Thailand’s Ministry of Education continues to uphold and implement a longstanding policy that enables stateless, undocumented and migrant children to enrol in Thai public schools, affirming the state’s commitment to inclusive education for all children on its territory.

Under the “Education for All” framework — originally set out in a series of legislative and cabinet resolutions dating back to the late 1990s and mid-2000s — children of non-Thai nationality, regardless of their documentation or citizenship status, are entitled to free basic education from preschool through secondary levels, with schools funded on the same per-student basis as for Thai nationals.

The policy underscores the government’s recognition that education is a fundamental right essential to child development and social integration.

To facilitate access, Thailand’s public school system and related authorities operate programmes that allow schools to register children without traditional civil documents and assign them a provisional “G-code” identification number.

This enables stateless and migrant students to be formally enrolled, attend classes and benefit from state support structures, even if their parents lack legal residency documents.

Schools are responsible for inputting basic personal information — such as name, date of birth and family details — to initiate the enrolment process and obtain the code, ensuring children are not denied schooling on account of documentation gaps.

While the statutory framework affirms access rights, education authorities and civil society partners acknowledge ongoing challenges in fully realising these rights at the local level.

Barriers such as language differences, resource constraints, and disparities in awareness among school administrators have historically limited the practical reach of the policy for some families.

Authorities and advocacy groups have emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to raise awareness among migrant communities and improve language support and integration services within schools, alongside broader initiatives to register and protect stateless children’s civil status.

Data from education providers indicate that non-Thai students — including those from Myanmar and other neighbouring countries — make up a measurable portion of the student population in Thai public schools.

The presence of these children reflects broader regional migration trends and Thailand’s evolving role as a destination for labour and humanitarian migration.

By maintaining inclusive policies and supporting their implementation, the Ministry of Education reaffirms Thailand’s commitment to enabling equitable access to education and safeguarding the future prospects of all children within its jurisdiction, regardless of origin or status.