Thailand's children are falling behind — and the nation's future depends on what happens next

Thailand’s education system is in crisis, with one in three children unable to read properly by age ten and rising youth unemployment threatening economic growth. On June 8, The Nation hosted a roundtable in Bangkok titled *Beyond the Classroom: Thai Education Beyond Borders*, bringing together education leaders, policymakers, and student representatives to address systemic failures. The event underscored deep inequalities: Thailand’s wealthiest 10% spend seven and a half times more on education than the poorest 10%, creating a ‘two-dimensional inequality’ that harms both students and the economy. Dr Kraiyos Patrawart of the Equitable Education Fund argued for shifting focus from mass degree production to skills aligned with future work demands. The Ministry of Education presented its LEARN framework—five pillars centered on learner agency, educator empowerment, resource allocation, reach, and network—to modernize the system. A proposed flexible credit bank system would allow lifelong skill accumulation across institutions, though critics like Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party called for overhauling budget models to support rural schools and updating the curriculum for a digital age. Policy instability emerged as a major obstacle, with Dr Karndee Leopairote of the Democrat Party warning that Thailand’s 21 education ministers in 20 years hinder long-term reform. She proposed leveraging artificial intelligence to bridge urban-rural divides, comparing it to ‘a new electricity.’ Beyond academics, speakers emphasized mental health, with Hartanto Gunawan advocating for a mandatory ME101 well-being subject to combat trauma and improve resilience. Nisanart Dharmageisirattana of the American School of Bangkok stressed mindfulness as a low-cost tool to enhance learning outcomes. Experts agreed urgent action is needed to prevent long-term damage to Thailand’s workforce and social fabric, calling for political will, sustained funding, and a holistic approach to education.