Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) ordered the directors of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) nationwide to work proactively to monitor the water situation, prevent and assist educational institutions, students, teachers and educational personnel in real time. The latest data shows flooding in 121 schools in 22 educational areas in 15 provinces. Pol. Lt. Col. Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said that from the flood situation, flash floods have occurred in many areas nationwide. From closely monitoring the situation, the latest today (23 August) found that 121 educational institutions under the supervision have been affected by the floods in 22 OBECs, divided into 6 Secondary Education Area Offices and 16 Primary Education Area Offices in 15 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Trat, Tak, Nan, Prachin Buri, Phayao, Phetchabun, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Surin, Ang Thong, a nd Phuket. There are 2,863 students affected, 265 teachers and educational personnel, and 71 school buildings damaged. He asked the directors of OBECs to work proactively with all parties, closely monitor the flash flood and river overflow situation, and notify all educational institutions. Be prepared to comply with flood surveillance and prevention measures, including prevention plans and incident response plans that have been prepared, with the safety of students, teachers, and personnel as the top priority. If it is necessary to order the closure of an educational institution, it will be at the discretion of the educational institution administrators, according to the appropriateness and situation of each area, and government property will also be taken into account. For the educational areas, create a map, a war room, a response plan, and practice. Monitor which schools are in risk areas. Set up a rapid response team to go to the area immediately to provide assistance immediately. If any agencies affect ed by the flood need to move victims to request to use the school as a shelter, provide cooperation and support. They can coordinate to request assistance from the educational area 24 hours a day. At the central level, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has an operation center to monitor and assist educational institutions affected by floods. Officers closely coordinate with relevant agencies, receive situation reports from educational area offices nationwide, summarize daily reports to help prepare for prevention and problem solving, and assess trends in flood situations, flash floods, mudslides, and landslides, as well as support personnel to perform their duties quickly. After the water subsides, the Office of the Basic Education Commission will survey the damage of each school, starting from the North to the South, in order to expedite the rehabilitation and repair. In the past, in areas at risk of repeated flooding, the Office of the Basic Education Commission has emphasized that engine ers design building structures with open foundations so that schools will be affected and damaged the least if flooding occurs. In addition, the Office will survey the number of students affected by the flooding situation in order to provide assistance in various ways. In the short term, initial assistance will include providing relief bags to students, teachers, and educational personnel to provide initial relief. In the long term, the Office will take care of damaged buildings, facilities, and equipment. - Source: Thai News Agency