In chapter 13 on charter amendment, the CDC decided to ban a structural change in a state on the provision, which stipulates that Thailand is one and an indivisible Kingdom.

The CDC had earlier banned a change to the provision that stipulated that Thailand adopt a democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State.

The 2007 charter also had the same ban on the amendment of the two provisions on the country being a single state and on the country’s ruling system.

At the CDC meeting in Petchaburi, Education Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan told the meeting about the issues in the country’s educational system, saying educational agencies lack integration systems under the management of the ministry that distributes power to departments and divisions. He said the problem stems from the fact that ministry executives could not ensure management efficiency, resulting in low quality education.

He said he adopted solutions to solve the problem by setting up regional agencies to coordinate work between the central and local agencies.

He said he would forward his proposal to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to follow Article 44 in establishing regional agencies.

CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan also suggested that Dapong give the commission his opinion about Article 53 on education and other concerns he has on education problems before the middle of February.

CDC spokesman Amorn Wanichwiwatana said the commission would not publicly disclose details of the charter draft until the draft is final.

He said the CDC laid down independence as a major principle in local administrative organisation. “This does not mean local government has independence in governance. They must rule by taking into account local people’s intentions and desires,” he said.

Local people would be given power to consider structures of local administrative organisations.