Thailand's 15-year-olds performed poorly across all subjects in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the OECD, marking a 20-year low in science and mathematics, with below-average reading scores.

At a TDRI-led event with President Somkiat Tangkitvanich and senior researcher Pongtat Vanichanan, it was argued that these scores indicate a growing skill gap among Thai students compared to their international peers. The lackluster performance is not attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Thai schools experienced shorter closures than those in other nations.

The TDRI identifies an outdated education system, inefficient resource allocation, primary teacher shortages, and excessive non-teaching duties as root causes for the decline.

The TDRI proposes a tiered remedy plan: a one-year action to lighten teacher workload, followed by a three-year strategy to overhaul the education system, and a long-term project to consolidate schools. The institute urges the government to uniformly update every aspect of education, including teacher training, development, and assessment.