A policy proposal to develop a creative class in Thailand by way of secondary education reform

This research project investigates the way that a Creative Class in Thailand might be developed through the Thai secondary education system. The research applies the research of Richard Florida (2002) in order to lay the foundations of creativity attuned to the innovation and entrepreneurial drivers of the global knowledge economy. The research is carried out in six Bangkok secondary schools and is consistent with the Thai National Education Act 2542 and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy iterated by His Majesty the King of Thailand. The research project finds that the dominant pedagogy operative in the secondary schools studied needs to be replaced with student-centred pedagogy to promote problem-solving; the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in secondary education omits reference to the global economic outlook; a lack integration of information and communication technology within the secondary curriculum disadvantages the way Thai secondary students source and manipulate knowledge; teachers were unaware of, or resistant to, the role of creative space in secondary education and were unaware of the link between education and national economic growth; a lack of diversity and heterogeneity in secondary education limits student awareness of alternative ideas and outlooks; and Thai traditions are entrenched at the expense of global awareness which cocoons students from their future role to assist Thailand to compete globally. The research project concludes by positing a Policy Proposal to implement critical and creative problem-solving in Thai secondary education in order to assist the development of a Creative Class in Thailand.