[Ask only person 5 years and over.]
S7. Highest Level of school attainment
What's [respondent's] highest level of school attainment? ____
Record the highest level of education lastly completed as of 1 January 1990. If never attended school, record "never".
Column S7: The highest level of education
Ask persons age 5 years or older (or persons born before 1 April 1985).
The highest level of education means the level or grade at which a person passes the last final exam. The question is: "........ (name).............., considering up to 1 January 1990, what is the highest level of education you completed?"
Instructions on recording the highest level of education in which a person attains
1. For a person who studies in general education program or a person who studies in pre-primary level, primary levels, and secondary levels, record the last level at which the person passed the exams such as kindergarten grade 1, primary school grade 1, primary school grade 4, primary school grade 5, secondary school grade 4, secondary school grade 7, etc.
For those who answer secondary school grades 1-6, if they completed those levels before 1971, specify the word "old system" at the end. For example, secondary level grade 6 (old system).
2. For those who studied/graduated from vocational colleges, teacher training colleges, or universities, and completed is the highest level required for that particular degree, which means that they graduated and received the certificates or degree diplomas, record the name or abbreviation of the certificates or degrees in which they obtained. Examples are Bachelor in political science, advanced drama arts, advanced education certificate, vocational education certificate, advanced vocational education certificate, technological education certificate, B.Sc, B.Ed, etc.
3. For those who attend vocational colleges, teacher training colleges, or universities, but did not complete the highest level required for that particular degree, record the class or year they completed and the current levels in which they are studying.
Instructions on recording the class or year of education attainment
3.1 If a person is studying in a system in which he/she must pass the final exam of a particular level in order to be able to study at a higher level, record the level or year at which the person last passed the final exam. For example, year 1 of advance vocational education, year 2 of Bachelor's degree, Chulalongkorn University, etc.
Example 1: Mr. Kitti started his undergraduate studies at Chulalongkorn University in 1957 but was expelled from the university in 1959 because he did not pass a course in year 2. His highest education level of Mr. Kitti is year 1 of Bachelor's degree, Chulalongkorn University.
Example 2: Mr. Narong studied at Patumwan Mechanical College on the academic year of 1959. He passed all subjects of year 2 and was about to study in year 3. However, there was some unavoidable event that made him unable to continue his study. In this case, the highest education level of Mr. Narong is year 2 of higher vocational education.
3.2 If the educational system is a credit system, count the number of years in which the person attended or passed the coursework.
Example 1: Mr. Sukit entered at Chetupon Commercial College in the academic year of 1997. He was studying in year 3 of the Vocational Education Program on 1 January 1990. Record the highest education level of Mr. Sukit as year 2 of Vocational Education Program.
Example 2: Miss Somboon studied Sakon Nakon Commercial School in the academic year of 1998, and she was studying in year 1 of Vocational Education Program on 1 January 1990. The highest education level in which Miss Somboon attained is secondary school grade 3.
3.3 If the educational program has two programs (the regular program and the special program; or the normal hour and part time) and the part-time or the special program requires longer period of study, record the highest educational level according to the regulation mentioned above, and specify whether the program is the special or extra-hour program and record the number of the years of the curriculums as well.
Example: Miss Pornthip is studying in a part-time program of the Higher Vocational Education at a college in which the curriculum requires two years for completion if it is a regular program (normal hour), but it requires 3 years for completion if it is the part-time program. If Miss Pornthip is studying in year 3, record the educational level of Miss Pornthip as year 2 of Higher Vocational Education (Part-time program, 3-years curriculum).
3.4 For studies in the Bachelor's degree level, there are several curriculums for students with different previous education levels. For example, a 4-year curriculum is for students who finished high schools (secondary school 6), and a 2-year curriculum for those who had diploma or finished a higher vocational education program, etc.
To record the class or year of education attained, in the case of a 4-year curriculum, record according to the instruction mentioned above, but in the case of a 2-year curriculum, record according the above instruction and also specify the number of years required for that particular curriculum, for example, year 1 of Bachelor's Degree (2-year curriculum) or equivalently year 3 of Bachelor's Degree (4-year curriculum).
Use caution recording the class or year of education attained if it is not the highest class or year required to complete a particular educational level.
The class or year recorded must be lower than the number of years required for completion of that educational level. For example, in the Vocational Education Program, which is a 3-year curriculum, the highest class or year at which a person can attain is year 2 of Vocational Education Program. If a person completed year 3 of Vocational Education Program, it must be recorded as certificate of Vocational Education (Cert. Voc. Ed). In the case of a Bachelor's Degree which is a 4-year curriculum, the highest class or year at which a person can attain is year 3 of Bachelor's Degree, even though that person may have spent more than 3 years of study. If record year 4 of Bachelor's Degree, it means that the person has already graduated or already obtained that degree. In the latter case, record the name or the abbreviation of the degree.
4. For those who obtained their education from abroad, if the education system is basic compare the level of education with the Thai system of primary education (Pathom Suksa) or secondary education (Mathayom Suksa). If the system is not comparable, then specify the number of years of the studies in the basic education system. For those who graduated in a vocational education, teacher training and university levels, record the name of the certificate, diploma, or degree received, and write the equivalence of the Thai educational level in parenthesis.
5. For those who receive more than one certificate, diploma or degree at the same level but different fields, record only one degree. However, if a person receives many degrees of different levels, record only the degree of the highest level.
6. For those who study religion, record the religious degree and also record the highest educations level attained that is not a religions degree in parenthesis. For example:
Third grade religion (Primary school, grade 4)
Second grade religion (Bachelor's Degree)
Buddhism Theology 4 (Vocational Education)
Buddhism Theology 9 (Secondary school, grade 3)
7. For those who finished the continuing educational program (for adults), record the education level at which they passed the exam such as level 3, or record the equivalent level in the basic education system. For example, level 4 is equivalent to secondary school grade 3, then record secondary school 3, etc.
8. For those who finished short vocational education programs that have less than one year of curriculum but received diplomas or certificates, record the field of that vocational program and also record the highest level attained in the basic education system. Example:
Dressmaker curriculum, Polytechnic College (Secondary school, grade 3)
Mechanic curriculum, Polytechnic College (Primary school, grade 4)
Beauty curriculum, Anna School (Primary school, grade 4)
9. For those who have never been educated or never completed any years/levels, including informal education such as studying from the monk or studying foreign languages in language institutes, record "Never".
10. If the person does not know, record "X".