THE FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF THAI SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES IN CURRICULUM MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Thailand is currently confronting a structural demographic crisis caused by a continuous decline in the birth rate, which has significantly affected student enrollment within the education system. This demographic transition has resulted in the consolidation and closure of educational institutions due to declining student populations, thereby creating an imbalance between educational supply and demand. This article aims to examine future directions for Thai social studies teacher education by analyzing challenges associated with curriculum management and professional competency development throughout the upstream, midstream, and downstream phases of teacher education. The findings reveal that social studies teacher education is currently facing multifaceted challenges. These challenges originate from declining birth rates and economic factors that contribute to student attrition from the formal education system. Consequently, higher education institutions encounter increasing competition for institutional sustainability, creating a dilemma between maintaining enrollment numbers and ensuring student quality. In response to insufficient qualified applicants, some institutions have adjusted admission requirements to sustain program operations, which may affect the overall quality of admitted students. Furthermore, these challenges have placed additional demands on faculty members, requiring greater commitment to developing student teachers’ professional competencies. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has further transformed teacher education processes, requiring faculty members not only to enhance students’ disciplinary knowledge but also to develop their abilities in technology-integrated learning management, ethical application of innovation, and professional identity formation. Ultimately, effective teacher education must ensure that graduates possess the competencies necessary for professional practice and adaptation to increasingly competitive teacher recruitment environments.