MoE helps parents save on school opening costs: reuse uniforms, shoes for less

Thairath•Politics•20d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Ministry of Education is implementing cost-saving measures for the upcoming school year, allowing students to reuse uniforms, shoes, and bags, and reducing mandatory purchases for scout uniforms.

•The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Thailand has announced new measures to help parents reduce expenses for the upcoming school term.
•Students can reuse their existing school uniforms, scout and guide uniforms, shoes, and bags, even if they transfer schools.
•The MOE will issue a letter to schools nationwide detailing these cost-saving guidelines.
•The measures aim to alleviate financial burdens on parents during the school opening period, especially in times of high fuel prices.

Overview

•At 09:50 on May 5, 2026, Minister of Education Prasert Chantruangthong spoke at the Government House.
•Minister Prasert Chantruangthong revealed that the Ministry of Education has implemented measures to help parents reduce expenses for the upcoming school term.
•The measures are in response to the need for parents to prepare for the school opening and the increased cost of living, particularly high fuel prices.
•The Ministry of Education will allow the reuse of existing school uniforms, even for students changing grades or transferring schools.
•Full purchase of scout and guide uniforms is not mandatory; students can combine existing school uniforms with available scout/guide accessories.
•Existing bags and shoes can also be reused, even when transferring schools.
•The Ministry of Education is empowering school directors to implement necessary measures suitable for local contexts, including reducing other non-essential costs like library fees and club memberships.
•The Ministry of Education will issue letters through relevant agencies like OBEC, OCSB, and Vocational Education to all schools nationwide to provide clear guidelines.

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Key Quotes

Prasert Chantruangthong

"Regarding school uniforms, it's permitted to use the old ones even when changing grades or schools. For scout and guide uniforms, full purchase isn't mandatory; neckties and caps can be used with school or PE uniforms."

เรื่องชุดนักเรียนมีการอนุโลมให้สามารถใช้ชุดเดิมได้ แม้จะเลื่อนชั้นหรือย้ายโรงเรียน ส่วนชุดลูกเสือ-เนตรนารี ไม่ได้บังคับจัดซื้อเต็มรูปแบบ สามารถใช้ผ้าพันคอกับหมวกร่วมกับชุดนักเรียนหรือชุดพละได้

Prasert Chantruangthong

"The Ministry of Education has issued measures to help parents prepare before the school term opens, specifically measures to reduce essential living costs."

กระทรวงศึกษาธิการได้มีมาตรการออกมาเพื่อให้ผู้ปกครองได้เตรียมตัวในช่วงก่อนเปิดเทอม คือ มาตรการลดค่าครองชีพที่จำเป็น

Key Entities

Organization

Ministry of Education(ศธ.)ℹ️

The Thai government organization responsible for educational policies and issuing directives on school-related matters.

Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC)(สำนักงานการศึกษาขั้นพื้นฐาน (สพฐ.))ℹ️

A key agency under the Ministry of Education responsible for basic education administration in Thailand, which will issue guidelines.

Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการศึกษาเอกชน (สช.))ℹ️

An organization under the Ministry of Education that promotes and regulates private education, involved in distributing the new guidelines.

Vocational Education(อาชีวะ)ℹ️

The sector of the Thai education system focused on vocational training, which will receive and implement the Ministry of Education's cost-saving guidelines.

Person

Prasert Chantruangthong(ประเสริฐ จันทรรวงทอง)

The current Minister of Education in Thailand, who announced new cost-saving measures for school openings.

Place

Government House(ทำเนียบรัฐบาล)ℹ️

The official residence and office of the Prime Minister of Thailand, where the Minister of Education made his statement.