Over the past few years, at the heart of Thailand’s concerted efforts to combat educational inequality and its ripple effects on social mobility lies the transformative “Thailand Zero Dropout” (TZD) policy, spearheaded by the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand. This groundbreaking initiative, designed to ensure educational equity, empowers every learner to unlock their full potential; by forging robust partnerships across the public and private sectors, it addresses the critical issue of out-of-school children and youth, aligning seamlessly with the government’s overarching goal of systematically elevating educational quality. Through this comprehensive strategy, individuals of all ages are nurtured into becoming invaluable assets for the country’s future.
To realize this vision and galvanize efforts, by the end of 2024 , Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took a decisive step toward transforming the lives of young individuals who have fallen outside the educational system. Under Prime Minister’s Office Order No. 373/2024, the “Thailand Zero Dropout Committee” (TZD Committee) has been established as a national initiative, aimed at reintegrating and supporting out-of-school children and youth through a comprehensive framework. Not only does the committee seek to identify the root causes of educational disengagement, but it also strives to implement actionable solutions to eliminate barriers to learning, ensuring no child is left behind.
Chaired by Prasert Chantararuangthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, the TZD Committee is leading the development of an integrated information technology system, which comprises a centralized database and the “Thai Zero Dropout Application” (TZD Application). This system is designed to effectively monitor and prevent student dropouts while also tracking the progress of related agencies, with findings reported to the Cabinet at least once a year. To achieve its objectives, the committee has prioritized four urgent measures, each strategically addressing the multifaceted challenges of educational disengagement with precision and urgency.
Closing the Gap: Pathways to Education and Opportunity for Out-of-School Children and Youth
- Unlock Data: Establish a system that connects information across agencies to identify and track out-of-school children and youth. This foundational step creates a comprehensive understanding of where support is needed and lays the groundwork for targeted interventions.
- Empower Local Communities: Use the insights from the data to set up subcommittees at provincial, district, sub-district, and village levels. These localized groups can deliver tailored assistance, ensuring interventions directly address the specific needs identified in each area.
- Integrate Learning and Earning: Building on the local support systems, establish a subcommittee on flexible education that integrates academic learning with practical skills, while partnering with businesses to design corresponding programs. These programs help youth transition from learning environments into the workforce, creating sustainable paths to success.
- Engage Businesses: Encourage widespread business involvement by offering tax incentives for supporting these initiatives. This step amplifies the impact of the “Learn-to-Earn” approach by scaling up opportunities for out-of-school children, fostering long-term partnerships between communities, businesses, and educational programs.
The results have been promising; not only have 139,690 students (13.6%) returned to the educational system in the first semester of the 2024 academic year, but 22,541 have also received Equity Fund scholarships to overcome barriers to staying in school.
To understand the transformative impact of this kind of initiative, one need look no further than UNICEF’s development of “Early Warning Systems,” which identify students at risk of dropping out and enable timely, targeted interventions. Education, as a fundamental right, not only creates opportunities but also reduces inequality and promotes gender equality. Preventing school dropouts aligns with the “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) and is central to social and economic development, from increasing income opportunities to reducing crime and fostering gender equality. Early warning systems have proven effective in detecting and addressing these challenges proactively. This initiative echoes the efforts of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand, which similarly focuses on reducing educational inequality through research, collaboration, and support for children, youth, and adults in need. Together, these efforts underscore the importance of collective action in building a “Socially Mobile Society” where education is truly inclusive and equitable, enabling individuals from all backgrounds to access opportunities for advancement and break free from systemic barriers.
The progress made through the Thailand Zero Dropout initiative and the establishment of the TZD Committee marks a significant step forward in addressing educational inequality. By reintegrating over 139,000 students back into the educational system and providing scholarships to thousands more, the initiative has already begun to transform lives and create pathways to opportunity. However, the work is far from over; the next phase involves scaling these efforts to identify and support out-of-school children across all 77 provinces, promote early childhood education for children from low-income households, modernizing the educational information system all while fostering stronger partnerships between communities, businesses, and educational institutions to ensure accessibility and equity. Only through these actions will the momentum gained be sustained, ensuring no child is left behind.
All For Education is all about people; only when all is in for education is Education For All. Join the movement to reduce educational inequality. Support the EEF by donating to fund research, partnerships, and assistance for children, youth, and adults in need of educational support. Click the link to contribute today and help create a society where education is open and equal for all. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
