Financing for equity in pre-primary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
The official entrance age for pre-primary education in Thailand is three years, and legal frameworks establish three years of free pre-primary education. Data on the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education are not available. The net enrolment rate for pre-primary education for both sexes is estimated at 76.21% in 2024.
Governance
The Ministry of Education, through the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), oversees most public pre-primary education. According to the 2025 Thailand’s Budget in Brief, OBEC receives the largest share of the Ministry of Education’s budget.
Local Administrative Organisations (LAOs) play a key role in delivering and managing early childhood services under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security oversees child protection and welfare, while the Ministry of Public Health supports early health screening and development assessments.
Tuition-free status
Legal frameworks establish three years of free pre-primary education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Public funding for pre-primary education includes direct subsidies to Local Administrative Organisations (LAOs), which operate many child development centers nationwide. Funding is disbursed based on population data, particularly the number of children aged three to five, and is adjusted for geographic and demographic factors.
2. Education resources to institutions
Thailand provides equity-oriented funding for pre-primary institutions through mechanisms such as the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), established by the 2018 Equitable Education Act.
3. Education resources to students and families
Currently, there is no provision for tax deductions related to pre-primary tuition.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Child Support Grant, introduced in 2015, provides unconditional cash transfer of THB 600 per month per child aged 0-6 for low-income/near-poor households. Families qualify if their average annual income is less than 100,000 THB per person. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) plans to expand this grant to cover all children nationwide by 2026.
