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Member Since 1973-2004; Rejoined 2007

Partner Ministry/Organization
Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
Address of Embassy in Manila
Royal Thai Embassy
107 Rada, Legazpi Village, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila
Recent Programs Held (2018-2023)
2024:
  • In-Country Program on Greening TVET for Sustainable Development (January 29-February 2)
2023:
  • In-Country Program on 21st Century Skills for TVET (February 20-24)
2022:
  • In-Country Program on Project Management in TVET (March 21-25)
  • Regional Program on Leadership for Sustainable TVET and Senior Executive Conference for CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028 (December 12-16)
2021:
  • CPSC Joint Training Programme on The Thinking Hands Story – Singapore Skills Transformation 4.0 (July 23-30)
2020:
  • Online In-Country Program on APACC Post Accreditation System (November 30-December 2)
2018:
  • In-Country Program on Developing Generic Skills for Employment Mobility (January 29-February 2)
  • In-Country Program on Branding of TVET Programs through Quality and Image Building (November 26-30)

Thailand Flag Flag

Official Name
Kingdom of Thailand
Land Area
513,120 km2
Country Borders
Myanmar (west, northwest), Malaysia (south), Laos (northeast), Cambodia (southeast)
Capital
Bangkok
Religion/s
Buddhism, Islam, Christianity
Language
Thai
Demonym
Thai
National Holidays
5 December (Father’s Day/ King Bhumibol’s Birthday)

Photo courtesy of Thai PBS World

No. of Years of Primary Education
6 years
No. of Years - Lower Secondary Education
3 years
No. of Years - Upper Secondary Education
3 years
No. of Years - Tertiary Education
4 years
Ministry of Supervising Education
Ministry of Education, Thailand
Agency Handling TVET
Ministry of Education (MOE)
Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC)
Formal TVET System
Formal TVET programmes are offered at the secondary education level. TVET programmes are being taught at the upper secondary education level in vocational colleges and institutes for about three years.

    The types of colleges that offers formal TVET can be classified as follows:

  • Technical colleges;
  • Vocational colleges;
  • Agricultural and technology colleges;
  • Commercial colleges;
  • Industrial and ship building technology colleges;
  • Fishery colleges;
  • Administration and tourism colleges;
  • Polytechnic colleges;
  • Automotive industry colleges;
  • Golden Jubilee Royal goldsmith colleges; and
  • Arts and crafts colleges
Qualification Framework
The Thai national qualifications framework was established as a proposal by the Office of the Education Council (OEC) of the Ministry of Education, taking part of the National manpower production and development initiative during the second decade of education reform 2009–18. This intended to address the situation of Thailand in terms of qualifications of workers in the manufacturing and services sectors wherein many workers had acquired competences but had no proper qualifications for the job. With this framework, it will provide an improved quality education and training in Thailand to strengthen their sector of production and services.
Level of Thai NQF

Source: UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre

TVET Financing
Thailand practices the ‘train or pay’ in support of the amended Skill Development Promotion Act which aims employers to train their employees by obliging companies with 100 employees and more to provide yearly skill training to at least 50% of their employees. Those that do not do this are subject to a levy which funds a Skills Development Fund.

The tax exemption scheme covers certain requirements such as:
i) the curriculum must be approved by the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development;
ii) it has to be work-relevant;
iii) it should last at least 6 hours for upgrading training and at least 18 hours for training for a different position in the firm;
iv) the number of trainees should not exceed 50 persons/group for group training, and 25 persons for practical training;
v) trainees should attend at least 80% of the whole training session.
GDP
3.2% (2024)
Currency
Thai Baht (THB)
Major Exports
Office Machine Parts ($20.3B)
Integrated Circuits ($11.2B)
Cars ($10.9B)
Delivery Trucks ($9.52B)
Motor vehicles ( parts and accessories ) ($8.44B)
Major Imports
Crude Petroleum ($20.1B)
Integrated Circuits ($11.3B)
Gold ($8.05B)
Petroleum Gas ($6.65B)
Motor vehicles ( parts and accessories) ($6.49B)
Major Export Partners
United States ($45.3B)
China ($37.7B)
Japan ($25.1B)
Vietnam ($12.5B)
Australia ($12.1B)
Major Import Partners
China ($69.6B)
Japan ($31.2B)
Malaysia ($12.7B)
United States ($12.2B)
United Arab Emirates ($9.1B)

King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua
Photo courtesy of Assumption University of Thailand

Type of Government
Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (de jure)
Head of State
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua
King of Thailand
Head of Government
H.E. Mr Srettha Thavisin
Prime Minister
Branches of Government
The Executive (King and Prime Minister)
The Legislature (National Assembly)
The Judiciary (Supreme Court)

Thai Students
Celebration of Royal Ploughing Ceremony, 2022
Photo courtesy of Nutthawat Wicheanbut, Apichit Jinakul and Television Pool of Thailand (TV Pool)

Literacy Rate
98.1% (2021)
Country Code
+66
ISO Code
TH
Internet TLD
.th
Other Important Holidays
Makha Bucha (February 24)
Chakri Day (April 6)
Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May 10)
The Passing of King Bhumibol (October 13)
Chulalongkorn Day (October 23)
Thailand Constitution Day (December 10)
References
  • https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/thailand/
  • International Labour Organization. Retrieved May 16, 2019 from: https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/WCMS_458131/lang--en/index.htm
  • https://www.bic.moe.go.th/images/stories/book/ed-eng-series/intro-ed08.pdf
  • https://procurementtactics.com/thailand-import-and-export/
  • https://oec.world/en/profile/country/tha
  • https://www.info.dfat.gov.au/info/hog/hog.nsf/ListSpecific?OpenForm&ExpandView&RestrictToCategory=Thailand
  • https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/5d5bcd4d15e39c306000ff19?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c3060006834
  • https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/literacy-rate-by-country/
  • https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/thailand/2024
  • https://www.cpsctech.org/1973/12/thailand.html