Research on Scenario of Thai Education in the Next 10 – 20 Years Dr. Pinsuda Siridhrungsri Director of Graduate Diploma Program in Education Management, Graduate School, Dhurakij Pundit University

Research Reasons Education has been reformed for 10 years, but lacks of quality at all levels Globalization issues affect on education: - social changes / problems - economic crises - environment and energy problems - science, technology and innovation - politic situations - population: aging Knowledge - based society & economy New policies

Research Purposes © To study the social trend at global and national levels, affecting on Thai education; © To visualize Thai Education in the next 10 – 20 years, keeping in mind the globalization and rapid changes of society, economy, politics, and science and technology; and © To propose development strategies for Thai education alongside the globalization and those changes in the next 10 – 20 years.

1. To study and synthesize the social trend at global and national levels, affecting Thai education; Research Scope 2. To study the direction of national development in the areas of 1) society, 2) economy and services 3) environment and energy, 4) Science, technology and innovation, 5) politics and administration, and 6) population 3. To forecast Thai education in the future, inclusive of desirable and undesirable scenarios, opportunities and treats that might occur; and 4. To purpose the development strategies for Thai education in the future

Methodology 1. society; 2. economy, production and services; 3. environment and energy; 4. science, technology and innovation; 5. politics and administration; 6. population by brainstorming among representatives from concerned agencies of the sub – committee appointed to do the research on scenario of Thai education. ( 5 meetings) focused on studying the current situation, problems and social trend, at global and national levels, which affected Thai education under the guidance of the Sub – Committee. The scenario of Thai education was forecasted by concerned agencies in six aspects, comprising: This phase research methodology applied for including: - documentary researches, - brainstorming, - in-depth interviews of concerned experts, and seminars in the focus group discussion (experts and representatives from concerned agencies) and then proposed a complete scenario of Thai education in the next 10 – 20 years.

CHART I: FORESIGHT OF THAI EDUCATION IN THE NEXT YEARS Economy, Production and Services Competitive Economy (knowledge-based economy/knowledge workers/intellectual properties) Sufficiency Economy and Globalization (sufficiency economy/ FTA/transnational/ cross-border trades) General Economy (agro-industry/income distribution) Future Employment (keep main professions for Thais/production of parts/knowledge management/ adaptability to new jobs) Productions & Services (medical/health services/ goods & services Proposals for Thai Education in the Future Society Competitive Society (wisdom, knowledge- based/learning society) Human Rights Society (human rights/ethnics/ migration/health/public health) General Society (Elderly society/smaller& independent families) Sufficiency Society and Thai Way of Life (culture/way of life/ morality/ethics/social values/religions/ democratic society/ harmonious society/ society of equality) Proposals for Thai Education in the Future Political Administration Democracy Decentralization to Local Administration Organizations Problems in Three Southernmost Provinces Proposal for Thai Education in the Future Population Population Structure Tendency of Population Change/ Increase of Elderly People Migration within a Country or between Countries Employment Proposal for Thai Education in the Future Science, Technology & Innovation IT IT Development Techno for Education Techno Changes Molecular Biotechnology Nanotechnology Access to Information Proposal for Thai Education in the Future Directions for National Development Integration of 6 Aspects (Society, Economy/ Production & Services, Science, Technology & Innovation, Political Administration, and Population) Education and Directions for National Development Legal Framework Assurance of Rights & Freedom in Education Knowledge Management (Knowledge Access/ Generation/ Compilation/ Distribution/Application/ Value and Learning Organizations) Proposal for Thai Education in the Future Desirable/Undesirable Foresights: Environment/Thai People/Education Globalization INTERACTION Environment & Energy Physical Conservation & Development Environmental Studies Global warming/ resources and global energy) Pollution Clean Energy Proposals for Thai Education in the Future Current Situation, Problems, Trends of Global and Thai Context Regarding Education Proposals for Thai Education in the Future FORESIGHT OF THAI EDUCATION

Research Findings Society: 1. The Current Situation and the Social Trend, at Global and National Levels: Society of Competitiveness Society of Human Right Society of Sufficiency

Economy: 1. The Current Situation and the Social Trend, at Global and National Levels: Economy of Competitiveness Sufficiency Economy would play equally important roles Research Findings

Environm ent and Energy: 1. The Current Situation and the Social Trend, at Global and National Levels: Global energy reserve would run out Environmental crisis would affect the world Environmental studies would be provided to global citizens and would be embedded into education, at all levels Environmental and energy conservation & development would be based upon knowledge Research Findings

2. Proposals for Thai education in Future: 1. Human development 2. Social development 3. Mobilization 4. Immunity for Thai people Research Findings

3. Scenario of Thai education : Context Thai people Thai education Research Findings

3. Scenario of Thai education : Desirable Context  Strong communities  Safe and kind society  Country with competitiveness  Stable economy  Comparable incomes for all  Increased conservation  Development of environment Undesirable Context  Broken families  Weak communities  Unsustainable development of economy and society  Lack of economic and social immunity  Unemployed citizens  Increased gaps between rich and poor  Ignorance to use of wisdom & knowledge  Lacks of the ability Research Findings

3. Scenario of Thai education : Desirable Thai People  Responsibility  Quality  Intensive and inclusive knowledge  Language competence  Technology literacy  Ability to stay healthy and to attach to morality  Good physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and social conditions  Equip with knowledge and skills  Analytical thinking Undesirable Thai People  Poor health  Poor mental condition  Lack of responsibility  Lack of scientific analysis & analytical thinking  Believe others irrationally  Lack of consciousness and harmony  Support for violence  Selfishness  Lack of service mind etc. Research Findings

3. Scenario of Thai education : Desirable Thai Education  Developing individuals’ knowledge  Skills  Intellectual and emotional quotients  Ability to adjust to the social environment  The development of human brain and intellectual quotients  The integration of morality and ethics  Based upon mechanisms of science and technology  Research and development in the era of knowledge-based economy and society. Undesirable Thai Education  Lacked moral and responsibility To wards society at large  lack of analytical thinking based upon scientific foundation  focus on graduation more than on learning - - > brainless, could not learn and acquired favorable skills  lack of creativity, dislike learning and seeking for knowledge  lack of intensive and inclusive knowledge  Spend their time recklessly  Not be able to apply the knowledge to develop and manage lives Research Findings

3. Scenario of Thai education : Opportunities  Education & life-long learning increasing recognition  Stable economic condition of Asia drive Thailand to develop & improve competitiveness  The progress in science, technology, and innovation - - > people & learner with increasing access to learn / seek for knowledge  Government invest more in education due to the decrease of school-age population  Problems prompted the awareness / protection plans whilst education & learning be viewed as the tool and mechanism to eliminate problems. Threats  Unstable politics affect the continuity & sustainability of education;  The government might not give the first priority to education  People, parents focused more on their well-being and less on education  Economic crisis that may happen in the future would decrease the support for education from the government and parents  Other treats that may halt educational development in the rural areas included natural disasters, environmental problems, infective diseases, and conflicts along the borders. Research Findings

Recommendations for Development of Thai Education 4. Recommendations for Development of Thai Education : Research Findings Short-Term Phase Intermediate Phase Long-Term Phase

Research Findings Recommendations for Development of Thai Education 4. Recommendations for Development of Thai Education :  Accelerate the development of education at all levels  Accelerate the assessment of school quality and standards to cover existing educational institutions

Research Findings Recommendations for Development of Thai Education 4. Recommendations for Development of Thai Education :  All concerned agencies should expedite/review educational reform throughout the whole system include; - philosophy - ideas - curriculum objectives - teaching-learning process - learning assessment - teacher development - resource and investment of education - science and technology etc

Research Findings Recommendations for Development of Thai Education 4. Recommendations for Development of Thai Education :  Basic Education: Education should be provided and administrated by citizens; the government should be only supporters together with conducting policy, standard and evaluation.  Higher Education: Higher education institutions should become autonomous institutions