Military Education Program Lets Soldiers Advance One Degree Per Year
Thailand's military has launched a new education program allowing conscripted soldiers to earn at least one qualification annually while serving, combining flexible online and in-person learning with their military duties.
Thailand's Department of Non-Formal Education partnered with the Royal Thai Army to launch the "One Year, One Qualification" program under a 2024 curriculum designed for conscripted soldiers without basic education qualifications. The initiative allows military personnel to advance at least one education level within one year while fulfilling their service obligations, using flexible learning formats—online, in-person, or hybrid—that align with military operations and schedules.
Deputy Education Minister Akkhranant Kannittinan emphasized that military service should not interrupt education but rather provide an opportunity for personal development alongside national service. The program aims to equip soldiers with credentials, discipline, responsibility, and skills applicable to further study or employment after discharge. Kannittinan stated that education and military service are not mutually exclusive and that this collaboration between the Education Ministry and Army represents an important step in improving soldiers' quality of life and future prospects.
