Schools in Thailand Can Reopen if Covid-19 Guidelines Followed

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 06:29 am

Thailand’s Education Ministry has said schools in Thailand are allowed to reopen July 1st but are obliged to follow strict health measures. Guidelines approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Schools wanting to open before July 1 will be examined on a case-by-case basis. Above all whether they can adhere to sanitary and health guidelines set by the government. If schools think they can, they might be open before July 1, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said. The CCSA will not allow schools to reopen if it believes they cannot make classes safe from Covid-19 for students. Measures, drawn up by the Health and Education ministries include; temperature screening before entering schools; the wearing of face masks; and having enough hand-washing facilities with soap or alcohol gel.

Social distancing rules will also limit the number of students per class to between 20 and 25. Furthermore frequent cleaning of school premises will also be required. Activities requiring physical contact will be banned. Mr Nataphol said the CCSA will circulate the health and safety criteria to all schools nationwide. He said if schools find the criteria problematic they can propose alternative measures. Each school committee should decide whether they can comply with the Covid-19 guidelines. They can then inform the ministry that they are ready to reopen. The Education ministry will later make an assessment and seek CCSA permission to reopen. The Department of Disease Control has advised schools in Thailand to immediately separate any children who fall ill. Above all to prevent the spread of any illnesses that could force the closure of the school. Schools should also be able to trace the source of an illness if possible. Meanwhile, a school teacher was arrested on Friday for the alleged sexual abuse of his 13-year-old niece. The 52-year-old teacher was taken into custody in northeastern Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province. Nakhon Phanom provincial court approved an arrest warrant on Thursday.