Thailand

Country Profile
Country’s Name Kingdom of Thailand
National Flag
Name of Capital City Bangkok
Number of Population 67,091,089 (July 2012)
National Language Thai
National Religion Buddhism
Life Expectancy
Male: 71 years
Female: 78 years
Literacy Rate 92.6% (2010)
Percentage of People Living under the Poverty Line 8.1% (2009 est.)
Ethnic Minority Groups Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Total Country’s Area 513,115 sq km
Number of Provinces 77 provinces
Seasons/Climate 3 seasons (summer, rainy season and dry season)
Education Information

Compulsory Education: 12 years (Kindergarten - Lower Secondary School)

Education Level:
Level of Education Years of Studying Age range of students
Kindergarten 3 4 - 6
Preparatory/Preschool 3 4 - 6
Primary 6 7 -12
Lower Secondary School 3 13 - 15
High School 3 16 - 18
Vocational School 3 Vary
University (Bachelor’s Degree) 4 - 6 19 - 24
School Year (Primary and Secondary)
First Semester 16th May to 11th October
Second Semester 1st November to 1st April
School Break
First Semester Break 12th to 30th October 
Second Semester Break 2nd April to 15th May
Enrollment and Dropout Rate
Level   Percentage of Enrollment Rate Percentage of Dropout Rate
Primary Education   100 1.13
Secondary Education Lower Secondary 99.47 2.43
  Upper Secondary 85.79 2.16
Source of Data: Ministry of Education (2011)
Major Education Issues & Problems
1. School Dropout
Disadvantaged people still cannot support their children’s education until their children complete their school due to a lack of income. Although the government has been largely investing in the education sector by promoting free education,  the cost of school is still too onerous for many families to handle. As such, many are forced to out of schools in order to work and support their family.
2. Government Education Inequality
The budget allocated for education in rural areas is much less than that of cities and teachers in these schools also tend to be less qualified.
3. Quality of Education
The evaluation of the overall quality of education in the rural area (National Examinations) in a primary school, lower secondary school and high school is lower than that of many developing countries, especially in subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies. One of the reasons is an atmosphere in the classroom in which students are not encouraged to learn and think by themselves.
4. Shortage of Teachers in Rural Schools
Most qualified teachers want to work in a school located in a city, and people who are highly qualified and competent to work in the academic field do not want to become  teachers because of the low income associated with such positions. Thus academic institutions inevitably are forced to recruit less qualified personnel. Moreover, according to the school quality assurance system, teachers have to spend considerable time preparing documentation for evaluations, so the time for developing teaching methodology is greatly reduced.
Working Areas
Northern Region 6 Provinces
Chiang mai, Chiang rai, Lamphun, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit
North Eastern Region 20 Provinces
Amnatcharoen, Buri ram, Chai yaphum, Khon kean, Kalasin, Loei, Mukdahan, Mahasarakham, Nongbualamphu, Nongkhai, Bueng kan, Nakhon ratchasima, Nakhon phanom, Roi et, Srisaket, Sakonnakhon, Surin, Uboratchathani, Udonthani,Yasothon
Central Region 9 Provinces
Bangkok, Pathum thani, Ayutthaya, Chai nat, Suphanburi, Nakhon sawan, Kamphaeng phet, Phetchabun, Phichit
Western Region 3 Provinces
Tak, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi
Eastern Region 1 Provinces
Chachoengsao
Southern Region 5 Provinces
Nakhon si thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat
Total 44 Provinces
Scholarship Program's Achievements
Chart 1 - Accumulative Number of Target Schools
Year Number of School
1988 - 2012 4,780
Chart 2 - Accumulative Number of Scholarships
Pictures tell the truth
Pictures of Thai rural students commuting to school

 

Pictures of Thai rural student's living condition Pictures of Thai rural student's lunch time Pictures of Thai rural school's classroom  
THEIR FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS SUPPORT A STUDENT