Category: The Bangkok Post

Thailand’s education system may be rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, with millions of students already using AI-assisted learning and almost all teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) trained to integrate the technology into classrooms.

But education officials say AI adoption alone will not determine the country’s future competitiveness.

While schools are making steady progress in preparing students for an AI-driven world and future international assessments, Thailand still faces a bigger challenge: producing enough industry-ready workers to meet the demands of a changing economy.

The contrast highlights the two sides of Thailand’s human capital agenda — transforming how students learn while ensuring graduates possess the practical skills employers need.

AI washes over classrooms

Among Thailand’s 6.5 million students, AI-adaptive learning has reached 3,326,065 learners through 160,507 trained teachers, while more than 93,000 students have developed skills to build AI ecosystems suited to local needs.

“The technical baseline for Thai students heavily relies on teacher competency in AI adoption,” said Eakasit Piyasangtong, director of the Bureau of Academic Affairs and Educational Standards, noting that about 94% of Obec teachers have completed AI training.

Teachers are encouraged to help students develop their own ideas before using AI, rather than relying on it for answers. Officials warn that misuse of AI can weaken critical thinking and leave students unable to assess the accuracy of AI-generated content.

Mr Eakasit said AI literacy has become increasingly important as misinformation and AI-generated content proliferate online. New AI tools for educators therefore encourage students to question, analyse and synthesise information instead of accepting machine-generated responses at face value.

Education authorities measure AI competency across five areas: analysing and verifying information, writing effective prompts, selecting appropriate AI tools, applying theory in practice, and taking responsibility for outcomes.

Thailand is also aligning AI literacy with the OECD’s emerging innovation domains ahead of the revised Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) in 2029.

According to Mr Eakasit, future Pisa assessments will place greater emphasis on media and AI literacy, focusing on real-world analysis rather than purely academic performance because AI-generated information is increasingly shaped by online “bubble chambers” and personal bias.

Officials believe the reforms could strengthen human capital and contribute to producing an estimated 1.2 million STEM graduates for high-skilled jobs. They also stress the need to prepare students for AI-driven workplaces while addressing concerns over excessive digital consumption and children’s psychological and social well-being.

Vocational education weak

Despite progress in basic education, vocational education continues to lag behind the country’s workforce ambitions.

Under the Ministry of Education’s 2026-2030 “All for Education” framework, Thailand aims to upskill nearly 1 million workers to meet Industry 4.0 standards. Yet only about 150,000 of the country’s 1 million vocational students are considered industry-ready.

Officials cite several structural barriers. Poverty and high dropout rates prevent many students from pursuing higher qualifications, with many entering the workforce at around 18 to support their families.

Curricula have also struggled to keep pace with advances in ICT and automotive technology, leaving nearly half of graduates from public and private vocational institutions inadequately prepared for industry, particularly outside Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Employers also report persistent gaps in English proficiency, digital literacy and complex problem-solving.

Workforce for the future

To close the gap, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission is replacing traditional rote learning with competency-based, standards-driven education.

Reforms begin this year with the China-Thailand “210 Majors” Vocational Project, while partnerships with Japan, Germany and Finland will continue supporting curriculum development in ICT, automation and hospitality.

A new “School-in-Factory” model will combine classroom learning with extended paid apprenticeships. Private-sector support and investment in data centres are expected to expand access to advanced laboratories, AI technologies and big data facilities.

The reforms also aim to raise the attractiveness of vocational education by highlighting strong employment prospects and higher earnings for post-secondary diploma graduates. Disadvantaged students will continue receiving support through the Equitable Education Fund’s High Vocational Innovation Scholarship for careers in automation and STEM fields.

The programme will continue through 2030, including governance reforms in 2027, teacher training reforms in 2028, nationwide classroom AI deployment and preparation for Pisa 2029 before the planned nationwide expansion of Thailand’s high-skilled workforce by 2030.

Officials say Thailand’s education reforms will be judged by whether schools and vocational institutions can produce graduates with the AI literacy, practical skills and adaptability to compete in a rapidly evolving economy.

Police surrounded a house in Bang Lamung district on Wednesday in an attempt to arrest two men believed to be connected to the disappearance of two Russian siblings from Pattaya, but the suspects had already fled.

More than 200 personnel joined local officials, rescue workers and residents in a large-scale search operation in an old cemetery at Thung Luang, near the Chak Taeng intersection in tambon Huay Yai.

The search focused on the area where the black-and-grey Honda ADV150 motorcycle belonging to the young Russians was discovered dismantled and buried underground (earlier report here).

Investigators found that the motorcycle had been taken apart and buried in two separate locations. At the first site, police recovered the front and rear shock absorbers, front and rear wheels, engine and fairings. About 100 metres away, officers uncovered the frame, seat, handlebars and other body components.

Roman Nazimova, 17, and his sister Diana Nazimova, 22, left their house at the Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and have not been seen since.

Forensic officers collected evidence from both sites to determine whether the parts were linked to the disappearance investigation.

Niphon Chatsri, assistant village headman of Village Moo 9, said residents had identified a suspect known as ‘Pong’, the same man previously seen in security video released during the investigation.

Pong had been released from prison about two months ago and was feared by local residents because he was known to carry weapons. They believed he could be connected to the case, according to Mr Niphon.

Residents also told police that another man, identified only as ‘Thong’, a friend of Pong, had been seen digging in the area where the motorcycle parts were later found. He was reportedly at the site from about 5pm until 11pm on Tuesday.

The following morning, local residents said they saw both men in the area before they fled in opposite directions upon spotting authorities.

A 24-year-old local resident, identified only as Lek, told reporters he had heard multiple gunshots over the past one or two nights from an area about 500 metres from where the motorcycle was buried. However, he said he could not confirm whether the gunfire was related to the case.

At 4pm on Wednesday, Huai Yai police, tourist police and Bang Lamung district officials surrounded a house in Moo 11 of Huay Yai after receiving information that Pong and Thong were hiding there.

However, a search failed to locate either suspect.

The homeowner told police the two men had returned to the house at about 10am on Sunday, the same day the Russian siblings disappeared. Both men were covered in mud and stayed for about an hour before leaving.

Authorities continued searching for the missing siblings on Wednesday while investigators gathered further evidence and stepped up efforts to locate the two suspects for questioning as they worked to solve the case.

A father and son on holiday got an unpleasant surprise after finding their room did not come close to matching what they had booked, but a prompt response ensured their stay was not spoiled.

Representatives from the Nan office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and tourist police met the pair after learning about their problem.

The visitor identified as Mr Ko said he had planned a three-day, two-night trip to Nan – the first night in tambon Sa Pan in Bo Kluea district, the second in the town centre.

Upon arrival at their accommodation in Sa Pan, the father and son were shocked to discover a run-down room and bathroom in a state of disarray.

Anan Seedaeng, director of the local TAT office, and Pol Lt Col Nathip Kaewpradit of the tourist police met the pair on Tuesday to address the discrepancy.

Mr Anan apologised for the inconvenience and said the meeting helped clear up the misunderstanding.

As a gesture of goodwill, the TAT gave Mr Ko souvenirs and arranged a gift voucher, donated by Sa Pun Klang Na resort, for a future stay with his son. Mr Ko said he was moved by the gesture and confirmed he would return to Nan.

Mr Anan said that the incident underlined the importance of close cooperation with local operators to prevent similar mishaps and improve tourism management going forward.

Police are searching for two Russian siblings, aged 17 and 22, who have been missing from their home since Sunday.

Zarina Nazimova, 40, told police at Huay Yai station in Bang Lamung district on Tuesday that her son Roman Nazimova, 17, and daughter Diana Nazimova, 22, rode a motorcycle from their house in Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and never returned.

According to the mother, her children wore casual clothing and carried their mobile phones. She thought the children were riding the motorcycle to a convenience store.

Ms Zarina has lived in the housing estate since 2018 and her children arrived to live with her in 2021. The young Russian siblings speak Russian and English and cannot speak Thai.

Detectives found from CCTV footage that the Russian siblings left their housing estate on a black ADV160 Honda motorcycle with 4 Kor Sor 6379 licence plates registered in Chon Buri. They greeted security guards of the housing estate while passing their booth.

They rode towards the toll plaza of the Map Ta Phut-Na Jomtien motorway at 4.21am and made a U-turn. On a frontage road, they parked near another motorcyclist and had a talk.

At 4.31am on Sunday both motorcycles rode on the frontage road near Wat Bang Yai. At 4.33am the siblings’ motorcycle reached a traffic light under the Ban Sak Ngaeo motorway bridge before disappearing.

A shortage of tap water has led to rationing on Koh Samui, where a prolonged dry spell has reduced clean water production capacity to about 40% of normal levels, according to the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA).

Dry weather exacerbated by the El Niño pattern has depleted the island’s reservoirs, while piped water supply from the Surat Thani mainland is insufficient for the tourist island, the PWA said.

The underwater pipeline from the mainland supplies about 16,000 cubic metres of water per day but average demand is about 34,000 cubic metres.

The PWA said on Wednesday that tap water supply is being rotated across different zones of the island. Local residents and businesses are urged to use water sparingly, store it when it is running, and prepare for temporary interruptions.

Many hotels and larger businesses have been forced to buy supplemental water trucked in from off-island sources. Piped water availability for properties at higher elevations has also been affected, according to local reports.

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday ordered urgent measures to ease the tap water shortage, which has affected the island since Monday.

Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth said the PWA is hoping to increase the volume of water sent through the undersea pipeline by about 4,000 cubic metres per day. As well, it is working to repair a damaged reverse osmosis treatment system and is closely managing available raw water resources to maximise production.

The Interior Ministry is also coordinating with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to carry out artificial rain operations when conditions become favourable.

Mr Jeseth said he had instructed the PWA to provide daily progress reports, prepare contingency plans should the shortage continue and keep residents regularly informed about water supply schedules so they can better plan their water usage.

Beyond the immediate response, he has asked the PWA to draw up a long-term water security plan covering expanded raw water sources, upgraded production facilities, improved transmission systems and stronger water infrastructure to support the island’s future growth.

People’s Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun has urged the government to rethink its proposed early retirement scheme for civil servants, arguing that it has put the cart before the horse by prioritising workforce reductions before deciding which state agencies should be merged or abolished.

Her comments followed Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt’s announcement of a broad civil service reform plan, which includes dissolving agencies with overlapping responsibilities and offering voluntary early retirement packages to affected personnel. The first organisation slated for dissolution is the Land Bank Administration Institute, whose functions will be transferred to the Office of the National Land Policy Board from September.

Ms Sirikanya said the government should first conduct a comprehensive review of ministries and state agencies to determine which functions remain necessary before deciding which organisations should be merged or dissolved.

“It is illogical to discuss early retirement before deciding which agencies should be dissolved,” she said, adding that the government appeared to be announcing reforms on a piecemeal basis rather than presenting a coherent blueprint.

Once that review is complete, authorities should restructure the workforce based on operational needs rather than relying solely on voluntary departures, she said. Otherwise, the scheme could encourage the most capable officials to leave while doing little to reduce the overall size of the bureaucracy.

She also questioned whether the proposal would attract enough participants. More than 8,000 comments had been submitted within three days of the public consultation opening, reflecting widespread concern over the scheme, she said.

Ms Sirikanya argued that the compensation package, capped at 12 months’ salary, offered little incentive, particularly for civil servants aged 40 to 49 who would not yet qualify for pension benefits if they resigned.

“The project is unlikely to attract even the government’s target of 4,000 to 5,000 participants,” she said. “If the long-term goal is to reduce the state workforce from three million to two million people, this scheme simply is not attractive enough.”

She said the proposal should undergo a six- to 12-month study rather than being rushed, arguing it would have little impact on the budget.

Thai energy authorities and oil traders are preparing to import more crude oil from outside the Middle East as the escalating conflict disrupts two key shipping routes – the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the war, Thailand relied heavily on the Middle East for crude oil, with 58% of imports coming mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The remaining 42% was sourced from the US and Asia-Pacific.

Recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, claimed by Yemen’s Houthi fighters, and the collapse of a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran have forced traders to diversify supply routes.

An oil company executive who requested anonymity said the global energy outlook is tightening again and may prove more severe than earlier conflicts in the region.

Refiners and traders have already activated contingency plans, including buying crude from ships that left port before the latest disruptions.

Additional supplies are being sourced from producers in Africa, the US and Southeast Asia.

If conditions worsen, shipments may be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, following ancient trade routes between Europe and Asia. However, this detour would add about 30 days to transport time and significantly raise costs, said the executive.

The source warned that the crude oil premium – the extra charge above standard market prices – has surged more than 400%, similar to spikes seen during conflicts earlier this year.

The premium reflects either the quality of the oil or risk of supply disruption, meaning refiners are paying far more to secure barrels.

Plans to purchase Russian crude remain uncertain due to international sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, Thailand has increased imports from the US and Argentina, said Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, deputy energy permanent secretary.

As of July 23, Thailand holds combined reserves of 2.353 billion litres of commercial oil, 3,385 billion litres of legal reserves, 4.299 billion litres in transit and 3.280 billion litres confirmed for shipment, enough to meet demand for 108 days.

Thailand uses nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil a day, with 92% imported and 8% sourced domestically.

Despite rising costs, the Thai restaurant industry is expected to continue expanding this year, according to an executive of Central Restaurants Group Co Ltd (CRG).

Nath Vongphanich, chief executive of CRG, anticipates the government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co-payment scheme will help lift sales among small restaurateurs in the second half of 2026.

He said the scheme is expected to boost Thai consumers’ purchasing power while it is in effect, supporting industry growth.

The scheme runs from June to September and should provide support to the industry during the low season, said Mr Nath.

Eateries should also benefit from increasing foreign arrivals starting in October as the country enters its tourism high season.

However, larger restaurant operators ineligible for the co-payment scheme may be affected as diners are expected to favour participating restaurants during the scheme, he noted.

Thai restaurants and beverage stores are projected to tally revenue of 673 billion baht this year, according to a May analysis by Kasikorn Research Center.

Low barriers to entry have encouraged new players to join the restaurant sector, a trend expected to continue into the latter half of the year and signal continued opportunities for market expansion, said Mr Nath.

He also observed that the moo krata segment may be entering a period of sluggish growth.

To survive in this competitive business environment, Mr Nath recommended that existing restaurant operators stay active by introducing new products or launching promotions.

Operators must also prioritise managing their cost of goods sold, he noted.

War in the Middle East has driven up logistics and raw material costs, with packaging expenses 10-15% higher than before the conflicts.

At a press briefing earlier this year, CRG announced plans to open 140-160 new stores in 2026. The company has launched more than 110 new stores year-to-date, according to CRG.

Mr Nath said the company is proceeding with its expansion plans cautiously.

Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat has insisted that the election for the Social Security Office (SSO) board has not been postponed, but only temporarily halted after the Supreme Administrative Court issued an injunction, which the SSO plans to appeal.

Mr Julapun said on Tuesday that the SSO was legally required to comply with the court’s order. The SSO election committee resolved on Monday to suspend preparations until there is clarity from the court, rather than formally postponing the poll.

‘If the court’s ruling is favourable, we are ready to proceed with the election according to the original schedule,’ he said, referring to the planned vote on Sept 27.

Mr Julapun said the issue stemmed from regulations introduced in 2021-22, before he took office. Upon becoming labour minister this year, he received repeated calls from civil society groups and other stakeholders to expedite the long-awaited election for a new SSO board.

He said the ministry had decided to use the same regulations applied in the previous board election in 2023 – the first of its kind – and issued a corresponding announcement. However, after a petitioner challenged the process, the court granted an injunction, which authorities were obliged to respect.

Voter registration opened on June 1 and closed on July 15, while the election is scheduled for Sept 27.

The SSO will appeal the court injunction in the hope of allowing the election to proceed under the existing timetable, said Mr Julapun.

Rejecting suggestions that political considerations were behind the suspension or that the government was attempting to avoid holding the vote, he said he did not know the petitioner, who he understood to be a lawyer.

‘I have never met the petitioner and have no connection with him. He has the legal right to file the case, and we must follow the judicial process,’ he said.

New board urgently needed

Mr Julapun said he hoped the election could go ahead as planned, stressing the urgency of establishing a fully empowered new SSO board to oversee the agency’s operations.

‘We need to move forward with the election as quickly as possible. What may happen in the future will depend on the court’s ruling,’ he said.

He dismissed the opposition’s claims that the government lacked sincerity in organising the election. The SSO itself was also criticised for not launching a serious voter registration campaign until seven days before the deadline.

Mr Julapun said he had held discussions with opposition politicians as well as groups representing insured workers, including the Progressive Social Security group, which is aligned with the People’s Party and won most of the seats in the 2023 poll.

The minister said he explained to them how his focus on following all the required procedures for the vote was proof of the government’s commitment.

The People’s Party has long campaigned for improvements to the Social Security system, and its MPs have been outspoken critics of what they say is financial mismanagement by the SSO.

Encouraging people to take part in SSO board elections and seek board seats is a key part of the party’s grassroots political organising strategy.

Mr Julapun also sought to reassure employers and insured workers who had already registered to vote that the election would go ahead.

He said the government’s preferred outcome was to hold the poll as scheduled on Sept 27. However, if the court ultimately rules that changes to the regulations are necessary, the election process could be delayed while the rules are amended.

He pledged to press ahead until the election is successfully held and urged registered employers and insured workers to follow official updates as the government continued to provide information on the case.

The family of YouTuber Hlun Solo has appealed for help after he went missing while travelling alone in Georgia to film content, with no contact made for the past two weeks.

A Facebook user identified as Klose Mos, who said he is Hlun Solo’s brother, shared an urgent missing person appeal on social media.

It is believed that the 26-year-old Thai travel content creator could be in areas frequented by tourists and trekkers, such as the Svaneti, Kazbegi or Mestia regions of the Caucasus country.

Hlun Solo has a substantial online following, with 2.5 million followers on Facebook and 914,000 subscribers on YouTube.

According to the post, Hlun Solo travelled to Georgia on his own to produce content. His family last spoke to him on July 13, and have since been unable to reach him by phone or through any online communication channels, prompting growing concern for his safety.

The family is urging anyone currently in Georgia, or anyone who may have seen Hlun Solo or has information about his whereabouts, to come forward. They said that even the smallest piece of information could prove crucial in helping locate him.

They also appealed for the post to be widely shared, particularly among Thai nationals living in or travelling through Georgia, in the hope of generating new leads.

The family has also sought help from the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hlun Solo grew up in Kalasin where he was raised by his grandmother after his father passed away. He later won a scholarship to Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, where he obtained a degree in political science.

However, he subsequently decided to make a career out of travelling. His YouTube channel showcases his backpacking experiences in various countries, along with his perseverance in saving money to enable him to keep pursuing his travel dreams.