The Education Ministry plans to revamp the Basic Education Core Curriculum to include key political events from 1932-1957.

Former education minister Somsak Prissananantakul on Monday backed the idea of providing students with a better understanding of political history. A process known as chamra prawattisat ("clarifying history") will be undertaken as well.

This process, where academics agree on a standard interpretation, should also be applied to other key political events, he said. According to Mr Somsak, history was frequently written by its winner rather than by "non-partisan" hands.

It is important the young learn the nation's history not by rote, but by gaining an understanding of  events and why they took place.

The syllabus for social sciences will be reworked to include political history from 1932-1957 not currently taught.


The revamp follows increased interest in the 1932 revolution by the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) that ended Thailand's absolute monarchy. This landmark event is a theme in the anti-government protests, with one group of protesters calling itself Khana Ratsadon 2563 (2020).


"The students will come to see why we have seen dozens of coups since the 1932 revolt," Somsak said.