File photo courtesy Thai PBS World

 

In a groundbreaking move, the Ministry of Interior has set a national mission to eliminate educational inequality by ensuring that all Thai children attend school. Led by Anutin Charnvirakul, the ministry has partnered with the Ministry of Education and various agencies, spearheading a countrywide campaign to return dropout children to classrooms.

 

The thrust of this initiative is rooted in the "Thailand Zero Dropout" policy announced in May 2024, aiming to bring every child back into the educational fold.

 

An essential element of this ambitious plan is the establishment of dedicated provincial committees. These are orchestrated by the Ministry of Interior, which has rallied all provincial governors to form provincial teams.

 

Collaborating intensely with provincial education offices, these teams are essential in tackling the issue directly at the grassroots level. Local administrative organisations, including municipalities and tambons, have been mandated to lead this initiative by setting up specific committees focused on preventing children from slipping through the educational system.

 

Spokesman Manat Suwannarin emphasised, “The goal is clear: no child should be ‘missing’ from the state’s educational care.” The concerted effort includes using a four-step process – prevention, intervention, referral, and monitoring – to identify and reintegrate out-of-school children. Each step represents a critical component of the strategy, ensuring children receive the education they are entitled to.

 

Supervised by the national committee on zero dropouts, the campaign saw a directive sent to the Equitable Education Fund, calling for active participation from local governments. This intervention has already yielded positive results, with the number of out-of-school children reducing from 1.02 million in 2023 to 880,000 last year. However, officials assert that there is much work still to be done to meet the ambitious targets fully.

 

In a nod to success stories, Suwannarin highlighted the strides made by provincial governors in provinces like Surin and Buri Ram. These provinces have showcased how effective local leadership and collaboration across government, civil society, and private sectors can be. They have developed educational networks and adapted learning approaches to cater to students' diverse needs, helping build a more inclusive education system.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin, overseeing the Ministry of Education, has been closely monitoring the campaign. Anutin praised the provinces for their proactive leadership and emphasised the importance of these efforts in achieving the ministry's goal of zero dropouts.

 

The Ministry of Interior remains committed to collaborating with local governments to achieve the Zero Dropout goal. By doing so, Thailand aims to foster a more equitable, inclusive education for all children, reinforcing the state's dedication to leaving no child behind in educational pursuits.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-21

 

 

After having worked in several schools, I decided to resign and homeschool my children. The schools here are known for corruption, bullying and yellow facisme. 

 

It is not going to happen .. I see in my neighbourhood a few kids got some money from the Amphur for their education, but they are still walking around and not going to school. And nobody cares... Even the school or the education commission of the area, and police officers let kids be free walking around.. But yea what do you expect if you always pass and there are no sanctions for not attending class... 

First, make sure they all attend. It's supposed to be the law, even though what children learn in school doesn't do much as life lessons. They still learn to read and write. If they don't go, and are passed even if they fail, what will their future be if they can't even read or write Thai? 

 

Second, have the government pay for better busing, so no students have to take the chance of falling off the top of buses when they have up to 12 sitting on the tops of the buses. 

 

Third, prosecute teachers who still hit students, and stop them from teaching again permanently. 

 

Fourth, ensure protection for the girls, and some boys, from being statistics of in school molestation, and removing the predators and jailing them, even at 16-18 years old. 

 

Fifth, allow more native English speakers to teach English, as the locals aren't doing much of a job in public schools.

 

Finally, fire teachers that only go through the motions, handing out papers and sitting on their phones during classes.

1 hour ago, KireB said:

After having worked in several schools, I decided to resign and homeschool my children. The schools here are known for corruption, bullying and yellow facisme. 

 

Same same

5 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

First, make sure they all attend. It's supposed to be the law, even though what children learn in school doesn't do much as life lessons.

For children from poor families, broken marriages or for other reasons school is just plain un-affordable.

Anutin is out-of touch.

 

Forcing kids to attend schools without forcing teachers to improve themselves is a waste of time. Kids who drop out often need to work to support their parents/grandparents so this will be, I believe, a failed policy.

Ah, ah, Anutin - I wondered where he'd gone! 🙂 

49 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

For children from poor families, broken marriages or for other reasons school is just plain un-affordable.

Anutin is out-of touch.

 

 

Always has been a guy to open his mouth before engaging his brain!

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

For children from poor families, broken marriages or for other reasons school is just plain un-affordable.

Anutin is out-of touch.

 

He is out of his mind. Why do these people always, but always praise there education system as if it is faultless, when in all honesty it is totally useless in the majority of cases. There are of course exceptions, but they are few and far between. I don't teach and have never attempted to, but some of the things one hears from those who do, you have to wonder why they bother. Although there are those who have to, to substitute their income. But even they would possibly throw in the towel, due to some of the abuse they have to suffer. And that not from the kids, but the teachers they have to 'work' with.

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

For children from poor families, broken marriages or for other reasons school is just plain un-affordable.

Anutin is out-of touch.

 

That's easily solved if you either remove the u iform laws or set up  second hand stores.

 

You want to get matayom to stay try trades training.  How to fix  or biuld things  

13 hours ago, sambum said:

 

Always has been a guy to open his mouth before engaging his brain!

He has a brain.... I thought he was in his position because of wealth and connections?

11 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

That's easily solved if you either remove the u iform laws or set up  second hand stores.

 

You want to get matayom to stay try trades training.  How to fix  or biuld things  

Migrant labour fills that position, kids would rather stay home and play games on the mobile.

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Migrant labour fills that position, kids would rather stay home and play games on the mobile.

 

   How do you know what kids would rather do ?

Some do actually like going to school 

11 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Migrant labour fills that position, kids would rather stay home and play games on the mobile.

Hey shops where they can learn electric or classes where they can learn about fixing motorcycle.  How many people remember auto shop working on their cars or a buddies.

 

They could also learn how to build a house and build one instead of sitting in class

35 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Hey shops where they can learn electric or classes where they can learn about fixing motorcycle.  How many people remember auto shop working on their cars or a buddies.

 

They could also learn how to build a house and build one instead of sitting in class

They can. It's called technical college.

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

They can. It's called technical college.

But they can start in school if it keeps somchai in school 

9 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

But they can start in school if it keeps somchai in school 

Even in 1st world nations this only happens in schools that cater for it i.e. vocational focused schools.

On 5/21/2025 at 2:12 PM, hotchilli said:

For children from poor families, broken marriages or for other reasons school is just plain un-affordable.

Anutin is out-of touch.

 

Which is the majority here, and they all have scooters, and many pickup trucks. Public school is free besides uniforms, which aren't much. No excuses not to send your kids to school here, although they don't teach much that's worth anything besides reading and writing. If Anutin's gung ho on getting the kids educated, have the government pay for the uniforms for those who can't afford them, along with anything else.

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

If Anutin's gung ho on getting the kids educated,

Getting them into school... getting educated is an entirely different thing

Just now, hotchilli said:

Getting them into school... getting educated is an entirely different thing

Not really a concern here, as they're passed even if they fail in class. The less educated a person is, the less they'll complain to higher authorities.

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Not really a concern here, as they're passed even if they fail in class. The less educated a person is, the less they'll complain to higher authorities.

Worker ants for the elites... no education required.