d for use in Bangkok and, at a later period, in the provinces.
In 1887, an official Department of Education was formed and given responsibility of education and religious affairs of the entire country. Until 1982, the Department was still a function of the Royal Court. When it became a full-fledged Ministry in 1982 new approaches were employed, placing more emphasis on popular education. Thus government primary schools were established throughout the kingdom so that literacy, good citizenship and a better standard of living for the people could be achieved (Sudaprasert, 1973).
The early 20th Century witnessed many developments in education in Thailand (Sudaprasert, 1973). In 1910 the first university in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, was founded with four faculties namely, Medicine, Law and Political Science, Engineering, and Arts and Science.
The extent of responsibilities and the regulations pertaining to the participation of the private sector in national education were laid down for the first time in 1918 when the Private School Act was passed. The Compulsory Primary Education Act was proclaimed in 1921 and the first school of Arts and Crafts was established in 1922.
After the adoption of the system of constitutional monarchy in the year 1932, a National Educational Scheme was formulated, making formal recognition of individual educational ability, regardless of sex, social background, or physical conditions. This scheme has been regularly revised to ensure that every citizen is provided with the four major aspects of education:
* ôPuttisuksa" (Intellectual education)
* "Chariyasuksa"(Moral education),
* "Hattasuksa"(Practical education).
The official policy in Thailand is that education is conceived as a continuing life-long process which promotes the quality of life for the people, enabling them to lead a useful life in society. The emphasis is thus laid upon expansion of education so t...