Bangkok: OBEC recently found itself in a confusing situation after it demanded debt repayment from its own trading organization, which has been in arrears regarding textbook royalties since 2016. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) addressed the issue, revealing that the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is owed over 200 million baht in royalties for curriculum or learning materials. OBEC representatives were unprepared to provide the necessary documents for clarification and are now set to summon the OBEC Secretary-General for further examination, alongside the Director-General of the Comptroller-General scheduled to provide information next week.
According to Thai News Agency, the recent NACC meeting, chaired by Mr. Apichart Teerasawadichai, focused on examining the procurement practices of the Office of the Teachers and Educational Personnel Welfare Promotion Commission, a trading organization associated with OBEC. Ms. Phatthariyawan Phannoi, Deputy Secretary-General of OBEC, represented the OBEC Secretary-General to address the trading organization’s arrears in paying royalties for copyrighted educational materials.
During the meeting, Mr. Preeti Charoensin, an MP from Nonthaburi Province, inquired about the principles for royalty collection from agencies producing textbooks and sought details on the outstanding royalties owed by the OBEC’s trading organization. A representative from OBEC clarified that royalty collection is governed by the Ministry of Education’s 2009 regulations, which require the OBEC’s trading organization to pay royalties at varying rates based on grade level. The trading organization currently owes 200 million baht, a debt that has been outstanding since 2016.
The representative also noted that only during the COVID-19 pandemic had there been a request to postpone payment, but in early October 2025, OBEC requested the trading organization to pay the outstanding royalties. The organization proposed paying 3 million baht monthly installments, plus 40% of the printing cost. However, no formal contract was in place regarding royalty collection, as stipulated by the Ministry of Education regulations.
Committee members expressed concern that the failure of the OBEC’s trading organization to pay the required royalties could be unfair to other agencies that comply with these payments, potentially resulting in lower production costs for OBEC’s trading organization. They suggested inviting the Comptroller General’s Department to investigate whether this situation constitutes wrongdoing or neglect of duty.
News reports indicated that OBEC representatives failed to present necessary documents at the meeting, as the OBEC Secretary-General was recently tasked with providing clarification to the NACC committee. The committee has requested that OBEC submit the required documents promptly and plans to invite the OBEC Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Comptroller General’s Department for further discussion on October 22, 2025.