Thailand - Constitutional & Legal Foundations

In 1871 King Rama V issued the Command Declaration on Schooling, representing the beginning of formal education in Siam. At that time, however, such schools were essentially elitist and served the royal family and their adoptees. Later schools were established to serve commoners. An English school was set up at the Palace to prepare princes and other royals for study overseas. In 1887, King Rama V established a formal Department of Education, responsible for the administration of all schools in the Kingdom (34 at that time) and religious affairs. As part of a major administrative reform of government, King Rama V established 13 ministries and the Department of Education was transformed into the Ministry of Education. In 1902, the National System of Education in Siam was promulgated providing for two types of education: general and professional or technical. The system specified various age limits for admission. In 1921, the Compulsory Primary Education Act became law, requiring compulsory four years of schooling.

Eleven years later in 1932, Siam was transformed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy through a bloodless revolution. Following that transition, the first National Education Scheme was introduced. It articulated the ideal of equality of opportunity for all regardless of gender or socioeconomic background. In 1960, compulsory education was extended to seven years, four years of primary education and three years of lower secondary. This new law though was not vigorously enforced and most Thais, especially in rural areas completed only four years of formal schooling. In 1977, Thailand's educational system was changed from a 4-3-3-2 to a 6-3-3 structure, with six years of compulsory education, three years of lower secondary, and three years of upper secondary. This change was designed to ensure that more Thais would complete a complete cycle of basic education.

On August 14, 1999, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed a new National Education Act, reflecting the basic policies of educational reform mandated by the new democratic constitution approved on October 11, 1997. This new act called for 12 years of free education for all Thais and 9 years of compulsory schooling.