Calls for government to resolve Student Loan Fund (กยศ.) issues. "People's MP" points out that even with a 9 billion baht budget increase, it is still insufficient. Urges recovery of 220 billion baht in bad debts from previous borrowers, stressing this should not be the burden of new borrowers. This amount could support tuition for 1.1 million students.
On 26 Aug 2026, the Thai Youth Council, together with student groups, submitted a petition to the parliamentary committee regarding the issue of insufficient Student Loan Fund budget allocations and quotas for student borrowers. Senator Prinya Wongcherdkhwan, who accepted the petition from the students, said the government has refused to increase the Student Loan Fund budget by 5 billion baht, despite a request for 9 billion baht. He has been urging the government to increase the budget to avoid cutting opportunities for the country’s intellectual future and driving force.
First-year student Plathip Phimsuwan from Uttaradit Rajabhat University, one of the petitioning students, stated that after the Student Loan Fund adjusted borrower eligibility criteria and limited quotas, a survey of 15 educational institutions nationwide found 47% of applicants were rejected, risking dropout from the education system (read more: New Student Loan Fund criteria limit quotas by "field of study" over "poverty," pushing students out of the system)
Meanwhile, teacher Nueng, or Mr. Teerasak Jiratratchu, a party-list MP from the People's Party, posted a message on his personal Facebook page, titled "Open Letter" directed to Mr. Akniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as the overseer of the Student Loan Fund and chairman of the special parliamentary committee on the 2027 budget bill, and Professor Yossanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, overseeing public and private universities.
The post called for urgent action to resolve issues faced by students who lost eligibility to apply for Student Loan Fund loans, risking university dropout and severe stress. It also urged the two officials to publicly address the issue to reassure affected students and protect educational opportunities for all youth.
Thairath Online’s special team asked Mr. Teerasak about the issue. He explained that the special parliamentary committee on the budget reviews reallocations from various agencies to determine where funds should go. The People's Party faction has proposed reallocating budget to the Student Loan Fund but has not yet been approved.
The Student Loan Fund requested a budget increase to 31 billion baht but was only allocated 9 billion baht, causing a shortage that forced it to tighten borrowing criteria. As a result, fewer applicants are approved, and some students already enrolled cannot secure loans. The severity of the impact varies by institution; some immediately suspend students who cannot pay tuition, while others allow deferred payment until the end of the semester.
Mr. Teerasak said the current economic situation is pushing more Thais into poverty. The government’s view is that if loan funds are unavailable, it should collect 220 billion baht in outstanding debt from previous borrowers to fund new students. He argued this approach is unfair because new borrowers should not bear the burden of defaulted loans from earlier borrowers.
The government must have measures to recover debts. Education is important; for example, the finance minister talks about upskilling people while university students still lack funds to study. Complaints are met with little sympathy, and the government seems unaware that bad debt is a major cause of the Student Loan Fund’s problems.
Another issue is the amendment to the Student Loan Fund Act lowering interest rates, which requires the fund to refund excess interest previously collected, increasing costs. Last year, the fund requested only 5 billion baht, and although it received 9 billion this year, it remains insufficient to meet borrowing demand.
Mr. Teerasak believes that if the government values education, it should manage money systematically to recycle funds back to the state. Borrowing is not a handout. Changes to the Student Loan Fund Act disrupted the fund, and COVID-19 worsened bad debts. Since it is a state fund, the government must support its survival.
The government and related agencies should signal how they will assist students. If children drop out from private institutions, where can they continue their studies? Many students are at risk, some blaming themselves, suffering depression, losing motivation to study or live, becoming a burden to their parents, who also face stress.
Earlier, on 21 Aug 2026, Mr. Krawee Prisananantakul, spokesperson of the 2027 Budget Committee, stated that the committee increased the Student Loan Fund budget to 9 billion baht for fiscal year 2027, double the 5 billion baht allocated in 2025. He reassured the public that the government cares about its citizens.
Reviewing the Student Loan Fund’s management, there is 220 billion baht in loans due and 110 billion baht in outstanding arrears. Collecting from graduated borrowers would return funds and enable the fund to circulate without burdening the government.
The 220 billion baht in bad debts from defaulted loans, if converted to tuition fees at an average of 25,000 baht per semester over four academic years, could pay tuition for more than 1.1 million new borrowers until graduation.
The latest status of Student Loan Fund borrowers and loan amounts for 2021–2024 is as follows:
Year 2021
Overall borrower profile:
1. Students currently studying: 604,000 borrowers, totaling 55.3 billion baht
2. Borrowers in grace period: 311,000 borrowers, totaling 46.6 billion baht
3. Borrowers with loans due: 3.58 million people, totaling 444 billion baht
3.1 Borrowers under 15-year contract: 2.39 million people, totaling 315 billion baht
3.2 Borrowers in pre-litigation mediation: 3,091 people, totaling 492 million baht
3.3 Borrowers in litigation: 981,000 people, totaling 107 billion baht
3.4 Borrowers under enforced collection: 205,000 people, totaling 20 billion baht
4. Borrowers who have fully repaid: 1.5 million people, totaling 110 billion baht
5. Deceased borrowers: 61,000 people, totaling 5.19 billion baht
6. Disabled borrowers: 3,717 people, totaling 406 million baht
Year 2022
Overall borrower profile:
1. Students currently studying: 772,000 borrowers, totaling 66.2 billion baht
2. Borrowers in grace period: 346,000 borrowers, totaling 52.1 billion baht
3. Borrowers with loans due: 3.55 million people, totaling 449 billion baht
3.1 Borrowers under 15-year contract: 2.42 million people, totaling 326 billion baht
3.2 Borrowers in pre-litigation mediation: 2,239 people, totaling 345 million baht
3.3 Borrowers in litigation: 946,000 people, totaling 105 billion baht
3.4 Borrowers under enforced collection: 180,000 people, totaling 17.6 billion baht
4. Borrowers who have fully repaid: 1.68 million people, totaling 128 billion baht
5. Deceased borrowers: 65,500 people, totaling 5.62 billion baht
6. Disabled borrowers: 3,776 people, totaling 418 million baht
Year 2023
Overall borrower profile:
1. Students currently studying: 905,000 borrowers, totaling 73.3 billion baht
2. Borrowers in grace period: 394,000 borrowers, totaling 61.5 billion baht
3. Borrowers with loans due: 3.54 million people, totaling 454 billion baht
3.1 Borrowers under 15-year contract: 2.46 million people, totaling 336 billion baht
3.2 Borrowers in pre-litigation mediation: 1,540 people, totaling 228 million baht
3.3 Borrowers in litigation: 855,000 people, totaling 95.2 billion baht
3.4 Borrowers under enforced collection: 228,000 people, totaling 22.8 billion baht
4. Borrowers who have fully repaid: 1.83 million people, totaling 144 billion baht
5. Deceased borrowers: 67,800 people, totaling 5.89 billion baht
6. Disabled borrowers: 3,767 people, totaling 418 million baht (417.56 million baht)
Year 2024
Overall borrower profile:
1. Students currently studying: 1.07 million borrowers, totaling 80.7 billion baht
2. Borrowers in grace period: 424,000 borrowers, totaling 67.1 billion baht
3. Borrowers with loans due: 3.61 million people, totaling 470 billion baht
3.1 Borrowers under 15-year contract: 2.54 million people, totaling 354 billion baht
3.2 Borrowers in pre-litigation mediation: 1,447 people, totaling 213 million baht
3.3 Borrowers in litigation: 728,000 people, totaling 83 billion baht
3.4 Borrowers under enforced collection: 342,000 people, totaling 32.8 billion baht
4. Borrowers who have fully repaid: 1.93 million people, totaling 155 billion baht
5. Deceased borrowers: 69,500 people, totaling 6.11 billion baht
6. Disabled borrowers: 3,680 people, totaling 406 million baht