Parents have appealed to the Paweena Foundation to press charges against a kindergarten assistant teacher who ordered a 5-year-old boy to strip down to just his socks and stand in front of the classroom, causing him humiliation. The teacher claimed the child was disobedient. The school stated it could only issue a warning to the teacher, saying dismissal was not possible, and suggested transferring the child to another class instead.
At 10:30 a.m. on 4 September 2026, the parents of a 5-year-old boy in kindergarten grade 3 came to the Paweena Hongskul Foundation for Children and Women to seek help. Their son had been punished by a kindergarten assistant teacher at a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration school, who ordered him to remove his uniform and underwear, leaving only his socks, and stand in front of the classroom. This led to teasing from classmates and deep embarrassment. The child became withdrawn, refused to eat or sleep, was fearful, and reluctant to go to school. The school had yet to take decisive action against the teacher, raising the family's concern that the teacher might repeat such behavior with other students.
Ms. Bee (a pseudonym), aged 30 and mother of the 5-year-old boy nicknamed Kee, revealed that on 27 August 2026, after her son returned from school, his grandmother noticed his uniform was worn inside out. When asked, the child explained that the assistant teacher had punished him by making him strip and stand in front of the classroom because he had not finished coloring, causing him to feel ashamed and cry. He also became withdrawn and said the teacher was very cruel. Initially, the grandmother did not inform the parents and continued to send the child to school as usual. However, on 29 August 2026, the boy personally told his mother about being stripped by the assistant teacher. The mother was shocked. The child said the teacher took off all his clothes except his socks and made him stand in front of classmates, who then teased him.
After learning of the incident, Ms. Bee asked about it in the classroom's LINE group but received no response. Later, the assistant teacher called her privately via LINE and admitted to the act, claiming the child was quite disobedient and that she did not want to punish him by spanking. She said the punishment happened only inside the classroom. Subsequently, the assistant teacher and the homeroom teacher contacted the mother to request the removal of her message in the LINE group, but the family refused in order to keep evidence. They filed a complaint at Rat Burana Police Station on 30 August 2026 and met with the school administration on 31 August 2026. The deputy principal said they could only reprimand the assistant teacher and could not dismiss her, suggesting the child be moved to another classroom. The family rejected this due to concerns about the teacher still working there and decided to file a complaint with the Paweena Foundation.
Mrs. Paweena Hongskul, Chairperson of the Paweena Hongskul Foundation for Children and Women, expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing that teachers of young children should use psychological approaches, especially with 5-year-olds, applying gentle methods to foster affection for teachers, learning, and school. The foundation will coordinate with Ms. Kesi Chantraprapawat, advisor to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, to establish an investigative committee to take disciplinary action against the assistant teacher, and will follow up on the case progress with Police Colonel Watcharapol Suwanantawong, Chief of Rat Burana Police Station. The foundation also plans to take the child for psychological evaluation and support at the Police General Hospital. If the family wishes to transfer the child to another school, the foundation is ready to assist in finding a new school.
