Bangkok: The Cabinet has sanctioned the guidelines for the Opportunity Expansion and National Development Scholarship (ODOS) project, as proposed by the ODOS Committee, to advance educational opportunities for Thai children.
According to Thai News Agency, the Cabinet's approval of the guidelines for the Outstanding Development Opportunity Scholarship (ODOS) project aims to diminish educational inequality and enhance personnel development in alignment with national progress.
Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra has emphasized a policy focused on continuous national development across sectors, including economic, production, services, and civil society. This policy aims to enhance the country's competitiveness in targeted industries such as the automotive industry, digital economy, and medicine, with a particular focus on education, especially in the fields of science and technology.
The government is prioritizing the evolution of an adaptable education system that caters to all ages and supports lifelong learning. This approach seeks to alleviate burdens and disparities in accessing quality education by implementing scholarship projects that expand opportunities. These initiatives are targeted at students who demonstrate academic excellence and good behavior but lack the means to pursue higher education in fields crucial to national needs, ultimately aiming to enhance life quality and national development by generating skilled personnel in STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The ODOS project is scheduled to commence in the fiscal years 2025-2033, with a budget of 4,599.45 million baht allocated across three categories. Category 1 comprises 4,800 high school/vocational certificate scholarships within the country, with a budget of 990.14 million baht, facilitated by the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) from March 2025 to April 2029. Category 2 includes 200 vocational certificate and bachelor's degree scholarships abroad, with a budget of 2,609.31 million baht, managed by the Office of the Civil Service Commission from April 2025 to September 2033. Category 3 offers 2,200 domestic undergraduate scholarships, with a budget of 1 billion baht, overseen by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, from January 2026 to September 2031. Recipients of these scholarships are required to work in Thailand post-graduation.