Visions of six political parties compete on education policies under the theme “Why Study?” addressing solutions to inequality, the falsehood of "free education," developing Thai children with future skills, budget allocation perspectives, and their promises if forming the government.
Today, 16 Jan 2026 GMT+7 Thairath Organized a debate forum “Education Policy 2026: Why Study?” Representatives from six political parties participated: Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai, Dr. Kadee Liaopairoj from Democrat Party, Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek from Bhumjaithai Party, Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party, Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party, and Worawich Kamphu Na Ayutthaya from Thai Khao Mai Party.
Seeking answers for Thai education and reclaiming the nation's future amid Thailand’s low birth rate and generational poverty trap, where “free education” is a myth—poor families pay tens of thousands of baht annually, struggling to send children to school despite education lagging behind global trends.
Report from Equity Education Fund (EEF) Finds that Thai children start with unequal resources, widening educational disparities. Students in small schools score lower on O-NET tests; rural students lag city peers by three school years on PISA assessments. Although education is labeled free, parents pay nearly 10,000 baht annually in hidden costs.
Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai Party Views inequality as a long-standing problem in Thailand, spanning education and the entire economy. Pheu Thai aims to elevate Thailand to a high-income nation by developing high-quality people, starting with pushing a new Education Act, revising curricula to be student-centered, decentralizing budgets to local areas, ensuring small schools receive adequate funding, and protecting students’ rights.
Additionally, Pheu Thai will build an “Opportunity Bridge” continuing the ODOS youth development project, supporting talented but underprivileged children, and the Thailand Zero Dropout program. They also promote the 1 Student 1 Counselor project to support children’s mental health, extending to the 30 Baht Care for All initiative to support everyone including parents and educators, believing good mental health benefits learning.
Dr. Kadee Liaopairoj from Democrat Party Sees multiple causes of educational inequality, including economic factors, distance, and improper resource allocation. The goal is unlocking lifelong learning where children can design their futures, focusing on three development points. First, breaking classroom walls with the “Education Buffet” policy to resolve uneven school resources.
Second, removing barriers to accessing quality educational information so everyone nationwide receives equal high-quality education, leveraging existing technology and learning platforms. Third, ensuring all teachers have excellent capacity equally by reducing administrative burdens and using technology to analyze student potential.
Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek from Bhumjaithai Party Believes that the root of inequality is not due to uncommitted schools, incompetent teachers, or unintelligent students, but political discontinuity. Bhumjaithai promotes the “Equal Education Plus” policy to continue and enhance effective existing projects, ensuring free quality education accessible anytime, anywhere, with employment after graduation.
Their three actions: creating a National Learning Platform hosting all knowledge online for free access without course or internet fees; developing the Skill-Bridge app involving private sectors to modernize curricula to meet labor market needs; and establishing a Credit Bank where learners earning full credits online can receive degrees.
Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party Points out inequality stems from multiple causes: higher education but low income, graduates working outside their fields, misaligned teaching with key topics, and opportunity gaps between rural and urban schools.
Believes that if Klattham governs, poverty can be eradicated, removing obstacles to educational equality. The true root of educational problems is neglected teachers, so they must be made happy, upskilled, motivated to stay locally, and involved in community development.
Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party Says Pracha Party aims to reduce inequality by ensuring all children access quality education. First, making schools truly 100% free nationwide by adjusting resource allocation formulas so all schools, especially small ones, have enough resources for quality education, not based solely on student numbers, preventing small schools from being underfunded or understaffed. They prohibit additional fees like computer lab charges.
Second, improving students’ physical and mental health by increasing food budgets by 16 billion baht (a 50% increase) to provide more nutritious meals and hiring more mental health professionals in schools.
Third, decentralizing authority so each school can design teaching suited to its context, including curricula, budget use, and personnel selection. Fourth, designing seamless education inside and outside schools, allowing students to convert outside experiences into credits and granting an annual 2,000-baht learning voucher to choose courses.
Worawich Kamphu Na Ayutthaya from Thai Khao Mai Party Says that if Thai Khao Mai leads the Education Ministry, the first action would be to “stop education bleeding” by addressing dropout causes mainly due to poverty and lack of opportunity. They will promote “Good Schools Near Home” with qualified teachers at all levels, eliminating administrative tasks and reports.
They propose three key policies: first, free education through doctoral degrees with direct financial support to parents via the Paotang app, ensuring equal standards across schools without extra fees; second, providing breakfast for primary students; third, free university education without loans and canceling all student loan debts.
The EEF report also reveals that “Thai children” may still lack “future skills” and risk falling behind in the globalized world where everyone is a global citizen. PISA scores have declined over the past decade. Latest tests show basic skills below OECD averages and trailing ASEAN neighbors like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Specialized skills like global social competence rank 21st out of 27 countries, and creativity ranks 51st out of 61.
Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai Party believes building future skills requires “strengthening and repairing the system” where “strengthening” means enhancing Thai children’s strengths CBD including Creativity Pheu Thai will continue the THACCA policy as a mechanism, integrating various digital systems.
Biodiversity They will support farmers using AI chatbots for precise data and promote “precision agriculture” so farmers understand soil, water, and weather to increase productivity. Digital They plan an AI for All project offering a national platform where learners earn certificates and tokens to apply for global AI systems.
Additionally, they have a policy “Funded Study, Guaranteed Job” collaborating with private sectors to target future skills and industries demanded by the market, using budgets during study.
Dr. Kadee Liaopairoj from Democrat Party sees future skills preparation as lifelong learning beyond school walls with the Education Buffet policy allowing choice and the Learn to Earn program combining study and work from secondary school, accumulating skills in a “Skills Wallet” credit bank to pursue emerging careers.
This aligns with policies for private education, investments in modern technology, and future economy and industry, crucial for preparing human resources from secondary to university levels.
Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek from Bhumjaithai Party believes waiting 15 years for educational reform cannot keep pace with the future. Modern learning must employ applications and presents the National Platform hosting curricula and exams online for students and teachers, collaborating with private sectors to update courses aligned with technology. With advancing AI, chatbots must be embedded in courses as a basic tool for all ages to access accurate information.
Teachers also must develop skills using technology to elevate student thinking, move away from rote learning, and apply projects locally—for example, in agriculture classes, teaching not just how to grow plants but their benefits and markets.
Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party believes good education is not just free but quality leading to experience and careers. Children must develop critical, analytical, and systems thinking, understand earning and saving opportunities, and have ethics, morality, and citizenship integrated to remember Thai roots. All starts with teachers, so they will address teacher debt, establish central cooperatives, and support teacher welfare.
Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party expressed the need to build an education system and learning ecosystem equipping everyone with future-ready skills. First, finalize a new curriculum as the current one has not been substantially changed for over 20 years, focusing less on quantity and more on practical competencies, technology use, and skills hard to replace by technology like teamwork and creativity, with enough flexibility for schools to adapt.
Second, no matter how good the curriculum, it is useless if “teachers” lack time and skills to support student development. Approaches include: 1. Returning teachers’ time to classrooms by reducing administrative work, hiring administrative staff to assist, and improving laws for quicker processes; 2. Decentralizing training budgets so schools and teachers decide skill development priorities; 3. Using technology to enhance education through a national learning platform with AI analyzing student strengths and weaknesses to tailor curricula.
Third, investing in technology to elevate education quality.
Worawich Kamphu Na Ayutthaya from Thai Khao Mai Party declared that if given the Education Ministry, they will not wait for a new Education Act but will revise ministerial regulations immediately to create a new curriculum, making English the second language and AI the third, ending “rote memorization and testing” nationwide, shifting to assessment focused on analytical thinking.
They will promote the policy “Great Skills, Full Wallet” to solve current skill and technology gaps, especially for small workers, farmers, and SMEs, investing 10,000 baht per person to achieve a minimum monthly wage of 25,000 baht, cycling money back into the economy.
Worawich Kamphu Na Ayutthaya from Thai Khao Mai Party revealed that Thai Khao Mai was founded to develop human capital and intends to manage the Education Ministry but recognizes success requires system-wide human capital development.
Although the Education Ministry’s budget seems large, most is operational expenses; funds for development and investment are limited but manageable. For example, annual electricity costs for Office of Basic Education schools approach 5 billion baht; privatizing solar installation could reduce costs by 3 billion baht, reallocating savings to support small schools and reduce educational opportunity gaps.
Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party promised to prioritize education beyond the Education Ministry, including related ministries like Higher Education, Social Development, and Public Health. Within the first 100 days before budget approval, they aim to advance:
1. Announcing intent to create a new curriculum
2. Canceling and reducing programs unbeneficial to students and teachers
3. Renewing the Education Innovation Area Act to decentralize budget decisions to schools
4. Canceling compulsory activities for student loan borrowers
5. Submitting new Education Act draft to parliament
Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party said Thailand has many talented policymakers but lacks decisive leaders. She asked for a chance for Klattham Party, promising bold decisions and comprehensive policies if managing the Education Ministry, including doubling subsidies and supporting additional expenses like water and electricity.
Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek from Bhumjaithai Party stressed the party’s strong focus on education, linking unresolved education problems to social and economic issues and the middle-income trap. Besides the Equal Education Plus policy, they plan additional budget allocation from overlapping integrated budgets, and will push draft laws for equal and modern education with decentralization and flexibility.
Dr. Kadee Liaopairoj from Democrat Party proudly highlighted initiating the “15 Years Free Education Policy” and the need for further adjustments without budget cuts despite declining student numbers, focusing resources on marginalized and needy children.
As a mother and educator, she emphasized education should not be measured by grades alone but by preparing children to grow into ethical, lifelong learners who can care for themselves and families. Democrat Party’s approach extends beyond schools and the Education Ministry to efficient budget use, open and flexible learning accommodating individual differences and future changes, integrating new innovations to uplift teachers and students, producing human resources benefiting the economy. This is the party’s promise.
Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai Party shared the party’s commitment to lead Thailand to high-income status by elevating education and human development to create highly capable people. Pheu Thai’s prime minister candidate, Dr. Yotsanan Wongsawat, has extensive education system experience and pledges to prioritize education if elected.
Regarding budget, they will promote appropriate allocation and resource rematching within limited funds, setting clear priorities to ensure benefits reach the public.
During Q&A session “Nong Kratai" from 4-square-wah school, Uttaradit province, asked that although she lives near a school charging fees, she must travel farther to a cheaper school. Still, hidden costs prevent her from continuing studies. She inquired which party policies could help resolve such problems.
Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai Party answered that based on her experience working with EEF to reintegrate students into education, she understands cost challenges well. Thus, Pheu Thai’s Thailand Zero Dropout policy will use EEF as a key mechanism to allocate budgets helping cover student expenses and support continuous education.
Additionally, the ODOS project supports talented but financially challenged students with scholarships covering all hidden costs, currently totaling 1,200 awards, with plans to expand and widen educational opportunities.
Pheu Thai also proposes transport policies like 10-baht buses and 20-baht electric trains to ease travel burdens, especially for students.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kadee Liaopairoj from Democrat Party said the party aims to manage education budgets more efficiently, including allocating funds to communities to support student travel costs.
They also propose a “2 days study, 2 days work” system to enhance skills and work experience alongside classroom learning, making education more flexible and relevant to learners’ lives and increasing choices and diversity in education.
Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek from Bhumjaithai Party responded that their policies align with Pheu Thai and Democrat, having formed the Thailand Zero Dropout Plus committee to extend EEF’s collaborative work with multiple sectors.
Regarding Nong Kratai’s case, Bhumjaithai emphasizes deep problem analysis beyond reintegrating students, aiming to address root causes across family, community, and education system levels for comprehensive, sustainable solutions.
Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party revealed the party prioritizes continuous efforts to prevent student dropouts, cooperating with EEF, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Interior Ministry. They build on Pheu Thai’s successful “Bring Students Back to School” project and plan to continue such efforts.
Regarding hidden costs, Klattham pledges to allocate budgets covering these fully to reduce student and family burdens if elected.
Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party said hidden cost issues fall into two types: small schools funded per student leading to insufficient budgets, and large schools still charging hidden fees. Pracha plans to work with the Education Ministry to prohibit schools from charging extra fees beyond free education policies.
They also propose addressing other hidden costs like travel and meals by allocating an additional 1.6 billion baht, a 50% increase from current budgets, to ease burdens on students and parents, and continue supporting EEF’s work.
Currently, scholarships for poor students include equality and basic factor funds, the latter covering only primary and lower secondary students. Pracha sees the need to extend support to kindergarten and upper secondary students and plans to increase budgets to assist screened but unsupported students to provide comprehensive aid.
Meanwhile, Worawich Kamphu Na Ayutthaya from Thai Khao Mai Party responded that if elected to lead the Education Ministry, they will resolve these issues within 30–60 days, stressing that policies or directives cannot be top-down only but must involve understanding real problems from students, teachers, school leaders, and education area administrators.
On free education, it must be “quality free education” Though equalizing all schools’ quality may be difficult, the Education Ministry must set minimum national standards and allocate budgets to help under-resourced schools meet them.
Worawich acknowledged that large schools with parental donations tend to have higher quality, while many schools with less financial support reflect long-standing educational inequality.
However, the ministry’s role is to create welfare and support mechanisms to elevate about 29,000 schools nationwide to comparable quality, as Thai education quality remains insufficient. Addressing this will concretely reduce educational inequality.
Meanwhile, Kanthong Jaihuk, a teacher from Ban Mae Tao Phae School, Tak province, a first-generation rural teacher, reflected that most local students are ethnic minorities from low-income families mainly working in nearby factories, causing a high dropout rate.
She also requested the government assign specialized personnel for procurement and financial tasks, as many teachers currently bear heavy administrative workloads beyond teaching, limiting their focus on student learning development. Dedicated staff would reduce teachers’ burdens and improve teaching management.
Lastly, regarding teacher housing and school facilities, Kanthong urged government budget allocation to improve buildings and infrastructure in remote areas, many of which still lack electricity and internet access, especially schools in the Teacher Loves Local project. She appealed to all parties to prioritize remote area development as local children await better educational and growth opportunities.
Dr. Jenjira Rattanapian from Klattham Party replied that teacher housing aligns with Klattham’s core policies. The party has repaired over 16,000 teacher residences and pledges to continue completing remaining repairs by 2027 if elected.
Reducing teacher workload remains a key policy, increasing administrative assistants by employing retired teachers for administrative roles. This policy has begun with positive results by concretely easing teachers’ non-teaching duties.
Klattham has already hired over 17,000 such assistants and aims to add 16,000 more.
Dr. Theerapha Pairohkul from Pheu Thai Party answered that regardless of which party leads, embracing ethnic and cultural diversity is critical, especially creating “safe spaces” in schools as a main goal to ensure all children grow and learn equally.
Parit Watcharasinthu from Pracha Party stated that reducing teacher workload is essential, but also highlighted the need to reform procurement laws to hold contractors and manufacturers accountable for delivering goods not meeting specifications or quality, which would reduce teachers’ and schools’ burdens in resolving such issues.