Advocates propose reallocation of Thai educational funding
In the ongoing debate on the 2026 fiscal budget in Thailand's House of Representatives, People's Party MP Parit Wacharasindhu has advocated for a complete overhaul of the country's education system, despite the Ministry of Education receiving the largest budget allocation for the next year.
Addressing the legislative body, Mr Parit noted that although the budget proposal allocates 355 billion baht (a 3.8% increase from 2025) to the Ministry of Education, he maintains that the system remains inefficient due to its unchanged spending structure.
Mr Parit criticized the recently introduced 2025 curriculum, describing it as hastily and carelessly designed, and urged the government to focus on building upon the existing competency-based curriculum instead. He advocated for evidence-based curriculum reforms that are given time to develop rather than rushed through.
The MP also expressed concerns over the excessive administrative workload on teachers, advocating for solutions that eliminate unnecessary paperwork and administrative duties to allow teachers more time to prepare lessons and engage with students.
In addressing educational inequality, Mr Parit emphasized the need for the government to go beyond providing scholarships and address the financial challenges faced by small schools. He suggested a more strategic distribution of resources and urged improvements to the Student Loan Fund to provide more widespread opportunities for underprivileged students.
Turning to technology investments, Mr Parit questioned the proposed 13-15 billion baht allocation for educational platforms and called for close scrutiny to avoid wasteful or redundant spending. He also emphasized the importance of aligning university degree structures with future job market needs and recalibrating the government's role in workforce development.
Mr Parit rejected government schemes, such as the "One Village, One Thai Dish Chef" initiative, as misaligned with current market realities, such as the downturn in the restaurant sector. He proposed a new model, "Private Sector Chooses, Learners Train, Government Pays," which consolidates skill development budgets and empowers individuals to choose their own training paths based on market demand, with the government providing financial support.
This proposed approach marks a departure from traditional budget debates, striving to create a more responsive, efficient, and dynamic education system in Thailand.
In the context of the 2026 fiscal budget discussion, Mr Parit, a People's Party MP, has proposed a shift from traditional budget debates towards creating a more responsive, efficient, and dynamic education system in Thailand. This includes advocating for evidence-based curriculum reforms, addressing financial challenges in small schools, scrutinizing technology investments in education, and suggesting a new model for skill development that aligns with market demand. Furthermore, Mr Parit has emphasized the need for policy and legislation changes in education-and-self-development, general-news, and learning sectors, such as streamlining teacher workloads, improving scholarship programs, and realigning university degree structures with future job market needs.
