Prasert Halts 1.6B Baht Budget for Digital Education
Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong instructs OBEC to withhold 1.6 billion baht for digital portfolio project, seeking cabinet approval for reallocation.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Education Minister Prasert halts 1.6 billion baht budget for OBEC's digital portfolio project
- Plans to submit a cabinet proposal to reallocate funds to prevent overlap with NDLP
- Confirms 5-year committed budget for teaching devices in Education Sandbox schools
- Major educational policies and a new national education act to materialize by 2027
On August 19, 2026, Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong revealed after a meeting with key ministry executives that he has instructed all main agencies to accelerate fiscal year 2026 budget disbursements according to plans, ensuring efficient spending and tangible educational development benefits.
Mr. Prasert stated further that he has specifically ordered the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to withhold over 1.6 billion baht allocated for the Digital Skill and Credit Portfolio project (The Digital Skill/Credit Portfolio : Empowering Education).
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The next step involves submitting a proposal to the Cabinet to reallocate this budget to other suitable initiatives. He emphasized aligning the details with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) guidelines while integrating data systems between both bodies for long-term operational efficiency, avoiding duplication with projects like the National Digital Learning Platform (NDLP) as pointed out by various sectors.
This budgetary pause and redirection of the Education Ministry's digital projects highlight a major consolidation effort in educational technology spending to prevent government redundancy. Collaborating with MHESI ensures that educational credit bank systems can seamlessly bridge basic and higher education, a crucial pillar for modern learning reform.
Regarding the procurement of teaching enhancement equipment, Mr. Prasert noted that this constitutes a five-year committed budget spanning fiscal years 2026 through 2030, implemented as a pilot in Education Sandbox schools. This particular segment will remain untouched and proceed as planned.
"However, policies and projects originating in 2026 serve as a design phase and will begin to yield tangible results in 2027, such as the draft National Education Act, which is expected to take effect by mid-2027, alongside the Digital Transformation policy and personnel restructuring."
Prasert Jantararuangtong
The Education Minister concluded that policy initiatives launched in fiscal year 2026 act as foundational design work, expressing confidence that the public will witness clearer, concrete changes by 2027, including the new national education act, digital transformation, and workforce structural adjustments.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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