Deputy Education Minister Akkhornwit Sets May 5 Deadline for Learning Standards Office to Address Outdated Textbook Concerns
Deputy Education Minister Akkhornwit gave the Office of the Basic Education Commission until May 5 to explain why Thai schools still use outdated textbooks from 2008 and address content quality concerns raised by opposition lawmakers.
Following complaints from opposition members of the People's Party who called for an investigation into the standards of textbooks produced by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) due to outdated content and insufficient academic material, Deputy Education Minister Akkhornwit Kankittinunt issued an urgent directive on May 1, 2025, requiring OBEC to clarify its textbook publishing procedures by May 5.
During an inspection tour of Northeast Thailand, the deputy minister discovered that school libraries were still using curriculum materials from 2551 (2008). While acknowledging the concerns, Akkhornwit assured that the investigation would be thorough across all dimensions—including curriculum content, textbook development processes, and real-world implementation—to ensure comprehensive and fair evaluation.
"If deficiencies are found, we will expedite curriculum improvements and modernize textbooks to align with global changes and learner needs," the deputy minister stated.
The opposition delegation, comprising MPs Theerapong Jiratrarat, Pavitta Jitakij, Pimpakanjana Keerattivirapakorn, and Nophatthorn Jitaphinnanthakantha, highlighted concerns regarding content quality, price appropriateness, procurement transparency, and the continued use of 2008 curriculum materials without updates reflecting current academic and social contexts—issues potentially affecting educational quality, public budget, and public confidence.
Additional infrastructure problems were noted, including rented private spaces and temple facilities used for instruction in Bangkok's Thonburi side, with maintenance costs borne by staff themselves.
The deputy minister's directive requires OBEC to: (1) clarify the facts and justify using 2008 curriculum materials; (2) establish a textbook standards evaluation committee with external experts and expedite solutions; and (3) investigate facility arrangements in the Thonburi area regarding use of private rentals or temple spaces.
