Challenges and Opportunities: Reforming the Thai Education System for Global Competitiveness

บทคัดย่อ

Thailand’s education system faces significant challenges that hinder its global competitiveness. Key issues include an outdated curriculum focused on rote learning, educational inequality between urban and rural areas, insufficient teacher training, and a lack of digital literacy and STEM education. These problems have resulted in poor performance on international assessments such as PISA and TIMSS, highlighting the need for comprehensive reform. This paper analyzes these challenges and explores opportunities for reform through curriculum modernization, enhanced teacher training, and the integration of technology in education. The proposed reforms emphasize critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy to better prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. The role of government initiatives, such as Thailand 4.0, and collaboration with the private sector and international organizations, is also examined. Additionally, the paper draws lessons from successful education reforms in neighboring countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia. Implementing these strategies can improve Thailand’s global education standing, reduce inequalities, and produce a globally competitive workforce. The long-term implications of successful reform will position Thailand to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.