ThaiPBS/RFA/Mizzima-Nov 9
Thailand is preparing a draft law to decentralize its education system, aiming to increase efficiency, administrative flexibility, and responsiveness to the fast-changing labor market. Due before the Cabinet in the next few weeks, the National Education Bill addresses critical needs across Thailand’s education sector, starting from pre-school all the way through to higher degrees. The fruit of efforts by multiple government agencies and policymakers, the bill features a flexible budgeting system and decentralization to empower local decision-making, while also removing administrative and non-teaching burdens from educators so they can focus on their students. “The new legislation is needed so we can keep pace with a fast-changing world,” according to Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. In effect since 1999, the current National Education Act guarantees 12 years of state-funded basic education to all Thai citizens but has faced heavy criticism.
The existing framework relies heavily on rote learning, while also imposing hidden costs that have resulted in a high dropout rate and education inequality. Critics say it also fails to align with changing labor market demands shaped by global technological disruption. Prasert claims the new bill will sweep away these hurdles, opening a wider horizon of opportunities for new Thai graduates. The new education blueprint will hand state schools greater autonomy in administration, personnel management, budgeting/finance and the curriculum. Schools will receive their budget as a lump sum, giving them power to channel resources where they best meet local children’s needs.
The new law also imposes strict oversight to ensure that decentralization does not compromise good governance and accountability. Meanwhile, teachers will no longer be tasked with peripheral duties like procuring learning materials, so they can concentrate fully on teaching, guiding and supervising students. Read more at:
https://eng.mizzima.com/2026/11/09/40526
