Scheme aims to boost Thai digital reskilling
A food stall displays a sign for the government’s “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme. (Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri)
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) have jointly initiated the “Internet Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme for mobile internet usage.
The scheme is primarily aimed at helping low-income elderly and disabled people to access the internet to upgrade their digital skills, according to Trairat Viriyasirikul, NBTC’s acting secretary-general.
In addition, the NBTC has asked mobile phone service operators to help subsidise the cost of replacing mobile phones for these groups of people to support the scheme, which also aligns with its plan to shut down the Third Generation (3G) networks soon.
DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob and his team recently held discussions with NBTC chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck and Mr Trairat on their organisations’ collaboration to drive the economic recovery.
Mr Trairat said the planned co-payment scheme for mobile internet usage would complement the government’s “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme.
The government’s scheme will provide tools for micro-businesses, households and individuals to upskill digital learning to foster sales.
Mr Trairat said the Internet Khon La Khrueng project will be funded by the NBTC. Final details of the project have yet to be finished.
“There may be several million people targeted by the Internet Khon La Khrueng project. We’re waiting for several targeted people from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry,” Mr Trairat said.
Anyone can take part in digital skill training at NBTC’s USO net centres nationwide for free.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the government’s “Khon La Khrueng Plus” scheme was allocated 44 billion baht and is expected to bolster gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Mr Ekniti said the ministry plans to allocate 10 billion baht from the Board of Investment to provide upskilling and reskilling training for people.
In principle, each of the courses would take around four months to complete.
The skills training courses cover several sectors, such as agriculture teaching, smart farming, automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics.
“The skills training programme is partly to help attract investment, as well as bridging the gap of the skills shortage when it comes to labour,” Mr Ekniti said.
He said the programmes will directly serve the demand side rather than the supply side.