6-12-2023 (BANGKOK) Thai students have registered disappointing scores in maths, reading, and science according to the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ratings, as revealed by Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob on Wednesday. Blaming the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister pledged to enhance educational outcomes for students in the country.
In the most recent PISA assessment conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Thai students, aged 15, obtained scores of 394 in maths (a decline from 419 in the 2018 assessment), 409 in science (down from 426), and 379 in reading (down from 393).
Among the 81 countries assessed, Thai students ranked 58th for maths and science, and 64th for reading, underscoring a significant drop in their global academic standing.
Parit Wacharasindhu, a Move Forward Party list MP, expressed concern over the declining performance of the Thai education system over the past two decades, emphasizing that the assessment results should serve as a wake-up call regarding the critical state of Thai education.
Minister Permpoon attributed part of the poor performance to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting student examinations. He noted that this educational setback was not unique to Thailand, highlighting that all countries experienced difficulties during the Covid-19 period.
While promising to address the issue, the minister also took responsibility for the outcome, pledging improvements by the next PISA assessment scheduled for 2025.
Permpoon acknowledged a deficiency in Thai students’ analytical skills, particularly when faced with reading lengthy passages. He advocated for a shift towards more open-ended questions, replacing the traditional multiple-choice format in tests.
