Nakhon si thammarat: The Minister of Education has proposed the creation of a central cooperative for the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, aiming to manage and alleviate the burden of approximately 900 billion baht in teacher debt. Registration for the initiative is anticipated to commence within the next three months.

According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, the Minister of Education, along with Lieutenant Colonel Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission, visited educational institutions at Benchamarachuthit School and Ratchaprachanukroh School 19 in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. During the visit, Dr. Narumon emphasized the feedback from teachers, students, and administrators, highlighting the pressing issue of teacher debt. The proposed central cooperative, tentatively named ‘S.K.S.K.C. Central Cooperative,’ seeks to transfer the teachers’ debt with an initial budget of 100 billion baht sourced from a state bank, with plans to expand until the entire debt is addressed. The initiative also includes finding low-interest capital to lessen the financial burden on teachers and ensuring the fund’s low risk. A detailed plan is expected shortly, with necessary regulatory amendments from the Cooperative Promotion Department to follow.

In addition to debt relief, the Minister is focused on reducing non-core duties of teachers, such as accounting and finance, by providing support staff. This would enable teachers to concentrate on educational goals and professional development. Efforts are also underway to modernize criteria for academic promotions, aiming to make the teaching profession more attractive to talented individuals.

Second Lieutenant Thanu Wongchinda reported positive outcomes from policy implementations in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province’s schools. The province has seen a reduction in student dropout rates, with improved O-NET test results for Mathayom 3 and Mathayom 6 students, exceeding national and OBEC averages in several subjects. There is also an ongoing initiative to align educational management with international standards, particularly PISA, to enhance the quality of education.