Artikkelit

01.10.2025

Singapore is an education powerhouse, and Thailand has the next most successful system in the region. But how do they perform when contrasted with OECD averages?

Singapore: Trade-offs for excellence

Over the past decades, Singapore has established itself as one of the world’s top-performing education systems, consistently ranking at the top of international benchmarks. Education in the country is structured into six years of primary schooling, four to five years of secondary education, and multiple post-secondary pathways, including polytechnics, and universities. Despite allocating only about 2.19% of its GDP to education, which is well below the OECD average of 4.4%, Singapore achieves exceptional results through tightly coordinated national policies and efficient resource use. Private institutions and household contributions play a significant role: families collectively spend around SGD 1.8 billion annually on private tuition, underlining the societal importance of “shadow education” in supplementing formal schooling.

Primary education in Singapore

Primary education in Singapore forms the backbone of its high-performing system. Children typically begin school at age 7 and spend 6 years in elementary education before moving on to secondary school. Pupils typically have classes in English, mathematics, science and mother tongue, with additionally art, music, social studies and PE. Bilingual policy has been stated to be the cornerstone of the education system: in a typical curriculum students are studying both English and their mother tongue.

The average class size for primary school is 34, which is significantly larger than the OECD average of 21 students. From early on, students are placed into differentiated learning tracks based on skill level, and at the end of primary school, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) that determines their subject levels when moving on to secondary school. 

Secondary education: Top performance, high pressure

Secondary schooling in Singapore offers multiple routes, including general education, as well as a strong International Baccalaureate (IB) presence (around 4,000 enrolled students each year). The performance outcomes are exceptional: in the latest PISA results (2022), Singapore reached the highest ranking in all the tested attributes, and the education system has been praised for building strong foundations in student literacy and numeracy. Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds also outperformed the general OECD averages. Singaporean students also dominate the global IB performance: in 2023, half of all students worldwide achieving full marks came from the city-state.
Yet, the great success comes with a cost of free time. Study weeks are intense and Singaporean teenagers report spending, on average, a total of 22.2 hours per week on additional out-of-school study. This far exceeds the OECD average of 16 hours (and Finland’s 11 hours), leaving limited time for recreation. The intensity has fueled ongoing debates about student well-being, particularly as nearly a third of students report not exercising at all outside school.

Post-secondary: success and stratification

After completing secondary school nearly all (97,2 %) Singaporean students pursue post-secondary education (OECD avg. 87-90%). Pathways are diverse: junior colleges prepare students for A-levels and direct university entry, while vocationally oriented institutions such as polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education (ITE) provide diploma-level qualifications. Vocationally oriented polytechnic institutions attract not only local students but also large cohorts from neighboring Malaysia, reflecting Singapore’s regional role as an education hub. 
Social and economic stratification, however, also remains evident. The divide is reflected in education pathways, where students from more privileged backgrounds are overrepresented in junior colleges and university tracks, while those from lower-income households are more likely to enter vocational streams. White-collar employment is also typically dominated by Singaporeans, while much of the blue-collar workforce is filled by migrant workers from Malaysia, India, and Bangladesh. 

Higher education: Pathways, prestige and ranking fever

Singaporean universities offer education in three levels: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level studies. The system stands out globally with 74% of young adults (25–34) holding a degree from higher education, far above the OECD average of 48% (and Finland’s 39%). The country places specific policy emphasis on STEM and tech-related programs, as universities graduate sizeable cohorts in engineering & technology. 
Institutional reputation is deemed important on a national level, and universities have poured a lot of resources into hiring world-class researchers to climb the global rankings. The 2026 QS World University Rankings were greeted with great joy, as NUS, the national gemstone, retained its 8th position and NTU climbed to the 12th spot. However, the great successes have also raised concerns: heavy emphasis on cutting-edge research and international prestige may come at the expense of nurturing young researchers and fostering curiosity-driven inquiry into the fields.
While the overall labor market is tight, Singapore’s youth unemployment has remained at ~8%, which is below the OECD average of 11%. However, concerns about student well-being and long-term sustainability persist, with most recently minister of education Desmond Lee making a public statement of wanting to break free from the “education arms race”. 

Educational outlook: Balancing global prestige and student well-being

The very features that make Singapore a global education leader also highlight the pressures embedded within its system. Consistently high international rankings, and world-renowned universities mark it as one of the world’s top performers. At the same time, concerns about student stress, limited free time, and an intense focus on rankings and reputation illustrate the trade-offs for excellence. For international partners, Singapore remains a critical hub for student mobility and research collaboration, demonstrating what targeted investment and national coordination can achieve.

Thailand: Expanding access, confronting inequalities

Over the past decades, Thailand has made significant progress in expanding access to primary education. Initial education in the country is composed of early childhood education and care (ECEC), basic education (primary, lower secondary, upper secondary), technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and higher education. Thailand also currently has among the highest completion rates at all levels of education among Southeast Asian countries. The country allocates approximately 2.52% of its GDP to education, higher than Singapore's, but still below the OECD average of 4.4%. A small group of powerful private education providers play an outsized role in shaping opportunities in education, with the power divided between 14 influential families.

Primary Education: High participation & strong foundations

The first 12 years of education are free in public institutions, of which the first 9 are compulsory, covering primary and lower secondary education. Enrolment typically begins at age 7, slightly older than the OECD average of 6. Completion rates at the primary level are among the highest in Southeast Asia, with 99 percent of children finishing their studies. On average, Thailand has the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in Southeast Asea (around 17, based on 2018 data). 

Secondary Education: Rising enrolment & persistent challenges

At the secondary level, students in Thailand can choose between a general education track and a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) track. Both routes last three years and allow students to sit for university entrance examinations. Enrolment in secondary education has risen by more than 30 % in the past two decades, now reaching levels comparable to the OECD average. However, completion rates remain uneven: while around 89% of students finish lower secondary, only 65% complete upper secondary school. While the latter figure lags behind the OECD average of 80–85%, it remains one of the strongest in the region.

The TVET pathway in particular faces difficulties. While rates are high with 14% of secondary students enrolling (one of the highest shares in ASEAN, second only to Indonesia), the trend is downward as vocational graduates often encounter weaker labor market outcomes and lower wages compared to their peers.

Navigating the next steps for Thai youth

Educational outcomes also reflect persistent social divides. The latest PISA results indicated a significant decline in student achievement, partly reflecting the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Socio-economic divides also sharpen at this stage, with wealthier families often turning to elite private or international schools, while many lower-income students face difficulties continuing beyond lower secondary. School dropouts are higher in rural provinces and among female youth due to pregnancy or caring responsibilities. Overall, 15% of Thai youth aged 15–24 is not in education, employment or training (NEET), slightly above the OECD average of 14%.

Youths also seem to have less confidence in their future prospects compared to their OECD counterparts: For instance, a relatively small share of youth at the age of 15 has a clear idea about their future job (74% compared to OECD avg. 80%). Despite these challenges, Thailand’s secondary system still has seen remarkable gains in access over the past few decades. The fact that enrolment now approaches OECD levels, combined with one of the highest vocational participation rates in the region, highlights success in expanding opportunities.

Higher Education: Growth & globalization

Thailand’s higher education system has expanded steadily, with gross tertiary enrollment rates rising from 36% in 2000 to 49% in 2022, placing the country second in Southeast Asia after Singapore, but still below the OECD average of 78%. Gross tertiary enrollment ratio measures how many people are enrolled in higher education, regardless of age, compared to the size of the population that is officially of university age. Completion rates remain a concern: fewer than 40% of those who enter tertiary education graduate within the expected timeframe, compared to an OECD average of 70–75% (depending on the major). At the same time, internationalization is growing: around 25,000 foreign students studied in Thailand in 2022, while thousands of Thai students pursue degrees abroad, particularly in Japan, Australia, and the United States.

Despite the challenges, higher education continues to play a central role in Thailand’s economic strategy. The government’s “Thailand 4.0” vision highlights universities as engines of innovation, with strong policy emphasis on STEM, digitalization, and partnerships with industry. Strengthening research capacity and raising international rankings are now key goals, but ensuring equitable access and aligning graduate skills with labor market needs remain the country’s most pressing tasks.

Educational outlook - Priorities for Thailand 4.0

Education has been central to Thailand’s rise to upper middle-income status and remains a national priority under the Thirteenth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027). The government has invested heavily in youth education and highlights its role as a driver of future economic growth. Yet persistent equity gaps, declining learning outcomes, and a misalignment between vocational education and labor market needs highlight the reforms still required.

Text: Roosa Minkkilä, Intern
Photo: Aesthetic photo albums are important in Southeast Asia. During holidays, students gather by Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi to take photos and update their portfolios Credits: Mika Tirronen