Thailand Social Monitor on Youth : Development and the Next Generation

Abstract

This Thailand Social Monitor provides an
 overview of the challenges facing Thai youth today,
 identifying the factors that make them vulnerable and
 outlining possible policy directions in moving forward. This
 Social Monitor studies three key transitions faced by Thai
 youth, using the youth development model proposed by the
 World Development Report 2007. This model helps provide an
 understanding of the interactions among the various factors
 that affect youth development and how they influence in
 three important life transitions, namely: growing up
 healthy, learning for work and life and moving from school
 to work. In this model, the role of public policy is to help
 youth succeed in the transition to adulthood by broadening
 their opportunities, expanding their capacity and providing
 them with second chances to overcome negative outcomes.
 These areas are the three youth policy lenses through which
 policy priorities are assessed throughout this report. This
 report stresses that building the next generation of
 Thailand human capital requires a concerted effort. The four
 main ministries responsible for promoting the country's
 youth development agenda-Ministry of Social Development and
 Human Security, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public
 Health and Ministry of Justice-must work towards ensuring
 that every stakeholder-including other governmental
 departments, NGOs and the private sector-come together to
 bring about an enabling environment for youth of all walks
 to thrive and realize their full potential. Moreover,
 policymaking must also be in tune with reality. It needs to
 listen, understand and incorporate the voices and vision of
 youth, the central stakeholder in this process, in order to
 be grounded on the will and aspirations of the next generation