Thai students have again received "poor" scores in maths and science in an international ranking released yesterday.
The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement has released the results of its latest assessment for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
It measures the maths and science academic achievement of fourth-grade students (Prathom 4) in 52 countries and seven states, and eighth graders (Mathayom 2) in 45 countries and 14 states worldwide.
TIMSS assessments are conducted every four years. This round began last year, while the previous assessment was in 2007.
Thai students' scores have fallen in each successive ranking.
This time, eighth-grade Thai students ranked 28th, scoring 427 points in maths, compared with 441 points last time. They ranked 25th, scoring 451 points in science, compared to 471 points in the last assessment.
The top three countries at this level for maths were South Korea (613 points), Singapore (611) and Taiwan (609), and the top three countries for science were Singapore (590), Taiwan (564 points), and South Korea (560) respectively.
At fourth-grade level, Thai students ranked 34th scoring 458 points in maths and were 29th with 472 points in science.
The top three countries in maths for fourth graders were Singapore (606 points), followed by South Korea (605) and Hong Kong (602), and the top three countries in science were South Korea (587), Singapore (583) and Finland (570) respectively.
It was the first time Thai Prathom 4 students' achievements have been measured.
Thailand first participated in the TIMSS assessments in 1995 and since then Thai children's scores have fallen continuously.
Precharn Dechsri, deputy director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, said only Thai students from university demonstration schools achieved higher scores than the world average, which stands at around 500 points.
Schools under other agencies, including the Office of Basic Education Commission and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration achieved below par scores of under 500.
Overall, Thai students were assessed as "poor" in the TIMSS assessment.
"Our curriculum [in maths and science] covers 100% of the content used in the assessment, but our teaching and learning process covers only 30% of the content," Mr Precharn said.
"Meanwhile, Singapore's curriculum covers only 70% of the assessed content but it achieves 100% in learning and teaching."
The assessment revealed many Thai teachers held bachelor and master's degrees, higher than in many countries including Singapore.
Unfortunately, many of them taught subjects in which they did not major, resulting in a lack of confidence and preparedness for teaching.
Mr Precharn said the results would be forwarded to state authorities so measures can be discussed to improve the country's education system.