On Monday, the Education Ministry reported that approximately 34% of Thailand’s 35,000 public schools resumed on-site classes.
According to Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong, around 12,000 schools welcomed students back on the second semester’s first school day after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Other schools are set to reopen on November 15th.
Ms. Treenuch said the ministry had not estimated how many institutes should resume on-site learning, as the reopening depends on each school’s readiness.
The minister also spoke about response measures to Covid-19 transmission in schools, saying that education authorities were against schools’ total closure and preferred to take milder measures such as suspending classes linked to infections.
“Covid-19 will be around for a while, and it is time for us to adjust and live with it,” Ms. Treenuch said.
On Monday, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang revealed that 437 schools run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had not been able to resume on-site learning because not enough students have received a second vaccine.
Matthayom 1-3 students will receive their second shot on November 6th and 8th.
Health officials have advised parents to look out for side effects for seven days. Therefore, the BMA will assess the situation again on November 15th to decide when schools will be ready to resume face-to-face classes.
“For the time being, when inoculation program isn’t complete, the students will continue with online learning,” Bangkok governor said.
Meanwhile, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s spokeswoman Dr. Apisamai Srirungson stated that students did not need to undergo Covid-19 screenings regularly, adding that weekly tests were not required.
However, experts recommend rapid tests with antigen test kits if students are exposed to infection risk.
“If family members test positive, students are advised to take a test and stay home for 14 days. Schools will need to talk to parents about their Covid-19 control measures,” she added.
Dr. Apisamai insisted that schools might not need to close if Covid-19 cases are detected.
