[LivinLOS]

I was going to quote a few people but theres enough who use the same points I can just be general.

Although the OP is written in a way that smacks of arrogance theres a very valid point in there. Countries that have a population that have a good grasp of English have a competitive advantage over countries that dont. Same as people that have a grasp of English (and other languages of international business, Mandarin being a prime example) will have a advantage over others. Thailand is a poor country, theres not reason why they shouldn't prioritize this in education to create a better workforce and stronger economy.

English is 80% of web pages, English is the language of all manner of systems from flight control to most of the financial markets. It is becoming the Esperanto of the world (but watch out for the Mandarin as I say) so it makes sense to learn it to get ahead or to teach it to get your population ahead.

Then you have the cynic in me that says that those that make the decisions about Thailand actually want to keep its artificial class structure in place. Thailand has a small elite a very small middle class and a huge proportion of very very poor. The elites make the choices and it serves them well not to allow the very poor to get ahead, it serves them well to keep them as subsistence agricultural workers (49% of the population work in farming and barely feed themselves). They dont want social upheaval and a modern society where thier privileges and sweet deals are challenged. I am of the opinion that's why they are so anti farang, as we rock the boat, dont only employ the 'right sort' of people, dont go on the old power networking systems, educate poor rural adopted kids, etc etc etc