Thai students leaving school mid-year at alarming rate

Thailand’s Education Minister Police General Permpoon Chidchob announced yesterday that Thai students are leaving mid-year at an alarming rate. But despite this recent uptick, the minister expects a reversal of this trend in the near future.

New data indicates that approximately 20,000 students have dropped out this year. Permpoon shared these statistics following a meeting with top executives from the Education Ministry and other officials.

During this meeting, the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) provided an update on the enhancements made by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

The PISA is revamping its courses, media, learning management models, and assessment tools to better suit students across different education levels. The focus is increasingly on critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and practical applications and research.

The IPST has also organised a training course on PISA online testing aimed at 21,985 officers across various educational bodies. These include the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Office of Private Education Commission (OPEC), the Vocational Education Commission (VEC), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry, and the Department of Local Administration.

Despite these efforts, the results have not yet met the expectations previously set by the minister. Permpoon has mandated that the target must be achieved by the end of this month.

The Department of Learning Encouragement (DOLE) reported that the majority of the 20,000 Thai students who dropped out did so for personal reasons and due to poor economic conditions.

With several agencies tirelessly at work to address this concerning issue, Permpoon maintains his optimism, hoping that the number of school dropouts will soon see a decrease or even a reversal by June 10, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, Thailand’s unemployment rate continues to climb, with a staggering 410,000 people out of work in the first quarter of this year, according to the National Statistical Office. The hardest-hit group is those with higher education degrees.