Prayut vows 15 years of free education despite charter draft provision

He made the pledge during the “PM Meets Teacher Friends” event in an apparent attempt to tackle one of the most sensitive issues in the constitution draft.

In recent months, many people have attacked the draft for its clauses about the provision of 12 years of free education from kindergarten to Mathayom 3. Parents, students and others are upset because the current practice provides up to 15 years of free education based on an education policy in place since the Democrats were in government. 

If the constitution draft ends up flopping at the upcoming referendum, the schedule of the National Council for Peace and Order’s “road map to democracy” will falter. 

“Some misunderstanding has arisen lately over the educational clauses in the charter draft,” Prayut, who is also NCPO chief, said yesterday to about 20,000 teachers at a convention centre in Nonthaburi province. 

Broadcast through various channels, the speech was heard by at least 250,000 more teachers, and many more people listened to it live from various other venues. 

Prayut sought to explain that the provision of 15 years of free education had always been only government policy, and not law. 

“But to provide assurances, my government is now looking for a way to put the 15 years of free education as a clause into a law, or at least a ministerial regulation,” he said. 

“I ask for your understanding,” he asked of the teachers during his speech. 

He also encouraged them to cooperate in efforts to help the country move ahead. 

Born to a teacher mother and married to a university lecturer, Prayut described himself as a part of teacher family. 

“As a family member, I definitely will never bully you. So let’s return the happiness to Thai people together,” he said. 

Prayut emphasised that education in the 21st century should prove relevant to daily life and provide learners with practical abilities including analytical thinking and information-technology skills. 

Hosted by the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the “PM Meets Teacher Friends” event became a subject of gossip among some netizens on Thursday as a programme prepared by an organiser of the event asked participants to applaud when Prayut arrived. 

It also advised them to shout “Keep fighting, prime minister!” when he completed his speech.

In response to the online gossip, Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkam-nerd has said the organiser had no need to please the prime minister to that extent.

At the meeting’s venue yesterday, the master of ceremonies told participants that there was no need to stand up when Prayut walked in and clapping should be natural and moderate. 

Although most teachers complied, Prayut did receive a warm welcome. Some teachers were clearly big fans and tried to touch his hands as he walked past them.