Education for Disabled Children and Youth

             Under the current Thai Constitution, the disabled have a right to equal opportunities for education and career. Disabled children and youth can also access free services such as basic education and aids. The disabled should be fully integrated in Thai society. In order to develop inclusive education services within all local schools, the government has adapted the environment to make them suitable for the disables to freely access these services e.g. transport to school, access to buildings, and toilet facilities etc.

            In 1999, a large number of disables children have been able to enroll at 4,000 local primary schools for the first time, giving a total of approximately 75,000 primary students with disabilities in schools providing integrated services. In addition, the Department of General Education has 4,016 disabled students benefiting from integrated services. The Institute for Non-formal Education Standards, under the Department of Non-formal Education is providing education for 6,215 disabled students. The Office of Private Education Commission is assisting 1,600 disabled students, the Department of Vocational Education is training 1,854 disabled youth and the Rajamangala Institute of Technology 275 students. The Fine Arts Department is accommodating 7 students while the Department of Health is providing education for 10 students.

 Source: External Relations Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, “Thai Education in Brief : Its part ; present, and Future” 2000.