Bangkok: Professor Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Education, chaired a critical meeting of the Early Childhood Development Policy Committee, focusing on enhancing the quality of life for Thai children. The meeting addressed four major issues concerning early childhood development.
According to Thai News Agency, the first issue involved a review of the early childhood service system for children with suspected developmental and learning disabilities. It was revealed that in 2024, only 52% of early childhood children underwent developmental assessments, with 70-77% meeting age-appropriate development. Key challenges include insufficient developmental stimulation services in Bangkok's public hospitals, inadequate data linkage between hospitals and the central government, and limited access to services for at-risk children, such as those with developmental delays and autism. Proposed urgent measures include monitoring and screening children of all ages, ensuring specialist evaluations within a month for children with abnormalities, providing continuous developmental stimulation, and systematizing services for this group of children.
The second focus was on promoting early childhood parenting skills. Quality parenting aligns with the "3 Accelerates, 3 Reductions, 3 Increases" policy, which emphasizes parental education, reducing violence, and increasing quality time. The Thai Preschool Parenting Program (Thai Triple-P) has expanded nationwide, though budget constraints limit its reach. The Teachers Council of Thailand plays a vital role in developing teachers' foundational child-rearing knowledge. Relevant agencies are tasked with coordinating efforts between the Department of Mental Health and the Teachers Council to develop an E-Learning curriculum for early childhood and kindergarten teachers.
The third area of discussion was implementing the "3 Accelerates, 3 Reductions, 3 Increases" policy to enhance early childhood development in crisis situations. Research underscores the importance of physical activity for child development. Administrators, teachers, and parents are to receive training to foster appropriate attitudes and guidelines for organizing activities. A public relations working group is assigned to promote the integration of physical activity into the early childhood system.
The final topic was evaluating the effectiveness of the Early Childhood Development Act B.E. 2562 (2019). Challenges include data integration between agencies and disparities in service access in remote areas. Policy recommendations suggest establishing a central database system and implementing field-based initiatives to address budget delays and parental misunderstandings, alongside clarifying legal provisions. The Sub-committee on Early Childhood Integration will analyze these recommendations for effective implementation, while the Sub-committee on Law and Protection of Early Childhood Rights will review limitations for future improvements.
A pilot early childhood information database system is underway in Phichit and Samut Sakhon provinces. A working group is coordinating with the Department of Provincial Administration to link data between the Ministry of Education and the Civil Registration Bureau to identify missing children. Despite testing, the Department requires a Cabinet resolution for official data linkage. The creation of this database is a "national policy," with urgent measures to reconcile data between relevant departments for policy formulation and Cabinet submission.