The new 12-year free education policy set out in the draft charter has drawn mixed reactions among academics and education advocates.
Section 54 of the draft constitution says the free education programme will be subsidised by the state from pre-school for three-year-olds to Mathayom 3, instead of from Prathom 1 to Mathayom 6 as it is now.
Welcoming the change, Somphong Chitradub, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education, said studies show pre-school is the most important period for child development and a good foundation for further development in the later years of life.
"Investing more in pre-school education will yield better results for the country's human resources development," he said.
The government previously has focused mainly on encouraging students to study longer in secondary school. The policy was later blamed for a shortage of graduates from vocational colleges, he said.
The lecturer, however, doubted if the policy will really guarantee free education as many students and their parents still are required to pay some fees such as admission fees.
"If the government is serious about eradicating disparities in education, every child should be educated free of charge," Mr Somphong said.
The government should also consider supporting vocational education so it can attract more students, he said.
Chatchawal Thongdeelert, an independent academic, however, opposes the change, saying it will hurt ethnic minorities who cannot afford to continue education at secondary level without state subsidies.
Although the draft says funds will be set up to ensure financial support for poor students at that level, Mr Chatchawal said he doubted all students who need help would get it.
He said the Education Ministry's reform of its regional administration structure, now under way, was too centralised, although more parties will be given a say on provincial education committees.
The committees will be headed by the provincial governor and will also represent the public, the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Industries, he said.
Kamol Rodkhlai, secretary-general of the Education Council, said the council is working out the budgetary changes that will be needed. He said the 500-billion-baht budget needed to fund the free education system should drop significantly, given the big difference between the cost per head in subsidising pre-school education, about 1,700 baht, and secondary education, about 3,800 baht.
Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan, meanwhile, defended the draft, saying ages two to five are a window period for brain development and a time when many children in poor families lose the opportunity to enter proper child development programmes without help from the state.
As for poor students wanting to continue their education at secondary level, assistance will be offered including scholarships and student loans, the charter drafting chairman said.
The government may expand the free education scheme to 15 years to also cover senior secondary level when it has enough money, he said.