Narumon revealed that the Private Education Promotion Board has approved measures to provide additional school uniforms to vulnerable children in private schools and has also endorsed revisions to the Islamic Studies curriculum to keep pace with global contexts.
At 2:00 p.m. on 17 March 2026, Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Education, chaired the first meeting of the Private Education Promotion Board for 2026 at the Rajavallop Conference Room, Ministry of Education. She stated it was pleasing that the meeting discussed the draft Ministry of Education regulations on measures to assist private school students through subsidies for textbooks, learning supplies, school uniforms, and student development activities. The board approved providing an additional school uniform subsidy—one set—to poor students whose guardians hold state welfare cards, ensuring targeted government assistance. This also helps reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families and enhances the capacity of educational institutions to effectively manage basic education.
This measure will take effect starting the 2026 academic year. The Office of the Private Education Commission was tasked with proposing draft announcements regarding the procedures for applying for subsidies, disbursing funds, and guidelines for the additional school uniform subsidies for the Minister of Education’s signature.
The meeting also approved the draft Ministry of Education announcement on the use of the Islamic Studies curriculum for private schools under the system, which is a major revision from the 2003 version to align with the core basic education curriculum and the changing global social context. This draft curriculum has undergone nationwide consultation with private religious schools and has been reviewed for compliance with Islamic principles by the Chularatchamontri Office. It aims to develop learners’ knowledge alongside moral values according to international standards, and will also be implemented from the 2026 academic year. Additionally, the board approved draft regulations for creating a central electronic registry of teachers, educational personnel, staff, and students in private schools to support the transition to a “central electronic registry” system aligned with the digital era, with a focus on personal data security (PDPA). This policy will reduce teachers’ paperwork burdens and enhance the efficiency, speed, and modernity of private school data management. Minister of Education said.
Approved exemption of qualifications.
Dr. Narumon concluded that to address management issues at the local education level, the board approved an exemption from qualifications under the Private School Act of 2007 for Phra Channarong Chaya Wisuttho, acting abbot of Wat Kuduea, allowing him to serve as the licensee representative for Wat Kuduea Wittayakhom School in Ubon Ratchathani Province despite lacking a secular bachelor's degree, as he holds the highest level of Buddhist ecclesiastical certification. This exemption ensures the smooth continuation of administration and legal affairs of the temple’s charitable school, maximizing benefits for education management in the area. The board also noted progress on the welfare fund situation, especially the update on transitioning the medical expense reimbursement system for private school teachers to a real-time system, responding to private hospitals’ requests.
Currently, the system of the National Health Security Office is ready. The first phase is scheduled to launch on 1 May 2026, initially piloting in provincial and district hospitals as a welcoming gift for private school teachers at the start of the new academic year.