Bangkok, The Prime Minister gives importance to solving the problem of the Student Loan Fund in order to reduce inequality. Increase educational opportunities By changing the new regulations To create loans based on a fair structure It is more beneficial to the debtor. Mr. Chai Watcharong, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Prime Minister Settha Thavisin places great importance on Always concerned with the problems and operations of the Student Loan Fund (SLF) by overseeing and integrating cooperation between related agencies. The new law of the Student Loan Fund has been changed to create an ecosystem with fair lending. This is an important condition that will lead to a stable financial system according to the role of a legal debt regulator. Ready to confirm that the debtor When you are in debt, you must pay the debt. But it must be based on a fair structure. Therefore, in the case of the Commission (Committee) on Social Welfare House of Representatives This refers to the performance of the Student Loan Fund which was found to lack liquidity. and more than 97 billion debtors have defaulted on their debts A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office would like to clarify that The problem of default on debt payments actually has its origins that have accumulated for a long time. The pattern of paying per installment increases every year. There is a penalty of 18% per year, even though the interest is 1% per year and there is a sequence of debt amortization. No matter how much you pay, it doesn't reach the beginning. However, in the matter of enforcing the new law It will be more beneficial to the debtor. Start with the Student Loan Fund calculating the new debt amount. Including reducing the penalty from 18% to 0.5% per year, increasing/alternating the number of payment installments. and adjusting the order of debt write-off to cut off the principal first. This will reduce the outstanding principal burden, for example from 210,000 baht to 51,000 baht, etc. In addition, the new Student Loan Fund law also cancels guarantors. To raise the standards of creditors That must be responsible and fair. In the case where the borrower has the potential and ability to repay the loan himself Therefore, the new law of the Student Loan Fund will have a beneficial effect on all 3.6 million borrowers and 2.8 million guarantors who will be released from the burden. and in the case where the debtor defaults, the account has not yet been closed. There will be a decrease in outstanding debt. significantly and will stop every legal enforcement action. Until the debt amount is recalculated, the Student Loan Fund has a duty to ensure that the statute of limitations does not expire. In this regard, the government has prepared the budget for 2025 to replenish the Student Loan Fund for the appropriate liquidity of the fund. 'The Prime Minister wants to help youth. Reduce inequality To have the most educational opportunities Because youth are the main force in national development, however, every borrower must be respon sible. When you are in debt, you must pay the debt. But the government understands that it must be in accordance with fair structural criteria. Confirm that what the government has always done is to ensure that everything is in order. Under consideration of the overall picture of society that is equal and fair,' Mr. Chai said. Source: Thai News Agency