With over 95 percent of the people professing Buddhism, about 90 percent having a common or related racial origin, and almost 85 percent speaking the Thai language, the Thai society is fairly homogeneous. There are, however, a few ethnic minorities of which the significant ones are the Chinese (12 percent of the population), the Malays (2 percent), and the tribal people (1 percent). The Thai government seeks to bring about a total integration of all people through education. To this end the Ministry of Education has prescribed a common curriculum with Thai as the medium of instruction. The Chinese and Malay children may, however, receive instruction in their mother tongues in the first four years of elementary school. In the secondary schools, not more than ten hours per week may be devoted to the study of the Chinese and Malay languages. Education has apparently accelerated assimilation of the Chinese and tribal people into the Thai society. It unquestionably has been reinforced by the incidence of intergroup marriage. However, it is doubtful whether it will be effective in assimilating the Malays in the face of their antipathy toward Thailand and their determination to maintain their cultural identity. (Author/IRT)