Bangkok: The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is urging the Ministry of Education to overhaul the National Savings Bank's database, fearing it will further burden low-income individuals and negatively impact their eligibility for state welfare benefits. MPs from the People's Party are calling on the Ministry of Education to clarify issues with the student database of the Student Affairs Division, concerned about its potential effects on welfare rights and per capita funding.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Teerasak Chiratrachu, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party, held a press conference addressing problems encountered in registering for the state welfare card for students under the Department of Learning Promotion (DLP). This issue, which affects a large number of people, stems from outdated student information in the Social Security Office's system, affecting eligibility for benefits.
The Ministry of Education is reportedly urgently addressing this problem, which is linked to the draft annual budget bill for fiscal year 2027 under review by the House of Representatives. Concerns have arisen that outdated databases might affect the request for per-student funding, necessitating careful investigation to prevent negative impacts on government budget spending.
Historically, there have been complaints about discrepancies between student numbers in schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and those used to support budget applications. Issues such as delays in textbook funding highlight potential gaps in data and budget management, requiring urgent improvement.
The Ministry of Education is urged to take action on four key issues: clarifying the management of the student database, verifying student numbers, disclosing statistical data publicly, and investigating irregularities such as fictitious student lists in budget applications. The Minister of Education and the Director-General of OBEC are called upon to clarify facts before the Special Committee on the Draft Budget Act for Fiscal Year 2027, aiming to protect public interests and ensure transparency in government budget usage.
Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance in verifying and linking databases is seen as a positive step. Accurate and up-to-date information is essential to prevent data inaccuracies and minimize impacts on those entitled to benefits.