Thailand Makes School Safety a National Priority

Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday (11/8) approved a Ministry of Education proposal to elevate school safety to a national agenda, following a mass shooting at a secondary school outside Bangkok last week that killed nine people.

The measure 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 takes effect immediately, Patdarasm said all schools have been designated as ‘School Safety Zones’ and are required to establish centres for the protection of rights, freedoms, and safety within their premises, develop and train 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 working 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 said the ministry is drafting a legislative framework on school safety and will monitor the mental condition of those affected, as well as conduct post-traumatic stress disorder screenings in the first, third, and sixth months.