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
Participation in Regional Programs (2018-2023)
  • Regional Program on Navigating the Future of TVET: Addressing Challenges and Fostering Positive Change, December 4-6, 2023, Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, Inc. (TMPF); Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech)
  • Regional Program on Empowering TVET Sector through Digitalization and Climate Resilient Skills for Sustainable Development, October 16-20, 2023, Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Regional Program on Revolutionalize TVET: Innovation in Transformational Pedagogy, Competency Building and International Collaboration, October 2-5, 2023, Johor, Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM); and Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (MyRIVET)
  • Regional Program on Role of Business Incubators in Encapsulating Sustainable Development: A TVET Perspective, September 4-8, 2023, Chandigarh, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chandigarh
  • 2022 CPSC-BFIC Busan Global Training Program on Digital and Infrastructure Transformation on Engineering, Design and Pedagogy in TVET: Smart City Transportation with ITS Model (Phase 1), November 14-18, 2022, Online, in collaboration with Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC)
  • Regional Program on TVET Strategic Planning and Experts' Meeting for the CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, November 7-11, 2022, Shah Alam, Malaysia, in collaboration with Department of Polytechnic and Community Colleges (DPCCE)
  • Regional Program on Integrating IR 4.0 Competency and 21st Century Skills in TVET,
    May 17-21, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovation in TVET Management, March 22-26, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovation in Curriculum Development Integrating ICT and Digital Skills,
    February 15-19, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovating TVET by Developing Digital Contents Using ICT Tools,
    February 1-5, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Equipping Digital Competencies in TVET to Address IR 4.0, August 24-28, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Strengthening TVET Quality and Relevance through Institute-Industry Linkages,
    March 2-6, 2020, Pokhara, Nepal, in collaboration with Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)-Nepal
  • Regional Program on Equipping Future Workforce with 21st Century and Technopreneurship Skills through Quality TVET Programs, February 2-6, 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in collaboration with Institution of Diploma Engineers (IDEB)-Bangladesh
  • Regional Program on Quality Assurance in TVET and APACC Strategic Planning, October 21-25, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Skilling TVET in the Era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, August 25-29, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Sustainable (Green) Skills and Employability through TVET, April 22-26, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Entrepreneurship in TVET and International Conference on Skilling for Self-Employment, February 18-22, 2019, Chandigarh, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chandigarh
  • Regional Program on Quality and Sustainable TVET and International Conference on Skills in TVET for Sustainability, October 8-10, 2018, Chennai, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chennai
  • Regional Program on TVET for Socio-Economic Transformation and International Conference on Innovations in TVET for Socio-Economic Development, October 1-3, 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, in collaboration with the Diploma Engineers Association (DEAN)-Nepal; and Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)
Recent Programs Held (2018-2024)
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

Logos of Ministry of Education, Thailand (left) and Office of the Vocational Education Commission (right)

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.

Gold, Import of Thailand
Photo courtesy of Crown Gold Exchange

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