Education Ministry Allows Stateless and Migrant Children to Enroll in Thai Schools

The Ministry of Education has issued a groundbreaking policy that mandates all schools under its supervision to accept children and students regardless of their nationality or registration status, effective from the 2025 academic year. The official announcement, published in the Royal Gazette on 30 January and signed by Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, revokes a previous 2019 regulation and updates educational policies to be more inclusive. The new policy aligns with a 2005 cabinet resolution aimed at expanding educational opportunities for unregistered or stateless individuals. The ministry emphasized that this change supports Thailand's commitments to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, believing that education will help these students develop a positive understanding of Thailand and contribute to national security. Schools must now enroll students using either standard admission procedures or a special G Code system for those without civil registration. Schools are required to assist students without proper documentation by working with local registration offices to obtain civil registration when possible. If a student cannot be officially registered, the school must maintain their G Code identification until the completion of their education. The regulation covers all educational institutions under the Ministry of Education and will be implemented starting in the 2025 academic year.