Politics
Thai Students Protest Student Loan Fund Shortages
Students and parents have petitioned the Senate over difficulties accessing the Student Loan Fund (SLF), as budget cuts threaten to exclude many from the education system.
On August 26, 2026, a group of students and parents submitted a formal complaint to the Senate regarding their inability to access the Student Loan Fund (SLF). According to Khaosod Online, the protesters expressed deep concern that current funding limitations could force many students to drop out of the education system.
Parinya Wongcherdkhwan, a Senator and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, received the petition. He noted that the House of Representatives' extraordinary committee reviewing the 2027 fiscal budget has declined to increase the SLF’s allocation by the requested 5 billion baht, leaving the fund with only 9 billion baht. The Senator highlighted that the SLF is currently struggling with 220 billion baht in outstanding debt from former borrowers, which has complicated the allocation of new loans.
For residents and expatriates, this situation underscores potential instability in the local education sector and highlights the ongoing fiscal challenges facing Thai public institutions. While the immediate impact is felt by students unable to secure funding, the broader economic implications of a potential rise in school dropouts remain to be seen. It is not yet confirmed whether the government will reconsider the budget allocation or implement alternative measures to support the affected students.