Bangkok: The Ministry of Education has unveiled a proposal to amend the Private School Act, following the discovery that foreign teachers have been utilizing legal loopholes to demand compensation unfairly.

According to Thai News Agency, the Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, alongside Mr. Monthon Phaksuwan, Secretary-General of the Private Education Commission, engaged in discussions with representatives from 12 organizations within the Association of Private Education Councils of Thailand. The focus was on the impact of laws and regulations governing private schools, especially the interpretation of Section 86 of the Private Schools Act of 2007. This section currently exempts formal school operations from labor protection, labor relations, social security, and workmen’s compensation laws, yet mandates that school personnel receive compensation no less than what is stipulated in labor protection laws. Consequently, many foreign teachers have been exploiting this provision to claim compensation after their contracts end, resulting in perceived unfairness towards Thai schools and teachers, who generally receive lower salaries and benefits compared to their expatriate counterparts.

Prof. Dr. Narumon acknowledged the long-standing nature of this issue and confirmed that the Ministry has approved a proposal to amend the Private Schools Act of 2007. The proposed amendment aims to provide clearer interpretations to curb the impact of compensation claims by foreign teachers post-contract. She expressed confidence in this measure as a direct and effective solution, with plans to present the amendment to the Cabinet by November 2025.