Apparently there is a 3 year prekindergarten for ages 3-5 but I don't think that is universal. The elementary division is 6 years, grades 1 - 6. Lower secondary is 3 years. grades 7-9. This ends the mandatory part of the educational system. Entrance to upper secondary, grades 10-12 is by entrance exam and there are fees attached to it. What this means is many Thai children are done by 15 years of age and end up working in factories making products for the developed world. Most rural Thais to not get to be kids for very long. The girls are often pregnant by 17 and in some kind of relationship that ends up going nowhere.
'SECONDARY EDUCATION
Secondary education is divided into two three-year cycles: lower and upper secondary, both of which are three years in length. Fees are charged for secondary education but there are government-funded programs designed to help needy families. In an effort to expand educational opportunities in remote rural areas, the Office of National Primary Education Commission has established lower secondary school programs around the country. The Sema Life Development Project provides secondary education scholarships for rural girls who are often preyed on by prostitution rings. Only 56 percent of Thai children are enrolled in secondary school.'
I tend to think that the 56% figure is skewed. I would think that 100% of hi-so (high society) Thais attend upper secondary whereas somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% of lo-so Thais attend.
I recently read (somewhere ... will try to remember where) that 50% of the land in Thailand is owned by 1% of the people.
There are many inequities in Thailand. Upper high school students must where uniforms. Guess what? Most of the rural poor can not afford to buy the uniforms.
Thailand is trying to figure out how to make this all better. The military junta is making strides towards a more democratic and equal opportunity Thailand. They do not have an easy job!
One has to think it has to begin with the educational system :-)
Thavorn ... playing at being a kid
I love that smile ....
TTYL
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