Incomplete tuition payments prevent students from receiving graduation certificates, a major issue causing students to fall out of the education system. Most affected students attend government schools at the end of grade 9. Although government subsidies are provided, teachers have to collect additional fees.
The issue sparked debate when the Consumer Council revealed data showing students dropping out of the education system because they could not pay tuition fees. Without graduation certificates, they cannot apply for further education or jobs. This problem remains hidden in Thai society because some schools charge extra fees beyond government per-student subsidies. Alarmingly, most students affected attend government schools at grade 9.
Assoc. Prof. Atthaphon Anantaworasakul, Chair of the Education Subcommittee at the Consumer Council and a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education, told Thairath Online's special news team that the problem of schools withholding graduation certificates due to unpaid tuition continues. Although the Ministry of Education has clear guidelines prohibiting this practice, he emphasized that financial issues are adults’ responsibility and children should not suffer consequences that limit their opportunities for further study or work.
The issue of students not receiving graduation certificates or academic transcripts due to unpaid fees mostly occurs in government schools, because the government’s per-student budget does not fully cover actual expenses.
Factors causing schools to charge additional fees include:
• Utility costs: for example, electricity bills rising due to air conditioning installation in classrooms.
• Specialized personnel: hiring foreign teachers for English programs or subject specialists.
• Technology: delays or insufficient government funding for IT equipment and computers.
• Hidden expenses: such as transportation costs for students in remote areas, which heavily burden low-income families.
The Ministry of Education has issued clear guidelines that schools must issue graduation certificates to students so as not to reduce their chances for further education or employment.
“If a grade 9 student does not receive a certificate, they cannot apply for jobs or continue studying, creating a cycle where they lack income to repay school debts. This problem should be seen as an issue between adults and schools; children should not be affected.”
One solution some schools use is issuing a copy of the graduation certificate for students to use for applications while withholding the original until full payment is made. This helps prevent students from losing opportunities.
Schools with effective student support systems can address this problem early with approaches such as:
1. Monitoring financial status from the start of arrears, such as in grade 7, and promptly discussing payment plans with parents.
2. Social funding: leveraging connections with alumni associations, parent groups, or local businesses to raise scholarships to cover debts for truly poor students.
3. Installment payments: allowing fees to be paid in portions to avoid large sums that burden parents at graduation time.
It is proposed that the government consider structural solutions such as:
• Increasing per-student budgets: adjusting subsidy categories to cover current necessary expenses like electricity and transportation.
• Provincial funds: establishing provincial-level aid funds to assist cases of poor students with unpaid fees on a case-by-case basis.
• Energy-saving innovations: the government should support projects like solar panels in schools to reduce long-term electricity costs.
This problem frequently occurs among grade 9 students who need certificates to work or pursue vocational education. If schools withhold certificates, students receive wages lower than their qualification level, worsening social inequality.