Primary school spending and enrollment figures aren't bad compared with other parts of Asia, according to a report by the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization. But secondary education is a disaster. That's even less than impoverished Vietnam, a potential future competitor for foreign manufacturing investment. The educational system is a mess from top to bottom. More than half the education budget is spent on administration, which obviously leaves less for teachers.
Low salaries make it difficult to retain qualified educators.
Students are encouraged to learn and recite facts, not to solve problems, say reformers, who think the entire system needs an overhaul. Thailand universities do churn out a surplus of engineers, with about 10,000 new graduates coming onto the job market every year. But many are not up to scratch, says Sitthichai, the Mahanakon University president. Graduates trained in both information technology and English are scarce. Most schools concentrate on theory at the expense of practical experience.