Nation Thailand
Thailand plans teacher debt overhaul to cut monthly payments
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Thailand is drawing up a teacher-debt reform plan aimed at reducing monthly repayments and preventing further borrowing, with officials reporting that some teachers have less than 30% of their salaries left for everyday living expenses.
Key facts
- The cooperatives’ lending rates average 5.60% and reach as high as 9%
- Fifteen cooperatives, accounting for about 13% of the total, charge rates above 7%, according to the department.
- Capt Phatdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, deputy government spokesperson, said the Education Ministry and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry were working on a system-wide response to debt affecting teachers and educational personnel, rather
- Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Piyarat Tiyapairat agreed to establish the joint committee during talks on September 2, 2026.
Summary
Capt Phatdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, deputy government spokesperson, said the Education Ministry and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry were working on a system-wide response to debt affecting teachers and educational personnel, rather than focusing solely on reducing interest rates.
“The government’s objective is not simply to make teachers pay less interest. Teachers must have debts that can be managed, enough money left for their living expenses, and a system that prevents them from falling further into debt,” she said.