Khon Kaen, February 20, 2026 – The Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University (KKU), participated in a workshop aimed at brainstorming strategies to drive the National Education Plan under the theme “Network for Thai Human Capacity Development” (2nd Edition). The event took place at the Chatthan Room, G Floor, Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid Hotel in Khon Kaen province, serving as a platform to shape the future direction of the country’s education.
Associate Professor Dr. Pravit Erawan, Secretary-General of the Education Council, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote address on the strategic direction of Thai education. He highlighted the necessity of preparing the educational system to meet international standards and supporting the assessment process for Thailand’s accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which acts as a “health check” for the nation’s education system. Empirical data on the global stage indicates that the most worthwhile and foundational investment for enhancing competitiveness is early childhood and vocational education, as evidenced by the successes of South Korea and Vietnam. Therefore, despite continuous improvements, Thailand must accelerate its development to keep pace with competitors. Additionally, the Office of the Education Council (OEC) is moving forward with a new draft of the National Education Act, designed to reduce redundancies and establish a practical system structure. The policy formulation will highly rely on evidence-based data gathered from the genuine voices of practitioners and local networks.
In alignment with this discussion forum, Assoc. Prof. Issara Kanjug, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Education, assigned Asst. Prof. Siribhong Bhiasiri, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Administration and Corporate Communication, as the faculty’s representative. He was joined by teachers from the Demonstration School of Khon Kaen University. During the session, Asst. Prof. Siribhong reflected on a critical structural issue: academics and university professors in regional areas still face limitations regarding their “voice,” which often does not carry the same weight or reach the policy level as effectively as those in the central region (Bangkok). Consequently, deep-rooted local issues and realities are often not adequately recognized or addressed at the national policy level.
This reflection from the KKU representatives provided crucial empirical data, aligning perfectly with the core objective of the workshop: to listen to the perspectives of local administrators, agency representatives, and stakeholders. These insights will be instrumental in driving the National Education Plan (B.E. 2560 – 2579) to effectively reduce disparities, encompass all contexts of Thai society , and ensure sustainable development.
