Bangkok: The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is advancing its efforts to alleviate the financial burden on parents in response to the ongoing energy crisis. Mr. Pichet Phophakdee, Secretary-General of OBEC, led a meeting with the commission's executives to monitor progress and drive key policies aimed at enhancing the quality of education.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting focused on advancing the Ministry of Education's key policies to reduce financial pressures on parents while improving educational quality and equity. Measures approved during the meeting include reducing or waiving educational expenses, allowing flexibility in student dress codes, and minimizing the purchase of supplementary equipment and textbooks. Schools are also instructed to eliminate additional fees for activities and reduce assignments that incur extra costs. The application of digital technology in administration and teaching was also emphasized.
Educational institutions are encouraged to adapt measures appropriate to their contexts to further alleviate parental burdens. Regional education offices have been tasked to monitor and support the implementation to ensure efficiency.
Additionally, OBEC is organizing a national workshop on May 9-10 to convert the Ministry of Education's five key policy areas into actionable steps. These areas encompass the school lunch system, reducing student dropout rates, integrating AI technology, and catering to children with special needs. Various sectors will collaborate to design development strategies that achieve policy goals and benefit students across the nation.
On May 15th, OBEC will partner with over 10 ministries and more than 40 organizations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at establishing "Safe Schools" nationwide. This initiative seeks to transform educational institutions into safe and innovative spaces for children and communities. Mr. Pichet emphasized the "All for Education" concept, which calls on all sectors to support education to create opportunities, reduce inequality, and alleviate parental financial burdens. This approach aims to prevent student dropouts and ensure comprehensive and equitable access to education for all Thai children, forming a critical foundation for sustainable national development.