Thailand : fostering private participation in the development of labor force skills -- final report

As a result, serious gaps have evolved between the needs of the private sector -- especially as perceived by the U.S. business community in Thailand -- and the output of Thai educational and training institutions. This study examines constraints to developing labor force skills in Thailand, highlighting the private and public responses thereto and the shortcomings of the Thai education system, and proposes a strategy for future A.I.D. assistance. The most significant labor force gaps are found in the areas of engineering, management, technical/skilled labor, and English-language skills. Thailand"s private higher educational system has expanded rapidly and in the future will play a larger role in bridging these gaps, but currently faces several problems in regard to the quantity and quality of faculty, the relevance the curriculum (overemphasis on theory), and pedagogical skills (not enough use of interactive methods). To address these constraints, the study recommends that A.I.D. strategy focus on: (1) fostering the development of mutually beneficial partnerships between business and educational institutions to address labor force needs; (2) fostering linkages to utilize U.S. expertise in education and training to lessen the Thai labor force gap; and (3) supporting private sector efforts to influence policies affecting labor skills development.