Economy
Thai Budget Committee Approves 2027 Spending Reallocations
The House Budget Committee has approved a 38.5 billion baht reallocation for the 2027 fiscal year, while rejecting a proposal to increase funding for the Student Loan Fund (SLF).
On August 21, 2026, the House of Representatives' special committee reviewing the 2027 fiscal budget, chaired by Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Paradorn Prissanananthakul, approved a significant budget reallocation. The committee endorsed a proposal to redistribute 38.572 billion baht across various government agencies, following a Cabinet resolution from August 18.
During the session, the committee rejected a motion proposed by Sirikanya Tansakun to increase funding for the Student Loan Fund (SLF). The proposal aimed to address concerns that approximately 10,000 students might drop out of the education system due to financial constraints. However, committee member Korrawee Prissanananthakul argued against the injection of new funds, citing the fund's existing 200 billion baht in outstanding debt as a primary obstacle to further capital allocation.
For residents and expatriates, this decision highlights the government's current fiscal priorities and the ongoing challenges within Thailand's student loan system. While the reallocation affects various state agencies, the rejection of additional SLF funding suggests a focus on debt management over immediate expansion of student support. It remains to be confirmed how the rejection of this motion will impact the long-term accessibility of higher education for students currently relying on the fund. Further parliamentary debates on the final budget bill are expected to follow.