Thailand’s Education Ministry has ordered state and private schools nationwide not to use competitive exams, pass-fail systems or rankings for children under six, saying early education should focus on development rather than academic competition.
Deputy government spokesperson Captain Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn announced the directive today, August 27, saying the ministry had instructed the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) to ensure schools comply.
The directive reinforces the Early Childhood Development Act 2019, which requires children under six to receive care, development and education appropriate for their age across physical, mental, emotional, social and intellectual development.
Under the guidelines, schools should move away from academic kindergarten exams and instead assess each child’s development through observation.
Teachers can consider behaviour, communication skills, the ability to care for themselves and participation in group activities. Schools can also use portfolios containing children’s work and records of activities to monitor individual progress rather than relying on scores.
Patdarasm said the approach is intended to prevent children from being pushed into academic competition too early.
The government also warned that intensive academic study and compulsory testing at kindergarten age can place excessive pressure on young children and negatively affect their long-term development.
The Education Ministry is meanwhile developing a national education curriculum framework that will include early childhood education.
Paediatricians specialising in children and adolescents, along with experts from the Department of Mental Health, have been invited to join the working group developing the framework.
The government expects the changes to reduce the amount parents spend on tutoring for young children. Schools have also been instructed to improve how they report individual developmental progress to parents.
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