#ReadingComprehension

A rising concern across higher education is clear: more students enroll in universities, yet many struggle with foundational reading and comprehension essential for college work. For Thai readers, this signals the need to strengthen literacy as a pillar of innovation and regional leadership.

Experts note that the problem extends beyond the United States. The debate centers on whether undergraduates can handle complex texts, analyze arguments, and articulate ideas in clear writing. While the data vary by country, the trend toward weaker literacy skills predates the pandemic and intensified during it. In Thailand, robust literacy is a prerequisite for sustaining a knowledge-based economy and competitive postsecondary education.

A surge of recent research and media reports has illuminated a worrisome trend: even as more young people enroll in university, many are struggling with basic reading and comprehension skills expected at the college level. The debate has intensified following the publication of several national surveys and firsthand accounts from professors across the United States, which paint a picture of declining literacy among today’s college students. This issue resonates far beyond American borders, carrying important implications for Thai higher education and the nation’s long-term competitiveness.