DESCRIPTIVE COMPARISON OF THAILAND AND PHILIPPINES
EDUCATION SYSTEM
A common goal of an educator is to see students become better people. As Aristotle once
said “the fate of empires depends on the education of youth”. How this is done is determined by
how well our learner internalizes the concepts of the discipline taught.
Every learner has the ability to achieve any objective set for them provided that they feel
in tune to what they are learning; without connection between the learner and the subject, the
learning process will be difficult and eventually the students’ loss interest. Citing Piaget’s theory
of development learning wherein, a child develops cognitive structures that connect previous
knowledge and experiences to new knowledge. This connection help the learner develop better
understanding and will be able to respond to his or her environment.
The Philippines is on its sixth year in implementing the K-12 program to cope with
educational systems worldwide under the supervision of the Department of Education. What is K
to 12 Program? “The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six
years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High
School [SHS] to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong
learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development,
employment, and entrepreneurship” (Government Gazette).
Gov.ph/k-12 stated that “the k-12 curriculum comes as part of the 10 Point Education
Agenda set out by the Aquino Administration in order to improve the overall quality of
education in Filipino schools. The other nine points include: universal kindergarten; instruction
in mother-tongue languages; establish the Madaris Education as a sub-system in the current
education system; make every child a reader by Grade 1; improve science and mathematics;
expand government assistance; better textbooks; build more schools in cooperation with local
government units (LGUs); and, re-introduce technical and vocational education in public high
schools.”
According to President Benigno Aquino, “the k-12 will pave the way for an even brighter
future for young Filipinos by equipping them with basic education up to international standards.”
The goal of the new curriculum is to provide enough time for students to master skills and
concepts in preparation for their tertiary education. Future students will be ready and better
equipped to join overseas universities at the undergraduate level with this new curriculum.
While the Philippines is “new” to the K-12 system, Thailand’s educational system has
been using this system for 36 years already. The 6-3-3 system has been introduced in 1977
(MOE, 1998). MOE further discussed that 6-3-3, was patterned through the American and
Japanese education system. It means six years of compulsory primary education, followed by
three years of lower secondary school and by another three years of upper secondary schooling.
From 1977 to the present day, the Ministry of Education has been geared to provide educational
services as a means for a better quality of life and society (MOE- History of Thai Education).
At present, the Thai education system under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education is
divided into four levels: Anuban - preschool (ages 3-5 years old), followed by six years of
Pratomsuksa - primary education, and another six years of Mattayumsuksa which divided into
two, the Mattayumsuksa Ton – lower secondary and Mattayumsuksa Plai – higher secondary.
Under the ministry of Education, the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is
responsible for improvement and development of preschool to secondary education. HM the
King’s “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy” has been adopted since the 8th period until now on
its 11th period (2012 – 2016). In this Philosophy, people are placed at the very heart of
development which is balanced in all aspects to attain well-defined outcomes at all societal
levels, and to position the country’s development on the middle path by integrating all aspects of
improvement from the level of the individual to society as a whole and incorporate economic,
environmental and political dimensions (OBEC).
According to the study of Cubalit (2017), entitled “ A descriptive Comparison of K12
Program as Implemented in the Philippines and in Thailand” there is a big difference in the
educational structure of both countries. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is the governing body
responsible for the overall education in Thailand. The Philippines’ Department of Education is
an executive department headed by a secretary which is responsible for the basic education only.
Thailand and the Philippines vision and mission are almost synonymous. Both countries are
focused in providing a quality student-centered education, realization of one’s potentials and
developing one’s country by being a responsible citizen. Education for all is practiced by both
countries in the school system from Kindergarten to high school level. Both countries are also
currently applying the K-12 program, however, both countries implementation of the program
are different. Thailand uses the K-6-3-3 which means kindergarten + six years primary school +
three years in lower secondary + three years in higher secondary. The Philippines on the other
hand, uses the K-6-4-2 which means kindergarten + six years elementary + 4 years junior high +
2 years senior high. The education body from both countries provides curriculum guidelines.
Each school is given freedom to implement any curriculum they deem necessary for the school
and students. Core subjects though, must be strictly offered. Thai core subjects are Thai
language, Mathematics, Science, Religion, and Culture. Elective courses like health & Physical
Science, Professional work and technology, Foreign Languages, and Arts are also taught
alongside with the core subjects prescribed. Philippine’s on the other side has seven learning
areas. These are Languages, Literature, communication, mathematics, Philosophy, natural
sciences and social science. Senior High school is given choices: Academic, Technical-
Vocational-Livelihood, or Sports and Arts. The Thai grading system is different from the
Philippine grading system. The passing grade in Thailand is 50% whereas, the Philippines is
75%.
Both Philippines and Thailand’s modern and global curriculum traced its reforms to the
Jomtien Declaration of Education for All (EFA) in 1991. Both countries have universal basic
education -- Kindergarten-to-12 in the Philippines which was enacted in 2011 and implemented
in 2016; the National Education Act of 1999 in Thailand, which was amended in 2002 and fully
implemented through the Basic Core Curriculum of 2008. These are response to Education for
All (EFA) Dakar Framework for Action in 2015. While both countries acknowledge some gap in
the implementation of Millennium Development Goal targets for education, Thailand is ahead in
education reforms and already crafting for 2030 curriculum under Thailand 4.0. Based from the
curriculum, Philippines has Kindergarten + six years in elementary + 4 years in junior high
school + 2 years in senior high school (K+6+4+2) while Thailand has Kindergarten + six years in
elementary + three years in junior high school + three years in senior high school (Pre-school +
6+3+3). The basic education students in the Philippines have lesser learning time than Thais.
Additionally, Filipino students study less in Science, Mathematics and Technology. Thai
students study more of their History, Arts and Culture (including Religion) than their Filipino
counterparts. The Philippines just adopted the use of mother-tongue as a medium of instruction
while the Thais are now receptive to different languages. It should be noted however, that the
new education curriculum was implemented in the Philippines only three years ago.
In a presentation made by Dr. Orathai Saksung on the comparison between the
educational system of Thailand and the Philippines, secondary level, she found out that the
curriculum and learning process at secondary education in Thailand is diversified and more
comprehensive. Thailand offers 6 years in secondary education while the Philippines offers 4
years only. The Philippines uses a bilingual medium of instruction while certain subjects are
taught in English, the rest are taught in the national language which is Filipino, Thailand on the
other hand generally use their Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction.
References:
Diego, L. (2021). Virtual Education Delivery as Alternative Mode of Education: A Comparative
Analysis of Thailand and the Philippine Educational System Facing COVID 19.
Techniumscience:23-30. http://www.philpapers.org/rec/DVIEVED.
OECD UNESCO. (2016). Education in Thailand.
www.oecd.org/about/publishing/corrigenda.htm
Lapinig, G. (2012).Comparative Studies of Educational Systems. http://olga-
compedsys.blogspot.com/
UNESCO. (2014). Education Systems in ASEAN+6 Countries: A Comparative Analysis of
Selected Educational Issues
