Education in Thailand

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-lxxiv

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2. Background: The Thai Context

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. History and Development of Thai Education

      • Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

      Pages 3-32

   3. The Thai Context: Historical, Cultural, Demographic, Geographic, Economic, and Political

      • Gerald W. Fry

      Pages 33-56

   4. Religion and Educational Development in Thailand

      • Gerald W. Fry

      Pages 57-75

3. The Contemporary Thai Educational System

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 77-77

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   2. The Structure of Thai Education

      • Cuttariya Jangdecha, Panthep Larpkesorn

      Pages 79-92

   3. Preschool and Primary Education: Thailand’s Progress in Achieving Education for All

      • Sheldon Shaeffer

      Pages 93-124

   4. Rethinking Thai Secondary Education

      • Amornwich Nakornthap

      Pages 125-161

   5. Vocational Education in Thailand: Its Evolution, Strengths, Limitations, and Blueprint for the Future

      • Yongyuth Chalamwong, Wanwisa Suebnusorn

      Pages 163-187

   6. Nonformal and Informal Education in Thailand

      • Sumalee Sungsri

      Pages 189-222

   7. Thai Higher Education: Privatization and Massification

      • Oliver S. Crocco

      Pages 223-255

   8. Quality and Autonomous Universities: Policy Promises and the Paradox of Leadership

      • Rattana Lao

      Pages 257-270

   9. The Internationalization of Thai Higher Education over the Decades: Formidable Challenges Remain!

      • Porntip Kanjananiyot, Chotima Chaitiamwong

      Pages 271-321

4. Major Educational Issues: Inequalities and Disparities

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 323-323

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   2. Education of the Disadvantaged

      • Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

      Pages 325-344

   3. Inequalities in Educational Attainment

      • Dilaka Lathapipat

      Pages 345-372

   4. Regional Educational Disparities in Thailand

      • Gerald W. Fry, Hui Bi, Rosarin Apahung

      Pages 373-391

   5. Education in Thailand’s Ethnic Languages: Reflections on a Decade of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Policy and Practice

      • Suwilai Premsrirat, Kirk R. Person

      Pages 393-408

5. Educational Issues: Quality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 409-409

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This interdisciplinary book offers a critical analysis of Thai education and its evolution, providing diverse perspectives and theoretical frameworks. In the past five decades Thailand has seen impressive economic success and it is now a middle-income country that  provides development assistance to poorer countries. However, educational and social development have lagged considerably behind itsglobally recognized economic success. This comprehensive book covers each level of education, such as higher and vocational/technical education, and such topics as internationalization, inequalities and disparities, alternative education, non-formal and informal education, multilingual education, educational policy and planning, and educational assessment. The 25 Thai and 8 international contributors to the volume include well-known academics and practitioners. Thai education involves numerous paradoxes, which are identified and explained.  While Thailand has impressively expanded its educational system quantitatively with much massification, quality problems persist at all levels.  As such, the final policy-oriented summary chapter suggests strategies to enable Thailand to escape “the middle income trap” and enhance the quality of its education to ensure its long-term developmental success.

• Buddhist Education
• Education for All
• Thai education
• Thai educational leadership
• Thai higher education
• Thai moral education
• Thai shadow education
• education and inequality in Thailand
• education in Thailand
• language policy in Thailand
• regional educational disparities
• research and development in Thailand

• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

  Gerald W. Fry

Gerald W. Fry is a Distinguished International Professor at the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota.  He received his BA from Stanford University, an MPA from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University.  Previously Dr. Fry was a professor of political science and international studies at the University of Oregon where he also directed the International Studies Program and the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies.  He was the team leader for major Asian Development Bank projects related to education reform in Thailand and Laos.. He has previously taught at Stanford  and various universities in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.  In 1991-1992 he was a Pew Fellow in International Affairs at the Kennedy School at Harvard. His many publications include the books, Pacific Basin and Oceania; The International Education of Development Consultants: Communicating with Peasants and Princes; the International Development Dictionary; Thailand and its Neighbors: Interdisciplinary Perspectives; Association of Southeast Asian Nations; and Historical Dictionary of Thailand.

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