More than 200,000 students with learning disabilities are being taught in regular classrooms, prompting the Education Ministry to call on all schools to conduct screening so the students receive the appropriate education.
Students with learning disabilities include those with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, at least 216,700 students with learning disabilities are being taught in mainstream classrooms.
Education Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan said students with such disabilities typically cannot master reading and writing skills as well as their peers, which is usually dismissed as a learning problem which can cause them to suffer from low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and frustration.
"Initial screening and ongoing monitoring of pupils' performance is important for being able to detect problems quickly. If we are not actively looking for them, we may miss opportunities to intervene early," Mr Dapong said.
If appropriate action is provided, many of the learning challenges can be minimised with teachers providing special teaching methods, making changes within the classroom, or using technology that can help meet a students' learning needs.
Gen Dapong said he has ordered Obec to set up an initial learning disability evaluation test that can be carried out by schoolteachers.
"Teachers can look for signs of a learning disability such as difficulty with reading and writing, lack of maths skills, difficulty remembering things or trouble following directions," he said.
In some cases, an evaluation may include a medical exam, a family history discussion, and intellectual and school performance testing.
The education minister said students with minor disabilities usually develop ways of coping with their problem, so they can continue studying in regular classrooms.
However, students with severe disabilities may need to be taught in separate educational programmes designed to meet their needs.
Gen Dapong said the Education Ministry plans to increase funding to boost education for children with learning disabilities by the next academic year.