The Ministry of Education proposes six safety measures for schools, including setting up checkpoints to search for weapons and illegal items before entering schools, and urgently sending psychologists to support students and teachers. In the long term, it plans to draft a law on safety and the use of communication devices by students.
At 09:45 on 11 August 2026 at Government House Building 1, Mr. Yotchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, spoke about measures following the incident at Thepsirin Nonthaburi School. After gathering all information on 8 August, the Ministry of Education arranged urgent support for students and established nationwide measures involving multiple ministries.
The Ministry of Education has issued an official announcement, which will be presented at today's Cabinet meeting to seek cooperation from all government agencies with educational institutions for immediate implementation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Prasert Chandraruangthong, Minister of Education, detailed that following the incident on 7 August, the Ministry expresses deep concern and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and those injured, who are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.
Mr. Prasert added that the Ministry has integrated relevant work by setting six key safety measures. First, urgent safety protocols in educational institutions must be implemented immediately. The Ministry will issue detailed safety measures requiring the establishment of Rights, Freedom, and Safety Protection Centers in every school. This will be presented to the Cabinet for acknowledgment. These centers will integrate efforts from multiple ministries to support students and teachers.
For the long term, the Ministry is drafting a comprehensive law on school safety, addressing issues sustainably. It is preparing a bill concerning safety and the use of communication devices or electronic equipment by students in educational institutions. The draft is currently open for public comment via the central legal system from 10 August to 9 September. The Ministry aims to submit the bill to Parliament soon to establish a foundational law supporting student safety.
Urgent measures mandated for immediate use require all educational institutions to strictly conduct two main actions: first, thorough searches and screenings for illegal items, weapons, and dangerous objects before entering school grounds; second, providing comprehensive mental health counseling to students, teachers, and educational personnel.
Mr. Prasert also spoke about preparations for the reopening of Thepsirin Nonthaburi School on Monday, 17 August. The Ministry, together with the Psychology Department of Chulalongkorn University and the MCATT team (Mental Health Crisis Assistance Team) from the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, along with educational area psychologists, will continuously support students and teachers. After a one-week closure, the school will prepare facilities such as a comfort room, assign psychologists to the school, and conduct training for teachers and parents to communicate effectively to care for students appropriately when classes resume normally.
Mr. Prasert reaffirmed the Ministry of Education's ongoing commitment to mental health recovery for students, teachers, and staff. They will coordinate with all sectors to assess mental health and screen for post-traumatic stress following the distressing event, with evaluations scheduled at one month, three months, and six months to ensure everyone returns to normal psychological conditions. He urged all parties to have confidence, emphasizing that ensuring the safety of students and educational personnel is a primary mission of the Ministry in supporting all related staff.