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Education in Thailand
Educational
institutions in Thailand are run by the government to a wider extent than in
neighbouring non-communist countries, such as Malaysia and the Philippines.
On all levels of learning, there are mostly government schools and just a
few private schools. Exceptions are small language schools; most of them are
private.
Though Wats
has been the traditional institutions of learning for many centuries, their
importance in this field has much declined. Today, they principally offer
non-formal education in religion. Buddhist tenets are thought on all primary
schools except those in Muslim areas in the South.
King
Chulalongkorn introduced public education to Thailand. (Rama V, reigned 1868
to 1910)
Primary
education consists of a six-year elementary term. It is taken care of almost
exclusively by municipal schools and provided free. Primary education is
compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 15. There is no compulsory
education for those who haven’t finished elementary school when reaching the
age of 15, or for those who finish elementary school before reaching the age
of 15.
Secondary
education consists of five- or six-year terms. There are 8 schools for deaf
children, 2 schools for the blind, 1 for the multiple-handicapped and 2 for
the mentally retarded.
College
courses or vocational training follow after secondary level schooling. There
are about 180 colleges and vocational schools. The country has 14
universities, 3 of them private. The most prestigious institution of higher
learning in the kingdom is Chulalongkorn University (founded 1917). The
largest is Ramkhamhaeng University (1971). Thammasat University (1934) has
long been the one with most political activists.
Since 1973,
students are a political force to reckon with in Thailand. On October 14,
1973, after demonstrations, which left more than 400 people dead, students,
succeeded to force out of office and out of the country the joint military
dictators Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn and Field Marshall Prapass
Charusathiara. The rector of Thammasat University, Sanya Dhammasakdi, was
then appointed caretaker Prime Minister by King Bhumiphol.
The
country’s elite, including the members of the royal family, traditionally
receives its higher education abroad, mostly in England. The reigning king,
Bhumiphol Adulyadej, as well as his late elder brother and predecessor on
the throne, Ananda Mahidol, were educated in Switzerland.
The types of
degrees offered by universities in Thailand correspond closely to those
offered in the American system. A diploma or associate’s degree is obtained
in certain fields after the third year of a bachelor’s degree program. A
bachelor’s degree is awarded following four years of study in most subjects,
a master’s after one or two years following a bachelor’s degree, and a
doctoral degree after at least two more years of studies in a few fields. A
certificate of professional qualification is awarded in certain fields after
one to four years of postgraduate studies. Degrees higher than bachelor’s
degrees can only be earned at government universities.
Vocational
training institutes offer three types of qualification. The lowest level is
the Certificate of Vocational Education (PVCH) which is awarded to students
who have successfully pursued a course of study for three years. The Higher
Certificate of Vocational Education (PVS) requires a further two years
study. The Advanced Certificate of Vocational Education (PVT) is granted to
students completing a two-year program after graduating from a
pre-university school (3 years of schooling after secondary school). The PVT
thus involves a combination of academic and vocational training while the
PVS involves five years of vocational training. In addition the
Ratchamongkol Institute of Technology grants bachelor’s degrees in
technology-related subjects.
Science
and Technology
The Thai
Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), an agency of the
Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology has separate departments, which
undertake research for the industrial sector. TISTR also provides testing
services for industrial products and measurement systems in electrical,
mechanical, photometric and thermometric standards.
The
Department of Science Services, also under the Ministry of Science, Energy
and Technology, acts as the government’s laboratory, providing private and
public organisations with a broad range of scientific and technical
services.
The
Metalworking and Machinery Industries Development Institute (MIDI), under
the Department of Industrial Promotion of the Ministry of Industry aims to
develop technologies and to increase the efficiency of the small and medium
sized metalworking and machinery industries. In addition to numerous
training programs, MIDI also provides state-of-the-art high precision
material testing as well as applied research and development and trial
fabrication of products and tools.
The Thai
Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) also falls under the jurisdiction of
the Ministry of Industry. It is the body responsible for setting industrial
standards in all engineering and mechanical sectors. TISI provides
inspection services, and has technical staff available to assist in bringing
products up to the standard where necessary.
Expatriate Schools
In order to
serve the specific educational needs of the children of foreigners living in
Thailand, there are a number of international schools offering instruction
mostly in English and to a lesser extent in other European languages and
Japanese. The existing facilities are rapidly being expanded to serve the
increasing number of foreigners with their families who are choosing to stay in
Thailand for extended periods of time. Expatriate schools in Bangkok are:
Adventist
English School
Soi 63 (Ekamai),
Sukhumvit Road Tel 391-3593, 392-7983, 392-7939
US system,
Grades 3 to 12; classes in English, approximately 30 students per class;
students wear uniforms; school hours 8:00-15:00; non-Adventists are admitted.
Bangkok Pattana
School
2/38 Soi La
Salle (105), Sukhumvit Road Tel 399-3175 to 8, Fax 399-3179
British system;
classes in English; ages 3.5 to 13 years; mainly British and Australian pupils
and students; British examinations; approximately 25 children per class; pupils
and students wear uniforms; school hours 8:00-13:30; school year from early
September until middle of July; summer classes.
International
School Bangkok
Chaeng Wattana
(northern Bangkok)
US system
(kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school); classes in English;
more than 1700 pupils and students from kindergarten to grade 12; about one
third of the pupils and students from the US; no school uniforms; approximately
22 children per class; school hours 7:25-14:00; school year from mid-August to
early June; summer classes available; Scholastic Aptitude Test for US colleges
and universities.
Le Petite Ecole
Francaise
29 Sathorn Tai
Road, Tel 287-1599
French system;
classes in French; some 200 pupils and students from age 3 to 17; students wear
no uniforms; school hours 7:30-12:30.
Ruam Rudee
International School
Sukhaphiban 3
Road, Minburi (formerly Soi Ruam Rudee, Ploenchit Rd)
Catholic school;
US system; classes in English; grades 1 to 12; 900 pupils and students, mostly
Asians; students wear uniforms; approximately 30 students per class; school
hours 7:30-14:30; school year from mid-August to mid-May; summer classes
available.
Swiss School
connected with
Ruam Rudee Int. School Sukhaphiban 3 Road, Minburi (formerly Soi Ruam Rudee,
Ploenchit Rd)
Swiss system;
classes in German; kindergarten to year 10; some 160 pupils and students;
children wear uniforms.
Traill
Preparatory School
34-36 Soi 18,
Ramkhamhaeng Rd Hua Mark, Tel 314-5250
British system
up to O-levels; classes in English; kindergarten to Senior School; enrolees have
to pass an entrance examination; students wear uniforms; school hours
7:30-13:45.
Thai-Japanese
Association School
258 Soi
Soonvijai 4, New Petchburi Road Tel 314-7334 to 5, 314-7797 to 8
Japanese system; classes in Japanese; Primary School to Junior
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