As stipulated in Section 81 of the 1997 constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, a national education law is required; hence the drafting of the 1999 National Education Act, which became effective on August 20, 1999. Chapter 6 of the Act on Education Standards and Quality Assurance mandates establishment of the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment(ONESQA), enjoying the status of a public organization. The announcement for establishment of The Office was subsequently published in the Government Gazette, Vol.117, Section 99A on November 3,2000. The Office therefore became operational on the following day.
          Similar to the operation of other concerns, education provision needs administrative and managerial principles for the entire cyclical functioning. It has been well recognized that evaluation is indeed and essential step for feedback information, which provides us with the basis for assessing the extent of target achievement. It also enables us to identify weaknesses or problems for which remedial measures are needed so as to facilitate subsequent planning and actions required to achieve the goals effectively and efficiently.
          It is hence crucial that the importance of evaluation be recognized, particularly quality assessment by an external and neutral body. Such mechanism will provide meaningful assessment. It also gives all agencies responsible for education provision from those at the national level to the smallest - i.e. educational institutions and classrooms, the incentives for self-evaluation so that the quality of education will be continuously enhanced.