The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and the National Reform Council (NRC) are encouraging students across the country to get involved in the reform and charter drafting process.
"Students have to play a crucial role in the efforts to make the new charter adaptable to the new generation. Don't let us, the sunset generation that is part of the current political conflict, take this responsibility alone," CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said.
He was speaking at a two-day seminar organised for about 130 university student representatives to brainstorm what they expect to see in the new charter and reforms.
Held on Friday and Saturday in Bangkok at a hotel in the government office complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, the forum was organised by the King Prajadhipok's Institute and the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
Mr Borwornsak encouraged the students to compile opinions and submit them to Thawilwadee Bureekul, a CDC member and the chief of the institute's research management office.
NRC member Prasarn Maruekapitak said the NRC had sent out formal invitations to universities nationwide, asking that student representatives attend the two-day event and voice their opinions about what they wish to see included in the new charter.
Most student attendees at the forum expressed interest mainly in educational and political reforms, as well as ways to combat corruption, said Mr Prasarn.
However, it was noted that no students who had been involved in anti-coup actions turned up at the forum.
The students cooperated well in giving their opinions, Mr Prasarn said.
University student councils may call future meetings or hold forums to gather opinions on what students expect from the new constitution and the national reform and then forward them to Ms Thawilwadee by April 17.
Ms Thawilwadee will be responsible for designing a draft proposal based on the students' opinions and forwarding it to the NRC, said Mr Borwornsak.
Students who miss the deadline can still submit their opinions through their councils to the NRC before May 25, around the time the NRC will be in the process of requesting to update or edit its draft proposals submitted previously, said Mr Borwornsak.
The NRC is looking forward to receiving more opinions from students as the council has widened its reach to include people from across the social spectrum, Mr Prasarn said.
Ms Thawilwadee, in her capacity as chairwoman of a CDC sub-committee on public opinions and participation, said the sub-committee will begin a series of field trips to the various regions to raise public awareness about the national reforms and the charter drafting.