Education Minister Pushes Forward New National Education Act with Multi-Sector Collaboration to Gather Ideas
Thailand's Education Minister is advancing a new National Education Act through multi-sector consultations, proposing three approaches: confirming a 2021 draft, amending the 1999 law, or creating entirely new legislation.
Education Minister Prasert Chantharueangthong is spearheading efforts to advance a new National Education Act by bringing together stakeholders from all sectors to solicit ideas for the education law framework. On May 8, 2025, Minister Prasert chaired a public consultation meeting to drive forward the new draft National Education Act, with participation from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit Arayawannano, Secretary-General of the Education Council, experts, ministry officials, and representatives from political parties, government agencies, private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit stated that following the first joint parliamentary meeting of the regular session, five priority missions have been identified to move Thai education forward: teacher workload, budget inequality, curriculum and teaching methods, school safety, and the new National Education Act. The Education Council's Office has prepared three approaches for proposing the new National Education Act:
Approach 1 involves confirming the 2021 draft proposal and considering additional comments, allowing faster advancement without restarting the legislative process from scratch, as it has already been reviewed by the Constitutional Court.
Approach 2 entails amending and improving the 1999 Education Act by strengthening weaknesses to make it a more effective education charter, then entering a new review process that would take less time than a complete overhaul.
Approach 3 involves drafting a completely new education law, starting from the beginning with drafting, public consultation, proposal, and review processes. This would produce a more concise and flexible law aligned with modern education management contexts.
The meeting engaged in broad exchange of ideas to achieve a new education law as quickly as possible, highlighting challenges in each approach and proposing additional integrative strategies, including establishing special committees, promoting all-sector participation, flexibility in adjusting legal details to keep pace with social and technological changes, and linking subsidiary laws and policies with various knowledge areas in teaching and learning. Curriculum adjustments will be made to align with current global conditions in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Education Minister Prasert concluded by announcing that the advancement framework for the new National Education Act has been set with three approaches: Approach 1 confirms the original draft previously submitted to the Cabinet that was halted due to parliament dissolution; Approach 2 involves revising and improving the 1999 Education Act; and Approach 3 involves drafting a completely new law. Each approach has distinct advantages and disadvantages. The ministry has opened opportunities for public input and alternative proposals, and has proposed establishing a special committee to accelerate the new National Education Act to meet all parties' needs and the current government's timeline. The working group will summarize all viewpoints clearly by the end of May to create effective legislation.
