Minister Narumon approves draft announcements from the Private Education Promotion Committee (PEPC) detailing criteria for loans and borrowing to improve student quality in formal schools and religious schools, including special interest rates of 2% and interest-free loans as disaster relief measures.
On 16 Dec, Mrs. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Education, chaired the 4/2025 meeting of the Private Education Promotion Committee (PEPC), attended by committee members and relevant educational administrators at the Ratchawanlop Meeting Room, Ministry of Education. The meeting considered revisions to two draft announcements from the Fund for the Promotion of Formal Schools: the draft PEPC announcement on procedures and conditions for loans from the fund to improve teaching and learning quality in school administration, and the draft PEPC announcement on procedures and conditions for borrowing from the fund for private Islamic religious schools in the south to enhance teaching and learning quality in school administration.
"The meeting reviewed both draft announcements to align them with current circumstances, such as adding the term 'disaster' in the definitions, setting the loan interest rate for formal schools at 2% per year, and providing interest-free loans for disaster-related cases. Repeat borrowing rights for previous borrowers were included. For the draft announcement concerning private Islamic religious schools in the south, criteria and prohibitions for eligible borrowing schools were established, along with loan assessment criteria, borrower support measures including reduction or waiver of penalties, requests for debt payment suspension, and extension of repayment periods up to three years. The committee agreed that these announcements will enhance liquidity for schools and effectively support and compensate educational institutions affected by various disasters," the Minister of Education stated.
The Minister further stated that the meeting approved the appointment of a subcommittee for the development of private education legislation, comprising the PEPC Secretary-General as advisor, Mr. Atthaphon Truktrong as chairman, and sixteen subcommittee members representing the private sector and legal experts from the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC). This subcommittee will provide advice, recommendations, and proposals for developing private school laws, study and draft legislation on private schools, and evaluate the effectiveness of such laws.
Additionally, the meeting received a report on a survey of students and private schools affected by flooding in ten provinces: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. A total of 81,891 students and 480 private schools were impacted, with damages valued at 389 million baht. The Office of the Private Education Commission submitted this data to the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to compile and propose to the Cabinet for approval of assistance to students under the Ministry of Education's overall plan. This includes subsidies for basic education costs under the 15-year free education program covering learning materials, student uniforms, and textbooks. Measures for restoring infrastructure, school buildings, and educational equipment are currently under verification and damage certification by local authorities.