Thailand Improves in PISA Rankings; Education Ministry to Enhance AI Literacy

The Thai government has welcomed the positive results from the PISA 2025 assessment, which shows improvements in the country's performance. Scores in science, mathematics, and reading have all increased, leading to a rise in Thailand's ranking from 58th place in 2022 to 53rd place in 2025. Lieutenant Colonel Patarathasmi Thongsawalkorn, Deputy Government Spokesperson, announced that the average scores for Thai students have risen across all three domains compared to PISA 2022. Specifically, science scores increased by 23 points to 432, mathematics by 13 points to 407, and reading by 13 points to 392. This improvement has moved Thailand's ranking from 58th in 2022 to 53rd in 2025. Patarathasmi emphasized that the significant aspect is not just the improved ranking but the score increase in all three areas, which reflects the development of learners' crucial skills, including reasoning, analytical thinking, understanding information, and applying knowledge in real-world scenarios. Furthermore, Thailand is among the eight countries and economies that have shown a statistically significant increase in all three domains from PISA 2022, indicating clear progress in this assessment cycle. The 2025 assessment also revealed an increase in the proportion of Thai students performing at or above the basic proficiency level compared to 2022. This includes a 12% increase in science, 9% in mathematics, and 6% in reading. This suggests that the score improvements are not solely reflective of overall averages but also indicate a larger number of students reaching a foundational skill level applicable to real life. "The results are a product of cooperation from all sectors, including teachers, school administrators, students, parents, and relevant agencies, who have continuously worked to develop Thai education," the Deputy Spokesperson stated. "The government thanks all parties involved in this development and will utilize these findings to create tangible benefits for learners." She added that PISA should not be viewed merely as a ranking exercise but as crucial data for guiding educational development, as the assessment measures students' ability to apply knowledge in real situations. The government plans to analyze the PISA data at national, regional, institutional, and student group levels to ensure learning development precisely meets the needs of each group. Moreover, PISA 2025 also assessed digital learning. Thailand scored 476 points in computational problem-solving, underscoring the importance of developing thinking and problem-solving skills in the digital world alongside foundational skills in reading, mathematics, and science. For the next steps, the Ministry of Education is preparing to elevate the AI Framework for both learners and teachers, with completion expected this year. The plan is to establish the foundation for "media and AI literacy" skills from the primary school level, enabling children to distinguish information, assess its credibility, and use AI appropriately, critically, and responsibly. These skills will be integrated into learning across various subjects, not limited to technology. It is noted that PISA 2029 will include an assessment of Media and AI Literacy, emphasizing the ability to differentiate between factual and false information, as well as to use AI critically and responsibly. Therefore, preparing for these competencies should begin now. "The improved PISA scores are a significant morale boost, but the next step is to ensure this development continues and reaches every Thai child. Our goal is not just to climb in rankings but to foster children who can think critically, solve problems, understand media, and use AI, making them ready for a changing world," she concluded. For the PISA 2025 assessment, Thailand included a sample of 8,547 students from 273 educational institutions, covering various educational systems. Source: INN News