Education Minister Addresses School Access for Refugee Children in Tak

On September 1, 2026, Thailand’s Minister of Education, Prasert Chantararuangthong, addressed a controversy involving the Tak Primary Educational Service Area Office 2. The office had issued a directive prohibiting schools under its jurisdiction from enrolling children from refugee camps, a move that resulted in some students being forced to drop out of the Thai school system.

According to Khaosod Online, Minister Prasert emphasized that Thailand adheres to international conventions ensuring that all children residing in the country, regardless of nationality, are entitled to education. While acknowledging that regulations typically mandate education for camp-based children to occur within the camps, he noted that exceptions had previously been made due to necessity.

For residents and those interested in local policy, this situation highlights ongoing tensions between administrative regulations and humanitarian access to education. The Ministry of Education is now planning to convene discussions with academic institutions, including Thammasat and Chulalongkorn Universities, and international organizations such as Save the Children. The goal is to establish a formal system and determine if existing regulations—which often involve the Ministry of Interior due to the lack of civil registration documents for these children—can be adjusted. It remains to be confirmed how these discussions will impact future enrollment policies and whether a new framework will be implemented to resolve the legal barriers currently preventing these children from attending local schools.