55 / 210
[
] 53
The Community-based Center for Family
Development: working towards warm,
strong and sustainable families
Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand
A
dvancing
S
ocial
I
ntegration
and
I
ntergenerational
S
olidarity
T
hailand has endeavoured to reach the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) within 2015 through
related policies and strategic planning. Proactive
initiative projects and activities have been launched with a
focus on the MDGs, and comprehensive progress has been
spelled out through some success in achieving the goals.
For example, the proportion of the population living in
poverty was reduced from 21 per cent in 2000 to 7.3 per cent
in 2010. In achieving primary education, the enrolment of
those aged 6-11 has increased from 81.4 per cent in 2000 to
90.5 per cent in 2009. Moreover, it has been found that the
number of female students engaged in secondary schools and
universities was higher than that of males. However, some
constraints must be acknowledged. For example, in infor-
mal education, older women have less access to the learning
sphere due to their household burden, resulting in lower
working status and income compared to men. The increas-
ing abortion rate in teenagers has led to some dropping out
of school and to motherhood mortality. The Institute for
Population and Social Research estimates that the child and
working-age populations have been continuously decreas-
ing while the old-age population has increased. In 2005, the
number of people aged up to 60 was 6.4 million or 10 per cent
of the entire population. In 2010, this figure was 7.5 million or
12 per cent, and it is estimated that in 2020, the number will
have increased to 11 million or 17 per cent. After 2021, the
number of elderly people will be equal to the child population.
Such a change in the population structure is likely to bring
about repercussions on Thai family status.
To tackle these obstacles and respond to the new paradigm
shift, strengthening the family has been recognized as key
factor contributing to achievement. The fact that the devel-
opment of family potentials (with regard to maximizing the
Developing family potentials and maximizing the capacity of the elderly can lead to self-reliance, positive behaviours and resilience to social deterioration
Image: CCFD