Thavee Proposes Student Loan Debt Cancellation and Welfare

On October 14, 2026, Pol. Col. Thavee Sodsong, party-list MP and leader of the Prachachat Party, posted a message on Facebook calling for a fair cancellation of Student Loan Fund debts and the restoration of educational rights, stating that the state must build people rather than create debt and should not allow government policies to turn poverty into educational debt.

Pol. Col. Thavee stated that the Student Loan Fund has been operating for approximately 30 years with a cumulative total of over 7.4 million borrowers, affecting not only the borrowers themselves but also the income, savings, and future of Thai families broadly. Section 54 of the Constitution mandates the state to provide education, support underprivileged individuals, and reduce educational disparities, meaning the state should not push the cost of education onto those born into poverty to carry as long-term debt.

According to Section 43 of the Student Loan Fund Act, tuition fees and education-related expenses are paid directly to educational institutions, while living expenses are paid to borrowers, yet upon repayment, the contractual burden falls solely on the borrower. While educational institutions receive tuition fees and society benefits from workforce development, if graduates lack employment or sufficient income, the risk falls entirely on the borrowers and their families.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Data in 2026 reflects post-graduation outcomes, showing that 207,799 accounts reached their repayment due date two years after graduation and faced initial payment in 2026. Among them, 82,240 accounts, or 39.58%, had salary deductions processed through employers and the Comptroller General's Department, while 125,559 accounts, or 60.42%, did not have salary deductions through such systems. This 60.42% figure does not represent the unemployment rate as some may work independently or earn from other channels, but it requires the government to explain whether graduates genuinely secure jobs, income, and repayment capability.

"The state makes poor people borrow to study, but upon graduation, the state must be responsible for employment and income opportunities, rather than focusing solely on debt collection."

Pol. Col. Thavee Sodsong

Data as of December 31, 2028, revealed that 1,126,005 Student Loan Fund borrowers aged 35 and above were in default, with total debt exceeding 146,651 million baht. Many of these individuals are in the prime age of building families, raising children, and caring for parents while still carrying educational debt. Meanwhile, 3,492,449 borrower accounts qualified for debt restructuring, but only 823,087 cases, or 23.57%, had signed contracts, leaving 2,669,362 cases, or 76.43%, yet to complete the process.