On all levels of learning, there are mostly government schools and just a few private schools. Though Wats have been the traditional institutions of learning for many centuries, their importance in this field has much declined. Today, they principally offer non-formal education in religion . Buddhist tenets are thought on all primary schools except those in Muslim areas in the South.
Primary education consists of a six-year elementary term.
It is taken care of almost exclusively by municipal schools and provided free. Primary education is compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 15. There is no compulsory education for those who haven t finished elementary school when reaching the age of 15, or for those who finish elementary school before reaching the age of 15. College courses or vocational training follow after secondary level schooling. There are about 180 colleges and vocational schools.