The Education Ministry plans to change its policy, from giving away textbooks to students to lending them next academic year, to save money.
At present, the ministry spends around five billion baht a year buying textbooks for eight million students at primary and secondary levels across the country.
Minister Teerakiat Chareonsettasin has instructed the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) to lend textbooks to students nationwide.
"For this fiscal year, Obec asked cabinet for another 100 million baht due to the rise in paper prices," he said.
Under the state's 12-year free education policy, the ministry must subsidise tuition fees, school supplies, uniforms, textbooks, and development activities for all students.
However, he said Obec could save up to one billion baht a year if it does not have to buy a whole new set of textbooks for students each year, but only replace damaged ones.
"We should lend textbooks to students and pass them on to the next class if the content taught in the curriculum does not change, instead of buying the same new books every year," said Dr Teerakiat.
Nonetheless, the minister said Obec will still give away exercise books to all students, as the exercise books cannot be reused.
Dr Teerakiat added this method will also teach students to be aware of their responsibility to take care and share textbooks.
"I have instructed Obec to follow the plan and expect to see progress by next academic year," he said.
Obec secretary-general Karoon Sakulpradit said he has spoken to the Bureau of Academic Affairs and Educational Standards about the plan, which will be studied first.