Bangkok: The Ministry of Education is urgently assisting teachers and rehabilitating children, drawing lessons from the Sakon Nakhon violence and moving forward to enhance safety in educational institutions. The Ministry is actively coordinating the transfer of a teacher involved in the Sakon Nakhon incident to her hometown for psychological recovery and family care, while ensuring the perpetrator receives appropriate assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation. The incident is being analyzed to improve safety measures in schools.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongslueykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that after a third-grade elementary school student attacked a teacher with a knife in Sakon Nakhon Province, the Ministry swiftly intervened to provide assistance. Mr. Akranan Kannkittinant, Deputy Minister of Education and Director of the Center for the Protection of Rights and Welfare of Students, Teachers, and Educational Personnel, instructed the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and related educational service offices to investigate, assess impacts, and provide urgent assistance to those affected. They are working with public health and social protection agencies to ensure safety and psychological well-being for all involved.
For affected teachers, the Ministry has arranged temporary transfers to other educational institutions to alleviate psychological impacts and ensure safety. The Ministry is exploring options for these teachers to work closer to their families for better support. Additionally, coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Ministry of Public Health is underway to send expert teams for psychological support.
Addressing the student perpetrators, who are minors, the Ministry has directed local agencies to act according to child protection principles. This involves working with relevant agencies for appropriate assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation, alongside monitoring behavior to prepare the children for reintegration into school and society.
The deputy spokesperson emphasized the necessity to review safety measures in educational institutions, particularly in smaller schools with limited staff or those with only female teachers. The Ministry intends to use insights from this incident to allocate support and enhance surveillance systems in schools, ensuring teachers can work confidently and students are cared for in a safer environment.