Prasert affirms he is not blocking children from refugee camps. After registration problems caused some children to fall out of the system, he is moving forward to adjust education models and amend regulations jointly with the Ministry of Interior.
On 1 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Prasert Chandravongthong, Minister of Education, spoke at the Office of Primary Educational Service Area, Tak Province, Zone 2. He addressed rumors about pressure on affiliated schools not to admit children from refugee camps into Thai schools, which led to some children dropping out mid-course. He stated, "We follow the convention that all children in Thailand, regardless of nationality, have the right to education. However, some children reside in refugee camps where, according to legal regulations, education can be conducted within the camps. Previously, exceptions were made allowing some children to study outside the camps due to necessity. When this issue surfaced publicly, the Ministry of Education proposed two approaches: establishing proper educational systems within the camps."
Prasert added that soon he will convene relevant agencies, including professors from Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, and international independent organizations working on child rights protection worldwide such as Save the Children, to discuss joint solutions. They will organize systems to overcome regulatory obstacles, possibly involving the Ministry of Interior, since many children lack documentation, ID cards, or household registration. He requested patience for the outcome of these discussions, which will be presented to the Ministry of Interior. He emphasized that the Ministry of Education’s duty is to provide education, affirming it is not obstructing access and will comply with laws and human rights principles.