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BANGKOK, 8 July 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has found that the levels of intelligence quotient (IQ) among Thai youth are lower than the international standard while low iodine intake is cited as the main cause.
According to Director-General of the Department of Mental Health MD Apichai Mongkol, a survey was conducted from December 2010 to January 2011 on 72,780 students in grades 1-9 nationwide in order to determine their IQ levels. The result suggested that Thai students had an IQ of 98.59 on average, which was below the international standard of 100.
Out of those surveyed, 48.5 percent were found to have low IQ. Students in schools under the supervision of the Office of the Basic Education Commission had the lowest level on average, whereas those in schools under the Office of the Higher Education Commission were ranked the highest.
Youth in the southern province of Narathiwat reportedly had the lowest IQ of 88.07 while the highest level of 108.91 was reported in Nonthaburi province, where the percentage of genius kids was at 9.5 percent, exceeding the standard of 2 percent.
However, MD Apichai noted that the educational system was not to be blamed for the low IQ among Thai youth as a major cause was their deficiency of iodine. Other factors include lack of family warmth, being separated from nature and improper diet.
Therefore, the Director-General said cooperation would be sought from the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Industry in issuing a regulation requiring the addition of iodine in table salt. In the meantime, he recommended all parents to find brain-stimulating activities for their children.
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Reporter : Surapan Laotharanarit
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