7 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

Even best university profs produce academic papers not books and almost always exclusively on Thai related subjects irrelevant to the world

 

Well, to be fair, that's true of most professors in most universities in the West!!

Except not on Thai subjects of course, but on subjects often as equally arcane and irrelevant to the daily concerns of the average voter.

28 minutes ago, scorecard said:

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

 

 

So they just want the piece of paper and to learn nothing?

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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

 

 

 

Teaching of the English language varies widely from province to province

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

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. 

 

 

Well I feel sorry for California public schools, they must be really bad! Our two children went to Thai kindergarten and P1 to P3 and then we went back to the UK. The education our children are getting now is far superior to Thailand.  Not only a superior education but also what they can actually do in their free time. They both have far more opportunities compared to their cousins in Thailand.  People on here should check Thailands education position during Mr T. Military coup and things changed and Thailand position started falling coincidentally at that time native English speaking teachers were replaced by Philippine teachers sorry Pillipin teachers.....

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

 

#1 another flawed testiment ..     if the higher risk is for disadvantaged families..    who did they survey/study ?  the richer Bangkok class ?

 

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  ( see point #1 )

 

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.

**  goes back to if you're poor and get fed worse than a farm animal.   you do not have a chance

 

 

1 hour ago, blazes said:

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.

 

The Thai people I work with are way more skilled and knowledgeable than most people on this forum.

17 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.

So true.

Depends all on teachers and teaching the teachers.

Train those teachers in kindergarten to respect and protect the environment instead of singing backwards outdated songs or dances. 

And to employ high qualified teachers from developed countries can't be a disadvantage.

But I'm afraid now responsible people will promise to implement many good things. But only promising....as always.

And to keep people stupid makes it easier for the elites to rule over them.

Thai state schools are unable by design to teach English or critical thinking skills. 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

My guess is they excel compared to the average kid in a Western city nowadays. 

1 hour ago, KhaoHom said:

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!!

An expert commentary - no doubt based upon vast and extensive research in a huge number and variety of educational institutions. I am surprised that the education authorities do not hire you as an expert advisor!

 

There are of course a couple of other possibilities: 1) you couldn't get hired, 2) some bloody teacher got to the pretty new girl in your favourite bar before you!

Teachers only work as hard as they get paid. 
Schools, in many cases, are nothing more than day care centres.  

The director at my school and I have spoken at length about this. With AI making a huge impact on jobs, we really don't know how many of these kids will ever get skilled enough at ANYTHING to be able to feed themselves. Disgustingly, several reputable sources are claiming YouTubers, TikToker, influencers, streamers, and online merchants are viable choices for future employment.

 

The world we live in . . .

I own a small company here in Bangkok (aechitecture/design field). The level is appalling,  it is tough to find skilled staff, specially with good creative and critical thinking fields unless they studied abroad (and not just a couple of months). Situation is pretty bad yes. 

2 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

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!!

 

Based on that little deranged rant I suspect you ended up as one of the glue chewers on the back row at school........and the resentment is still fomenting. 

The schools in the areas of Surin that have been declared dangerous have benn shut for a week and may open on Monday, meanwhile life goes on as normal around them. 

31 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Based on that little deranged rant I suspect you ended up as one of the glue chewers on the back row at school........and the resentment is still fomenting. 

 

Touched a nerve did I? Makes perfect sense now

It's the corruption that permeates every aspect of Thai society. This corruption is viewed by students as part of Thailand's social ecosystem and to get ahead, they also must learn to be corrupt. 

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

"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? 

 

Lectures 😳

 

Absolutely fatal

 

Just toss em a book.

 

Thai students bored to tears

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzz 🤤

First day of my PGCE.....tutor said you can forget the rest of the academic year after I've made this statement......... it is all you need to will ever need to know about teaching.......

 

If you are talking the students aren't learning.

In a country that does not respect Critical Thinking, and where dinner is considered long term planning, why is anyone surprised.  Rama IX was a visionary, now Thailand needs someone to carry that torch. 
Self-education by mobile phone is not a substitute for academic discipline.  Without a solid education the next generation (or even the current generation) will not be able to manage even basic AI tasks.
This is a serious challenge because China is a world leader in advanced technology, and the City/State of Singapore is very well educated.  
We need younger and well educated people in a democratic government, not families seeking to establish or preserve a dynasty.  

3 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

So they just want the piece of paper and to learn nothing?

 

That can be true.

 

On the other hand it's often a comment that the student expected to experience a classroom situation  the same as primary and high school - one way learning, teacher talks kids listen and kids expect they need to write exam answers which copy the textbook.

 

Several times I've been asked 'how do I get an A in mid-term / end of term exams, if I can write exactly what the text book says, is it more beautiful writing, or what?' 

 

 

4 hours 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).  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.

Much of the information from social media websites is garbage. 

38 minutes ago, Kat Hao said:

In a country that does not respect Critical Thinking, and where dinner is considered long term planning, why is anyone surprised.  Rama IX was a visionary, now Thailand needs someone to carry that torch. 
Self-education by mobile phone is not a substitute for academic discipline.  Without a solid education the next generation (or even the current generation) will not be able to manage even basic AI tasks.
This is a serious challenge because China is a world leader in advanced technology, and the City/State of Singapore is very well educated.  
We need younger and well educated people in a democratic government, not families seeking to establish or preserve a dynasty.  

Exactly.  How can you solve a problem if you do not even know there is problem?  

1 minute ago, Hawaiian said:

Exactly.  How can you solve a problem if you do not even know there is problem?  

 

Maria?

Who is happier, Thai kids/young adults or westerners?

Many problems to resolve.

First is most of the teachers don't have the necessary education, skills, and\or teaching tools.

 

Next is adequate school funding.  As far as I know from personally paying for schooling everyone must pay to go to school.  I don't believe there is any government assistance for children to go to school.  This needs to be addressed.  

 

Lastly does the government actually want to improve the education system 

As mentioned above this would be a huge task that would take a great team to accomplish.

 

Unfortunately I believe unless your sending your child to a quality private school it will be the same when the next generation graduates

7 minutes ago, Miloki said:

Who is happier, Thai kids/young adults or westerners?

 

Good question.

 

My wife's extended family 'seem to be' the happiest people on Earth......rice/sugarcane/yam farmers.....also process waste plastics and metals..........they are, by Western standards, living in abject poverty.....but between them they have a car, not short of food and all have  shelter......Maslow.

Give every child free schools ,from prepschools to university,and I guarantee the results shall increase 100%. Today millions of parentes cant afford to let the children be educated.

1 minute ago, Olof Karlsson said:

Give every child free schools ,from prepschools to university,and I guarantee the results shall increase 100%. Today millions of parentes cant afford to let the children be educated.

 

Wouldn't argue with that.....but  parents are the key, the driving force required to lift standards.

 

Parental involvement, ambition, cajoling kids to learn...........with that missing....which it is from my experience.....going to school is just something you do because you have to.

 

Chinese kids in 'poor' schools are often staggeringly successful......same school, same teachers...different parents