The majority of higher education institutions are under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Education (MOE). Other ministries are also involved in fulfilling the need to train
human resources in specific fields and manage institutions of higher learning. They include:
the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Health
(Figure 2-4). However, MOE accommodates 98 percent of student enrollment and plays
the lead role in regulating higher education institutions and students enrollment. Within
MOE, three agencies are directly responsible for higher education service and provision: the
Commission on Higher Education, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, and
the Office of the Private Education Commission.
FIGURE 2-4: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNANCE IN THAILAND
Source: Ministry of Education, 2008
TABLE 2-2: HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE FORMAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, BY JURISDICTION, 2006
(Diploma and Undergraduate Degree Levels)
Source: Ministry of Education, 2007
Under the Ministry of Education Regulatory Act (2003), the Ministry of University
Affairs was merged with the MOE, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) emerged
as the new agency in charge of higher education. CHE administers all public higher education
institutions and oversees the performance of private higher education institutions. The
Commission is governed by a Board with diverse membership, including individuals from
academia, the public and private sector, and local administrations. The Board has the authority
to formulate policies and issue regulations in accordance with the National Economic and
Social Development Plan, and the National Education Plan. Key responsibilities of the Commission
include provision of resources and support, promotion of equity in higher education,
and monitoring educational outcomes. The main functions of the Commission include policy
setting, licensing of new private institutions, resource allocation for public institutions, financial
aid, and monitoring/evaluation.
Office of Private Education Commission (OPEC)
The Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) was established in 1972.
It functions under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education. Under the
authorization of the Private School Act of 1982, OPEC provides various types of support to
private schools and universities. Specifically, these include: (a) formulation of policies and
rules/regulations relating to private education matters, concomitant with the modification of
existing rules and regulations to ensure flexibility in favor of private education development;
(b) carrying research to enhance private education development; and (c) promotion and
encouragement of greater private sector involvement through various modes of support.
Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for the correctness of the data shown on this Web site. We try our very best, but we depend on universities, their Web sites, and fellow students and lecturers, to get updates when ever programs, conditions, or tuition fees change.
