Advanced technology and the advent of globalization have pressurized many countries, including Thailand, to compete on the world market. Advantages include an educated population, high calibre human resources, competitive-edge potential and wisdom. Education is the most important factor in evolving the human mind towards quality and calibre. Thailand has long contemplated developing and modernizing its antiquated education system and evidently, with the launch of the new Education Act B.E. 2542, it is now constructing a national competitive edged foundation of enhanced capacity. As a result, this pioneering platform will assure Thais the opportunity of embarking on a new scenario full of promise.

However, before any educational plan and policymaking towards a higher education capacity are implemented, the real current education status must be known. The Office of the National Education Commission (ONEC) conducted a detailed study on Thailand's educational capability in comparison to other countries, namely, U.S.A., U.K., Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. The study included statistical figures on various factors, correlated with the effectiveness and efficiency of education endowment, such as population, economic situation and the community. The study's aim was to encourage executives nationwide to act cohesively in planning the reforms. The following three highlighted issues: school attendance and retention; labourers' education; and effectiveness of the educational budget administration, reflect prime problems in education reform that need immediate action.

Over-age Primary School Pupils

Thai primary school attendance rate in 1999 constituted 103.6%, a rise from 1997 (103%) and 1998 (102.6%), while the secondary school attendance rate was 70.5%, a growth from 1997 (64.8%) and 1998 (66.8%). Percentage figures are calculated by dividing the total number of primary/secondary school pupils by the total numbers of the primary/secondary school-going population, aged between 6-11 (primary school) and 12-17 (secondary school). Results show more students, including over-age students, are joining classes at both primary and secondary levels. Conversely, it may be interpreted as showing fewer pupils within the appropriate age ranges going to school. Figures from the findings reflect that some children do not get any school opportunities during their appropriate age ranges.

Although the number of primary and secondary school pupils is rising, it is still relatively low by international standards. In 1997, Thailand's net primary school attendance rate was 88% compared to other countries' 90% or more, including Vietnam. Thailand's net secondary school attendance rate is 47.6%, which is much lower than the others, with South Korea and Japan, in particular, indicating 99.9%.

Under-educated labour market

In 1999, 33% of youth between 15-19 worked in the labour market, while 61% were school system and non-school system students, while 61% worked off the labour market. A total 73% of youth between 20-24 were in the labour market, while 14% were in school and 13% pursued domestic work or were off the labour market, Finally, 87% of youth between 25-29 were in the labour market, while 12% were either domestic workers or not available for the labour market and 1% were students.

The review of labour distribution indicated more workers with under-secondary school education in Thailand compared to Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, UK and USA. Although university graduates in Thailand had a 92% employment rate, that of people with under-secondary school education was also high. However, it also implies that the future productivity of Thailand is declining because the labour force is not in school long enough which is necessary for any future constructive training. Education is a grass root important need for both life and career development.

Ineffectiveness of budget administration

From 1993 up to the present, the Government's average investment has constituted no less than 4% of the Gross National Product (GNP) which is the highest among all other Asian countries, except Malaysia, whose average investment is 5%. The Government's total expenditure allocation for education has, in recent years, been over a 20% slice of the total budget, with 25% in the fiscal year of 1999 and 23% in the fiscal year of 2000. Average investment by other countries is 18%, with a Singapore high of 20%.

Despite the government's high education investment, the US$114.6 per head is still lower than that of other countries - eleven, six and three times lower than that of Japan, Singapore and South Korea respectively.

The findings indicated that the inferiority of the Thai education system was not, therefore, due to lack of investment, but rather more dependent on the effectiveness and efficiency of total budget allocation.

The Education Act B.E. 2542 provides the framework to respond to these shortcomings and achieve education reform effectively and rapidly. Emphasis lies on Chapters 12 and 39 of the Education Act B.E. 2542 concerning the acquisition of contributions from all sectors of the community and decentralizing power in educational administration respectively. The educational charter hints that solutions to archaic administrative procedures, in principle, should be streamlined. And rather than allocate any further educational investment on central administration, it should be allocated to community educational services and to students.

The rest of the study focused on teaching methods, other administration involved in education endowment and lastly, incentives on teacher's vocations. Education reform requires a concerted effort from the government sector, cooperation from the private sector and the will of all the people in its implementation. Through the auspices of the Education Act B.E. 2542 and the aforementioned combined assistance, Thailand's future generations will have the chance to reach their full potential and become better endowed, with appropriate standards, to achieve equal opportunities to compete in the international arena that will ensure an improved quality of life for everyone.

THE NATION: Wednesday 7th, June 2000 Page A6