On November 13, 2024, Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), was honored as a special guest speaker at THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2024. He delivered a keynote address titled “How to Reshape Thailand’s Education for the Future” at the national economic forum held at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. The event, themed “BRAVE NEW WORLD: Thailand’s Economy in the New Global Order,” took place from November 13 to 15.

The forum featured over 40 experts from Thailand and abroad, sharing insights on emerging trends that will drive Thailand’s economy and society in the future. The event attracted a diverse audience of representatives from organizations, academics, and young leaders, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering collaboration for sustainable educational reform and meaningful societal transformation.

The atmosphere before the event was warm and engaging. Suphachai Chearavanont exchanged views with Nakarin Wanakitphiboon, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Standard Co., Ltd. The two discussed a wide range of impactful topics, aiming to generate new ideas for driving the country’s development forward.

Taking the stage, Suphachai Chearavanont highlighted Thailand's position in the "IMD World Talent Ranking 2024," where the country ranked 47th out of 67 nations, with a continuing downward trend. He emphasized that education is a crucial tool for national development, especially in an era where technology plays a pivotal role across all sectors. Modernizing the education system is an urgent priority. Thailand must prioritize its human resources, which are the backbone of the nation's progress.

Suphachai introduced the SI Transformation Model for educational reform, addressing five key dimensions:

1. Transparency: Implementing School Grading systems to assess schools and measure learning outcomes aimed at maximizing student potential.
2. Market Mechanism: Encouraging market dynamics through multi-sector collaboration, including quality media involvement.
3. Leadership & Talents: Enhancing teachers' roles as coaches and increasing their compensation to attract top talent.
4. Child Centric/Empowerment: Promoting action-based learning and encouraging students to ask questions and engage in hands-on experiences.
5. Technology: Providing students with access to technology to foster innovation and bridge educational gaps.

Suphachai Chearavanont also proposed 14 key strategies to transform education by 2030, focusing on preparing the system for future challenges. The details of his plan are as follows:

1. Develop transparent school management systems.
2. Make computer science a mandatory subject in the national curriculum.
3. Provide safe and functional computers for all students.
4. Transform every school into a Learning Center.
5. Adjust educational staff performance indicators to emphasize students’ potential and moral development.
6. Offer incentives for quality content producers during prime time broadcasting.
7. Train 3 million individuals in digital skills.
8. Support the creation of 20,000 startups by 2027.
9. Reform the teaching of mathematics and science to focus on research, innovation, and development.
10. Encourage universities to prioritize education in science and innovation.
11. Foster collaboration between schools and universities to develop ICT talent in every school.
12. Increase teachers’ salaries to be comparable to other professions, such as doctors and engineers.
13. Develop 30,000 school principals and directors into transformational leaders, positioning them as second parents to students.
14. Convert schools into Smart Schools with security systems and AI integration to enhance learning capabilities.

The proposal focuses on restructuring and implementing transparent policies, such as making computer science a mandatory subject, ensuring sufficient and safe computer equipment for students, developing digital skills among educational personnel, and supporting the establishment of Smart Schools with enhanced security measures and AI integration to boost learning capabilities.

Additionally, the plan promotes transforming schools into Learning Centers, elevating the quality of educational personnel, and preparing the system to effectively meet the demands of the digital economy era.

This keynote speech inspired attendees to recognize the critical role of education in driving Thailand’s economic and social development. Suphachai Chearavanont concluded by stating, “Education reform is a mission for all sectors—government, private, and society. Collaboration is essential to create a brighter future.”

His message underscores CP Group’s CEO’s unwavering commitment to advancing Thai education, which he views as the cornerstone for nurturing skilled and capable youth ready to navigate the challenges of the digital era.