The Curriculum of Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary School
The structure of lower and upper secondary school curricula includes 4 components
Core subjects: basic subjects that correspond to life and society in general and must be taken by all students. All of these subjects are prepared by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development, Ministry of Education.
- Thai Language
- Mathematic
- Science
- Social & Religious and Culture
Prescribed Elective Subjects: basic subjects which are different according to local conditions and needs. The local authorities are given an opportunity to choose the subjects offered according to the number of credits, or the local authorities can prepare the subjects offered by themselves in addition to those prescribed by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development.
- Health & Physical Science
- Professional works & Technology
- Foreign Language
- Arts
Free Elective Subjects: are open for learners to choose according to their interests,aptitude and needs. Students can choose either the subjects prepared by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development or those created by the local authorities.
- Foreign Language (English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, etc.)
Activities: All schools are required to organize three types of activities for learners: those organized in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education; guidance, remedial teaching or academic development activities; and independent activities of learners.
Curriculum Practical of Compulsory Education Usage BC 2544 (2001)
The guideline of Learning Essence will be guided as the following;
Period 1-3 (Prathom Suksa 1- Mattayom Suksa 3: Grade 1-9)
There are eight Learning Essence groups namely;
- Thai Language
- Mathematic
- Science
- Social & Religious and Culture
- Health & Physical Science
- Professional works & Technology
- Foreign Language and
- Arts
The school must provide all of eight groups of Learning essence for its students in each year but it is not necessary to study all at the first time. Actually, the students must have to finish studying with all of eight Learning essence groups and fulfill with the standard knowledge and competence as the required curriculum at the end of the period.
Period 4 (Mattayom Suksa 4-6: Grade 10-12)
The school must not provide all of eight groups of learning essence for the students in each semester and it is not necessary to study all at the first time. Actually, the students must finish studying with all of eight Learning essence groups and fulfill with the standard knowledge and competence as the required curriculum at the end of the period.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has agreed in principle to cover all costs under the 12-year free education scheme, and to extend free schooling to two years of kindergarten. A full free-education subsidy would amount to THB 1,700 per student at kindergarten level. The annual subsidy for primary school students would be raised from THB 1,499 to THB 1,900; for lower secondary school students from THB 2,649 to THB 3,500 and for upper secondary students from THB 3,249 to THB 3,800.
Educational Loan Fund – provides funds for students who come from low-income families and are continuing non-formal education in lower secondary and for students at high school level through to undergraduate school (for both mainstream and vocational curriculum). Students must pay back the loan with 1% interest per year after graduating.
Comparison of Grades among Thailand, England and USA
Anuban = Kindergarten; Prathom = Primary; Matayom = Secondary Sources:www.nidtep.go.th |
Grading System
| Grade | Meaning | Percentage |
| 43.5
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0 |
ExcellentVery Good
Good Quite Well Satisfactory Fair Pass Failure |
80-10075-79
70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 0-49 |
Education System in Thailand 