Moral and Ethical Development Guidelines for Thai Youth in the 21st Century

Abstract

            This article aims to present guidelines for developing moral and ethical values among Thai youth in alignment with the context of the 21st century society, the study found that society is full of technological changes, economy, and social values. The current moral crisis among youth manifested through risky behaviors, violence, lack of public consciousness, and declining personal responsibility highlights the urgent need for a systematic and sustainable moral development framework. The proposed approach emphasizes the integration of religious principles into daily learning processes, particularly within educational, familial, and community settings. It also promotes essential 21st-century life skills such as critical thinking, creative communication, collaboration, leadership, and ethical use of innovation. The development process relies on positive role models, inspirational experiences, and genuine youth engagement in practical learning activities. These approaches have been shown to instill desirable traits such as discipline, drug avoidance, and civic responsibility. Therefore, promoting morality and ethics requires an integrated development model based on religious wisdom, psychological principles, and educational practices. This model must be responsive to the Thai social context and global trends, with the goal of cultivating youth as morally grounded and professionally competent citizens who contribute meaningfully to the nation.