"Pradorn" explained that 3.6 million people borrowed from the SLF, with 2.6 million defaulting on their loans. "Ice" questioned the Prime Minister, expressing concern that the SLF's 7 billion baht deficit could affect students continuing their studies.Tags: [Student Loan Fund, Debt Default, Education Funding, Government Concern]
On 17 September 2026, during a House of Representatives meeting chaired by Mr. Sophon Sarum, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, raised a live question to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul about the uncertainty crisis facing the Student Loan Fund (SLF). She noted that many first-semester students lack confidence in receiving continuous tuition payments, while several universities have begun threatening to block enrollment because the SLF has yet to transfer funds.Tags: [Parliament, Student Loan Fund, Tuition Payment, University Enrollment]
Ms. Rakchanok added that this problem recurs annually and the government should guarantee measures. This year, the SLF deficit has reached 7,037 million baht, yet the 2027 annual budget does not include reallocating the 11,000 million baht budget cut to replenish the SLF, not even a single baht. She urged the government to promptly find preventive solutions and assess the situation considering the economic conditions, rather than relying solely on expecting students to repay the loans.Tags: [Budget Deficit, Government Budget, Economic Impact, Student Loans]
Mr. Pradorn Prissanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, assigned to clarify on behalf of the Prime Minister, affirmed that the government prioritizes education. He is ready to coordinate with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Mr. Yossanan Wongsawat, to engage universities and reassure them not to revoke students' enrollment rights.Tags: [Government Response, Education Policy, University Coordination, Ministerial Statement]
Mr. Pradorn revealed that the SLF operates as a revolving fund and is not a policy where the government can continuously inject budget. Currently, there are 3.6 million borrowers required to repay, but only 1 million repay regularly, while 2.6 million have defaulted. Annually, about 27-28 billion baht is collected through debt recovery. If the SLF improves management and can recover debt from half of the defaulting borrowers who have income and repayment ability, the fund's liquidity would immediately rise to 40-50 billion baht, allowing the government to avoid additional budget support.Tags: [Debt Recovery, Revolving Fund, Borrower Statistics, Fund Management]
The Minister affirmed the SLF will not pressure those without income but must enforce debt collection measures on those able to pay, to avoid unfairness toward financially responsible individuals and to sustain support for future students.Tags: [Debt Collection Policy, Fairness, Financial Responsibility, Education Funding Sustainability]