Law
Legal Expert Calls for Education Access for Refugee Children in Tak
A legal expert has criticized the exclusion of refugee children from schools outside the Mae La temporary shelter, citing long-standing government policies.
On August 26, 2026, Surapong Kongchantuek, a legal expert and member of the Ministry of Education’s committee on education for stateless persons, addressed the case of children being barred from schools outside the Mae La temporary shelter in Tak province. The Tak Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 had previously ordered these students to leave, arguing that their registration within the shelter prohibited them from attending external schools.
Surapong emphasized that all children, regardless of their status or residence in temporary shelters, are entitled to education under existing Thai law and policy. He pointed to the 2005 National Security Council and Cabinet resolutions, which mandate education for individuals without Thai nationality or civil registration. He argued that officials have neglected these directives for over two decades. The Director of Tha Song Yang Hospital has also expressed support for allowing these children to continue their education in external schools.
For residents and visitors, this situation highlights ongoing debates regarding the integration and rights of displaced populations in border provinces. While the legal expert asserts that current policy supports the children's right to attend school, it remains to be confirmed how local educational authorities will respond to these calls for compliance and whether the exclusion order will be formally rescinded.