Keywords:  ELT, English, education policy, Thailand, official language

Bio Data
Robert Kirkpatrick has a PHD from Curtin University of Technology. He now lectures on the Master of Education program at SIU International University in Thailand and is the editor of Language Testing in Asia journal. His book,  English Language Teaching in Thailand and Myanmar  (edited collection) was published in 2011.

Abstract
The current Thai education system is well funded but is not producing sufficient graduates skilled in English. This paper, after summarizing the situation, and looking at one private university, makes several recommendations including: opening of more bilingual schools; implementation of the planned tablet for every child policy; greatly expanded English training for teachers; incentives for English skills among government employees; partial funding of good quality private institutions involved in teacher training; and the adoption of English as an second official language.