Thailand Makes School Safety a National Priority

Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal by the Ministry of Education to elevate school security to a national agenda, following a mass shooting at a secondary school near Bangkok last week that killed nine people. The move aims to systematically strengthen prevention and response in educational institutions, protecting children, teachers, and education personnel across the country, said deputy government spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn. Under the ministry’s announcement, which took immediate effect, all schools have been designated as ‘School Safety Zones’ and are required to establish centres for the protection of rights, freedoms, and safety on their premises, develop and rehearse emergency response plans, and coordinate with police and other agencies. In a statement, she said the core of the approach is to prevent risks before incidents occur through strict checks and screening for weapons, illegal items, and dangerous objects before entering schools, alongside a mental health support system covering the physical and psychological well-being of students, teachers, and staff. The ministry is collaborating with psychologists from Chulalongkorn University and a crisis team from Thailand’s Department of Mental Health to assist those affected, and is preparing ‘Safe Rooms’ for psychological recovery, Thongsaluaykorn added. For the long term, the spokesperson stated that the ministry is drafting a legislative framework on school safety and will monitor the mental condition of those impacted, conducting post-traumatic stress disorder screenings at the first, third, and sixth months.