Student Loan Fund Faces Disbursement Delays; Government Promises Resolution

On September 22, 2026, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Paradorn Prisnanantakul addressed concerns regarding liquidity issues within the Student Loan Fund (SLF). Reports indicated that some universities threatened to bar students from exams due to delayed tuition disbursements.

Minister Paradorn confirmed that the fund experienced initial transfer delays but stated that the government is working to resolve the situation. He announced that an additional 9 billion baht in funding is expected to be available by October 1, 2026. The government is also prioritizing the collection of outstanding debts from approximately 2.6 million borrowers. The Minister emphasized the need to distinguish between borrowers who are genuinely unemployed and those who have income but are intentionally defaulting. He noted that if the fund can successfully recover 30 to 40 percent of outstanding debts, the state would significantly reduce its need for additional subsidies.

For residents and students, this situation highlights potential administrative hurdles in the education sector. While the government has intervened to prevent students from being barred from exams, the long-term stability of the SLF remains a point of political focus. It remains to be confirmed how effectively the new funding will clear the backlog and whether the proposed debt collection measures will meet the government's recovery targets.