Buriram, Thailand – On July 19, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, Minister of Education led a delegation including Narongchai Charoenrujisap, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education (MOE); Ekkarat Chawiwat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Learning Encouragement (DOLE); and Surin Munprasong, Assistant Secretary-General of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), to Buriram. The visit aimed to explore solutions for addressing school dropout issues in the province, with a goal of achieving Buriram Zero Dropout. Joining them at the event at the Krasang District Learning Encouragement Center was Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Managing Director of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand, along with officers from the Buriram Provincial Education Office, the Buriram Provincial Office of Learning Encouragement, the Krasang District Learning Encouragement Center, the Education Service Area Office, and representatives of teachers and students.
At the venue, Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart reported that as of November 30th, 2023, Thailand had 1.02 million out-of-school children aged 3-18; Buriram alone had 17,586, with 1,353 in Krasang District and 229 in Krasang Subdistrict. In the first semester of 2024, 39 children returned to school, while 190 remained out of the system. The EEF, with support from the Krasang District Learning Encouragement Center and local social development and human security volunteers, identified poverty, health issues, learning disabilities, and skipped generation families as key barriers. Some children have begun learning at the Center, and tailored plans are being developed for others. The EEF and the Center’s collaboration has led to immediate interventions and policy recommendations for re-engaging out-of-school children. The EEF anticipates that with biannual data collection, a nationwide zero dropout rate could be achieved within four years. Additionally, continuous monitoring through the OBEC CARE program will address the complex issues leading to dropout, ensuring comprehensive support and resource mobilization.
Nucharee Songsop, Director of the Krasang District Learning Encouragement Center, disclosed that in the first semester of 2024, the Center successfully reintegrated 66 children aged 3-15 who had previously dropped out back into primary and lower secondary education. In collaboration with local educational institutions, the Center surveyed students aged 6-15, identifying 10,294 dropouts. Additionally, this extensive survey also uncovered 42,250 individuals aged 15-60 who had not completed compulsory education, highlighting a broader issue within the community. This data will be cross-referenced with the EEF’s data to develop a clear database for targeted assistance and appropriate educational placement. Children aged 15 are eligible to enroll immediately in programs at the Center.
Following the Director’s update, Ekkarat Chawiwat contributed insights on the challenges faced by dropouts re-entering education at their previous level. Regulations require transcripts with accumulated credits, often missing for those who dropped out in early secondary school. The DOLE is working with educational institutions to issue equivalency transcripts, allowing students to continue their education without starting over. Timely issuance of these documents is crucial for effective reintegration, necessitating collaboration from all educational institutions.
In closing, Pol. Gen. Permpoon Chidchob stressed the significance of identifying all unaccounted-for children, especially those aged 6-15 who are missing from compulsory education. Consequently, officers of the Buriram Provincial Education Office are tasked with leading the Thailand Zero Dropout initiative, while the DOLE will track children missing from the EEF’s database, using community connections and local volunteers to enhance the “Track, Tackle, Transfer to Thrive” strategy. Upon identification, it is essential to ascertain children’s preferences for re-enrollment, and if they wish to return to their previous or nearby schools, concerted efforts must be made to ensure their seamless reintegration and continuous support to prevent recurring dropouts. Additionally, the “1-School-3-Systems” model will provide flexible solutions tailored to individual needs, utilizing innovative methods. These combined efforts are focused on achieving zero dropouts in Buriram by the second semester of 2024.
To achieve Thailand Zero Dropout, robust local presence and real-time data from relevant agencies are essential. Integrating support from various organizations is key to developing a scalable and effective model. Through seamless inter-agency collaboration, processes will be streamlined, ensuring comprehensive educational solutions for every child. This unified approach harnesses collective resources and expertise to significantly elevate educational standards. The mission is straightforward: to keep every child in school and thriving, paving the way for a future where no student slips through the cracks, beginning with the upcoming semester.
