BANGKOK, Thailand – The Cabinet on 18 February 2025 approved the 11th phase of the project to provide students affected by unrest in the southern border provinces with opportunities to continue their studies at the university level.
In the 11th phase, scheduled for 2024-2028, a fund of 32.63 million baht was approved for the project, aimed at enabling the affected students to have access to higher education of good quality. The Ministry of Interior told the Cabinet that the 10th phase of the project ended in 2023; it, therefore, proposed the 11th phase to further promote education standards for youth in the deep South.
The ministry explained that, after the students complete their education under this project, they will be able to bring their knowledge gained from the project to help develop their homeland.
In the new phase, the Department of Provincial Administration will grant 44 scholarships each year, from 2024 to 2028. Out of this number, 27 scholarships are for the field of science and 17 for social science. Target groups include students from Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun, and Songkhla (especially in Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, and Saba Yoi districts). During the five-year period, altogether 220 scholarships will be offered.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Mr. Pongprach Makchang, Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), led a Thai delegation to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 13-15 February.
The delegation provided Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an update on Thailand’s southern border provinces in various aspects, namely socio-economic development, education and youth, and the role of the government of Thailand in supporting the development efforts in the area. Moreover, the Thai side showed interest in broadening cooperation with the OIC and its members in other potential fields, including halal food, youth empowerment, economics, education, and sustainable development.
The Thai delegation also met 130 Thai Muslim students in Saudi Arabia who were participating in the “Creative Media Skills Program: Learning for a New Future,” a capacity-building project aiming at creating opportunities for their future career path.
On 16-17 February, Mr. Natthaphon Sapsinsoonthon, Head of the International Security Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led a Thai delegation comprising officials of the ministry, SBPAC, and the Office of National Security Council to visit the Arab Republic of Egypt. The delegation discussed further academic cooperation between Thailand and Egypt, particularly in Arabic language skills development for higher education. It also met more than 400 Thai Muslim students in Egypt at the Thai Food Festival 2025. (PRD)
