Bangkok: In a significant move to bolster mental health support for students, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has introduced the "10-Minute Homeroom" policy. This initiative aims to provide continuous and comprehensive support for all children within the city's education system.
According to Thai News Agency, the policy is spearheaded by Mr. Shanon Wangsaengboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, who, along with executives from the BMA's Education Department and officials from SoSafe, is focused on upgrading the safety and mental well-being of students in BMA schools. The strategy involves a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating technology, psychology, and anthropology to monitor student behavior holistically. Guidance counselors and homeroom teachers play a crucial role in maintaining close interactions with students.
The Education Department, supported by the Educational Technology Division and the Educational Supervision Unit, is working to enhance school safety by promoting digital literacy and preventing bullying. To streamline support for students in need, there is consideration to incorporate the SoSafe feature into the Traffy Fondue application, which will allow for efficient reporting and monitoring of incidents, ensuring that district office staff can manage cases from inception to resolution.
The BMA continues to prioritize the mental health of students, with ongoing assessments to address mental health gaps. The introduction of the "SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) BMA Edition 2025" serves as a tool for teachers to assess and improve children's behavior, emotions, and social skills. The Student Capacity Building Division highlights efforts to train student council presidents and strengthen the role of guidance counselors and child psychologists in schools.
The "10-minute homeroom session" serves as a practical tool for teachers to engage with students, fostering warm relationships and promoting early identification of any issues. The BMA plans to collaborate with school administrators to select "pilot volunteer schools" for this initiative, particularly focusing on lower secondary schools. This pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness of the approach before expanding it across Bangkok, ensuring that every child receives the support they need.