The People's Party dissects Thai education with evidence of Department of Learning Promotion textbooks, exposing severely outdated content yet exorbitantly priced, urging the minister to urgently investigate corruption before losing his seat.
On 30 Apr 2026 GMT+7, People's Party MPs led by Mr. Theerasak Jiratratuchu, Ms. Pawitra Jittakij, Ms. Pimkan Keeritiviraporn, and Mr. Naphat Jittapinan-kanta held a press conference about irregularities in the Department of Learning Promotion's operations and the issue of students dropping out of the education system. MP Pawitra presented textbooks procured by the department, stating that their quality was shockingly poor. The design, cover, and spine appeared outdated; illustrations were unclear. Notably, while covers were printed in vivid 4-color, interior pages were black and white. Crucially, prices were "unreasonably high": some books had only 90 pages yet sold for over 300 baht, while others reached prices as high as 800 baht despite being based on the 2008 curriculum used for more than 10 years, with content not aligned with today's AI-era world, MP Pawitra said.
Comparing these books to those from the Basic Education Commission, which regulates prices and uses higher-quality 4-color coated paper, raises questions as to why the Department of Learning Promotion's books, of inferior quality, are priced so steeply. This effectively forces mostly disadvantaged students to bear the burden of inefficient textbooks.
MP Pawitra also addressed the overseeing minister, warning that the issue suggests suspicious activities and possible corruption in the procurement process. She urged a transparent investigation to prevent government budgets from being wasted, which would harm Thai children's futures. If procurement remains opaque and unaccountable, not only will trust in Thai education decline, but the minister risks losing his position. She cautioned against perceptions that the minister fears certain influences within the ministry, leading to willful blindness.
Mr. Theerasak emphasized that the People's Party will closely monitor this matter continuously, including submitting parliamentary questions and following official government publications. They will pressure the government to produce a concrete reform plan within 2026, in time for implementation in 2027. He also highlighted infrastructure problems within the Department of Learning Promotion in various areas, such as Thonburi, where private venues or temples are still rented for classes, reflecting a systemic failure in management.