A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MAKING MANDARIN CHINESE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT IN THAILAND’S BASIC EDUCATION

Abstract

In the context of global economic restructuring, Mandarin Chinese has increasingly emerged as a strategic language for international communication, trade, and workforce mobility. For Thailand, the sustained and structurally stable relationship with China has intensified the demand for Mandarin Chinese skills across economic, educational, and public sectors. However, within Thailand’s basic education system, Mandarin Chinese is still largely offered as an elective subject, resulting in unequal access, fragmented provision, and limited policy coherence. This study aims to examine the feasibility of making Mandarin Chinese a compulsory subject in Thailand’s basic education system, with particular emphasis on policy-level considerations. The research is designed as a feasibility study that explores social, labour market, and economic dimensions relevant to language education reform. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative-oriented and mixed analytical approach, including document analysis of national education policies, economic and labour market reports, and semi-structured interviews with key educational stakeholders. These methods are intended to provide a comprehensive conceptual and contextual assessment rather than immediate empirical generalisation. This study is currently in progress, and the findings are expected to provide policy implications for language education in Thailand, particularly regarding long-term human capital development and educational equity. The study contributes to broader discussions on strategic language planning by highlighting the role of Mandarin Chinese in preparing learners for global economic participation and informing future policy directions in basic education.