BANGKOK — The Office of the Education Council (OEC) has dismissed a recent report ranking Thailand’s education system below most of its ASEAN neighbors, arguing that the findings lack clear evidence and fail to reflect the country’s current educational landscape.
The report, published by World Population Review, placed Thailand at 107th globally out of 203 countries in its 2025 education rankings, trailing seven of the nine other ASEAN nations. Singapore led the region at 11th, followed by Brunei (47th), Vietnam (53rd), Indonesia (67th), the Philippines (71st), Malaysia (89th), and Laos (102nd), with only Myanmar and Cambodia ranking lower than Thailand. The OEC, however, contested the validity of the assessment, stating that it does not align with Thailand’s ongoing efforts to improve its education system.
“The ranking does not provide clear facts or reflect the current situation,” an OEC spokesperson said, emphasizing the need for more accurate metrics to evaluate educational progress. The spokesperson pointed to Thailand’s initial literacy rate of 99%—the highest in ASEAN—as a more reliable indicator of the country’s educational strengths. Final literacy results are expected to be released later this month.
According to a related report from the National Conference for Productivity and Competitiveness (NXPO), Thailand ranks poorly in key educational indicators, including pupil-to-teacher ratios (61st globally), English proficiency (57th), and overall PISA test scores (54th).
The World Population Review ranking also contrasts with other assessments. A previous report covering 73 countries placed Thailand at 48th globally and third in ASEAN, behind Singapore (22nd) and Malaysia (37th). OEC officials urged the public to focus on literacy rates and other direct measures of educational quality rather than broad rankings, which they argue can be misleading.
“Each organization has its own focus and purpose,” said Mr. Prawit, a senior OEC official. “While the ranking highlights areas for improvement, it also shows the need for Thailand to remain vigilant and serious about addressing systemic issues in our education system.”
The debate over the ranking unfolded as students across the country prepared for critical exams. Earlier this month, on March 6, thousands of students gathered at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi to take the entrance exam for Mathayom 4 (Year 10) at Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok. The prestigious school, known for its large yearly enrollment of upper-secondary students, has become a symbol of academic excellence in Thailand.
Public reaction to the OEC’s statement was mixed as of press time, notes The Pattaya News.
