute waste of time for students

 

* Same number of other foreign teachers SA, Philippines, Africans...95%

 

Thailand needs them only due to the dearth of English teachers and lack of teachers in general

 

Lazy, hapless. 35-45 and failed at everything? Overwhelmed by debt? Petty criminal? You can *teach* in Thailand!!

[blazes]

Thing is, the older we farang expats get the more likely we will have to depend in our old age on services provided by all these unqualified, clueless, educational vagrants.

 

[parallelman]

As other members have pointed out, lot of talk but nothing done. In addition, the Thai gov. always seems to be in turmoil for one reason or another so another reason for nothing to get done. A shame.

[Muhendis]

18 minutes ago, parallelman said:

In addition, the Thai gov. always seems to be in turmoil for one reason or another so another reason for nothing to get done. A shame.

 

That'll be because many in the Thai govt. received their education in Thai schools.

It is only the ones from wealthier backgrounds who ever got a decent foreign education and they are the ones with the diplomas in pocketing the countries resources.

[scorecard]

16 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Well, not a huge surprise as Thailand's education system is still stuck in the past regarding student development and methodology, and all the rest. It all goes wrong in high school as it's just 6 years of brainwashing nonsense and conditioning... and by the time they reach university, it's generally too late for most, but not all.

In today's modern world, you need both hard skills and soft skills, but the focus here is always on hard skills. However, in the incoming AI influenced future, many are not being skilled properly for the oncoming change. As for soft skills, things like communication, time management, organization, responsibility and critical thinking skills are woefully neglected... and that just makes many of the graduates not fit for purpose.

If you want a successful society and business environment, then you have to encourage free-thinking and innovation... not traditional dogma and conditioning so that it serves the elite. You have to make a choice and we all know which one is chosen here... you reap what you sow.

 

"As for soft skills, things like communication, time management, organization, responsibility and critical thinking skills are woefully neglected... " I agree and there's more. Including the high school years students are not allowed to ask questions and in many cases the teachers just read (total rote learning) and don't ask the students questons. Analytical skills and the skill, even at a low level to present a scenario and then ask a question don't exist.

 

I lectured at several Thai universities (in English) for many years. I regularly presented a lecture with lots of details, many times students complained. I responded "I want you to know the correct answer and I want you to know why it's correct".

 

At almost very lecture (2 hrs) I reserved 30 minutes at the end for a small group case study. Students had to discuss / analyse in their small group and then present a list of points relevant to the actual case study.

 

At first some refusal along with 'this is not why I come to university'.

 

Many classes had perhaps 4 to 10 international exchange students who thrived on the case study / analysis approach. A couple of times Thai students asked the international students 'how do you know the answers, does the professr sell you a book of answers? 

[thailand49]

This has been noted for the last 20 years since I've been here.  Experts inside and outside of Thailand has noted the problems yet those in charge turn a blind eye or tweak it a bit to may some happy well that is progress LOL! 

The system stays the way it is by those same fellas in charge regardless of so call free elections it is about control as long as the people get the crumbs and not know better how are they going to rise up and complain. 

[carlf]

Something that I've often noticed, and bemoaned, in several years in Thailand is that I rarely see any Thai person reading a book (paper or digital).  Almost everyone has their nose constantly in their telephone, with TicToc, FB or Instagram.  Rather sad.  Coming from France, I see the same thing amongst the youth in particular, but I do still see a reasonable amount of young French reading books.  Here in Thailand... virtually never.  A shame, and I fear that this is a symptom of this lack of education here.

[spidermike007]

There are two big issues from what I can tell from my friends who have kids in school. 

 

1. The children are not allowed to question the teachers, they are so hung up on the ridiculously weak practice of face, this prevents children from truly learning, when they cannot ask questions of the teacher. When I was growing up the exact opposite was the case, we were not only encouraged to ask questions it was totally permissible to tell the teacher why we thought they were wrong, and we could put forth our own theories, this was welcome, and it created a lively exchange. 

 

2. For some of the same reasons curiosity is not encouraged, and when curiosity is not encouraged it's absolutely stifling for young minds. 

 

3. Willingness to hire foreign teachers for subjects that they excel at such as the English language. 

[mfd101]

4 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

This has been noted for the last 20 years since I've been here.  Experts inside and outside of Thailand has noted the problems yet those in charge turn a blind eye or tweak it a bit to may some happy well that is progress LOL! 

The system stays the way it is by those same fellas in charge regardless of so call free elections it is about control as long as the people get the crumbs and not know better how are they going to rise up and complain. 

Yes, it's not for nothing that the young of rich families get their education in Oz, Canada, US & UK.

[1duckyboy]

An educated, middle class population is harder to fool/control than a low income, uneducated populace. I don't see much change for the future. 

[klauskunkel]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The evidence is clear, and the solutions are within reach. What Thailand needs now is bold, inclusive policy action

however, what Thailand gets, with all those Cretaceous Dinosaurs in charge, is no change whatsoever."

[Mywayboy]

With Teachers inadequately trained what hope do the students have.

Teachers must be made accountable as should the Government. 

[uptome1946]

In Thai the word for curiosity is "yaak roo yaak hen" (want know want see).  This has a strong negative connotation and is said about a child who doesn't listen to his elders.  

[MangoKorat]

Quite simple really - less teaching about Buddha and royal history and more actual education. Oh, and teachers must be allowed to fail kids - what good is an exam if a pass is guaranteed?

 

Its much the same as all the major issues here - road accidents etc. Just do things correctly, enforce the existing laws and stop the 'mai bpen rai' attitude.  But do the people actually want change?  I used to think that it was natural that they do, now I think they are the same as their government - just talk about it.

 

[KhaoHom]

18 minutes ago, carlf said:

Something that I've often noticed, and bemoaned, in several years in Thailand is that I rarely see any Thai person reading a book (paper or digital).

 

Not only that. Check the number of university students carrying a book bag? None.

 

Even best university profs produce academic papers not books and almost always exclusively on Thai related subjects irrelevant to the world. That's how it's unis get such high QS rankings. Self bestowed PhDs

 

Professors sell stolen photocopy handouts and digital pdfs. That's the course reading list.

 

Thai is a old, tired, simple af language. Maybe it will survive with speech to text as there's no need for typing.

[Peterphuket]

16 hours ago, blaze master said:

Those in power do not want an educated healthy population. They want more meat for grinder. 

I would agree with you were it not for the fact that I do not have much faith in the intelligence level of the incumbent.
After all, they have that same “education”.

[KhaoHom]

6 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

With Teachers inadequately trained what hope do the students have.

Teachers must be made accountable as should the Government. 

 

AI and technology are students only hope.

 

Actually, plenty of smart Thai young men (some women) coming out of top 10 HS into top five unis to continue society as is. Loads of pretty young women groomed in BKK girls schools for mates. The system lives on. That's perfectly ok for the top 10%

[NorthernRyland]

I'm in the US now and before I left I spoke with two Thai people about leaving and said I would be gone 6 weeks. Both of them paused to think for a moment then responded by how many months I was going to be gone and they were totally wrong. That's just two people but they were both in their 50s and didn't know how many months 6 weeks are.

 

Another one is a woman from a tiny village so I don't blame her but she asked if it was going to be cold now in America. Maybe she was thinking all "farang countries" are Australia and winter and summer months are inverted.

 

Many more stories over the years I've forgotten but education is clearly lacking in my experience.