How rising nationalism is shattering dreams of migrant children in Thailand

A wave of nationalist sentiment following border clashes with Cambodia is threatening the educational future of stateless and migrant children in Thailand.

Kanchit Manoonphol, an adviser to the Department of Learning Encouragement, recently urged the Education Ministry to scrap free education for non-Thai children, bolstered by a petition from 80,000 citizens.

This hardline stance is gaining traction online, where Acharavadee Wongsakon, founder of the Knowing Buddha Organization, recently claimed that Myanmar migrant children are displacing Thai students from their schools of choice.

“Thais should be given first priority over migrants,” she declared to her 273,000-plus followers on Facebook.

The nationalist backlash intensified in January after the Education Ministry announced that every school under its supervision must accept non-Thai and unregistered children.

These updated rules reaffirmed that all non-Thai residents are entitled to free education until the age of 15.

‘Non-inclusiveness will hurt Thailand’

Phichet Phophakdee, the Office of Basic Education Commission’s secretary-general, confirmed that every child living in Thailand is legally entitled to free education, regardless of their race, complexion, language, faith, political conviction, etc.

He insisted that the Education Ministry had done nothing wrong in making free schooling available to all.

“The move aligns with Thai law, as well as with the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” he said.

Allowing migrant children access to Thailand’s schools would enhance their understanding and attitude towards Thai culture.

Educating everybody, regardless of nationality, would also help reduce crime and other social evils while simultaneously addressing public health concerns and labour shortages, he added.

“Overall, it will be good for our national security,” Phichet said.

Surapong Kongchantuk, an activist who advocates for the legal and educational rights of ethnic groups, said schooling had been a fundamental right of all children in Thailand – whatever their nationality – for over two decades.

He added that many stateless children were born and raised in Thailand and should not be considered outsiders.

However, because their migrant parents had failed to register their birth with Thai authorities, these children remain in a state of legal limbo, he said.

Dao, a child born in Thailand to Cambodian parents, has spent her entire life in the country she calls home.

Yet her school records tell a different story, identifying her only by the “G” code that signals her lack of Thai citizenship and civil registration.

“I’m good at football and dream of being part of the Thai national team,” she said with hope in her eyes.

A total of 184,029 students were registered under the “G” code in Thai schools as of 2025.

“I want to emphasise that they are not outsiders. As well as those born in Thailand, there are also plenty of children who have lived here long enough to become part of Thai society,” Surapong observed.

Regarding youngsters who cross the border to study in Thai schools, Surapong said they only number in the hundreds and often have a Thai parent or other close relative living on the Thai side.

“If we don’t educate them, they may stray in life and end up causing problems here,” Surapong said.

“But if they are properly educated, they will contribute as valuable members of our society.”

He also warned that blind nationalism tends to trigger social divisions, which can lead to violence.

“Patriotism is not a bad thing, but we must ensure it is not prejudiced,” he said.

Educational barriers

Findings from a study conducted by the Office of the Education Council show that deep-seated social prejudice is a major barrier to education for non-Thai children, who are often labelled as a “burden” on the country’s education system.

“Some parents pressure schools to bar entry to non-Thais, while some even threaten to withdraw their children if they have non-Thai classmates,” the study concluded.

“Many parents also question why state funds are being used to educate non-Thais,” it added.

Many schools across the country have refused to admit non-Thai children on the basis that they cannot speak Thai.

Some primary schools also bar entry to non-Thais aged over 12 who have never attended school.

“My child was not permitted to enrol in a school near our house because he cannot speak Thai,” a registered Cambodian worker in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district said.

She eventually found a school that agreed to take her child, but it is 40 minutes away by car.

The Education Council study found that migrant children often drop out of school due to high travel expenses, parents shifting for work, or an unsupportive learning environment.

It also reported that many non-Thai-speaking children feel alienated in the classroom, leaving them reluctant to attend school.

Another obstacle facing non-Thais is that many are not granted graduation certificates on completion of schooling, which prevents them from furthering their education and strengthening their employment prospects.

Are Thai teachers prepared?

Assistant Professor Pisith Nasee, a social sciences lecturer at Chiang Mai University, recently divulged that more than half of students at 11 schools ran by Chiang Mai Municipality are from ethnic or migrant families.

“This means teachers must broaden their mindset and step out of the traditional Buddhist and Thai-language lesson format,” he said.

He noted that teacher training in Thailand prioritises mainstream culture, including Buddhist morality and the Thai language.

However, when teachers start working in schools, they may find themselves teaching children from different religious, language and ethnic backgrounds.

“If you insist on only teaching in Thai, some children may stop attending school,” he said.

Diversity should be encouraged, he added, because it teaches Thai children how to live in a multicultural society – a skill that will be essential in the future.

Pisith also dismissed complaints regarding the use of taxpayers' money to fund education for non-Thais.

He noted that Thais are not the only ones contributing to the economy and argued that other nationalities living in Thailand support the state’s coffers through both direct and indirect taxes.