Thailand Brings 30,000 Dropouts Back to School
Thailand has brought over 30,000 dropout students back into school under its Zero Dropout policy, while also approving home-schooling options for families seeking alternatives to formal education.
The Thai government is accelerating efforts to bring over 30,000 out-of-school children back into the education system while preparing to approve home-schooling options for families. Deputy Government Spokesperson PattharadaSamee Thongsluaykorn revealed that the government is using the Thailand Zero Dropout policy and real data to plan education delivery suited to each area, ensuring no child is left behind.
Under the initiative in Bangkok, authorities have tracked 58,485 out-of-school youth and successfully brought 30,968 back into the system. The remaining children are being assisted individually to identify barriers and find appropriate pathways back to education, both within formal schools and alternative programs. The government has also approved basic home-schooling for 153 families, allowing families to provide education in formats suited to their children within set guidelines.
Thongkraree also addressed concerns about declining student numbers in Bangkok, which could lead to more small schools. The government has ordered relevant agencies to compile ten years of statistical data on students in public schools in Bangkok to analyze where the missing children have gone—whether they transferred elsewhere, dropped out, or left the system. This data will be used to forecast enrollment trends and plan school management and budget allocation based on actual conditions in each area.
