Towards 12-year Universal Basic Educational provision in Thailand: public and private dimensions

Abstract

This thesis concerns educational policy and management in Thailand, with specific reference to the expansion of the existing 6-year primary education to 12-year basic education. The study starts with an analysis of the past and present Thai education systems, the politics surrounding them and reviews the existing educational machinery set up to deal with the current compulsory six-year primary education. Public and private participation in educational provision is examined.

This study develops a conceptual and practical framework for the design of educational provision. It draws upon and extends the core concept of the Contingency Approach originated by Rondinelli, Middleton, and Verspoor (1987; 1990) and it utilises both qualitative and quantitative methods in doing so. The data are classified and transformed into requirements, capacity, feasibility and implementation phases, taking account of environmental uncertainty which subsequently determines the four possible alternatives available for the implementation of a model for a 12-year basic education provision in the framework of action plans.

The findings reveal that in the current economic crisis the present education reform plan is not appropriate for extending the compulsory six-year primary education to a compulsory twelve-year one. Four possible alternatives are then recommended for further discussion depending on the policy of the government. It is suggested that the most appropriate in the circumstances is the option that involves a transitional period of 9-year compulsory education followed by 12-year compulsory education by 2017. It is hoped that the conceptual and practical framework and the model may be useful for developing countries which wish to expand their basic education provision.