Phuket students go back to school
ON-SITE CLASSES FOR STUDENTS OF
all ages resumed on Monday (Jan 17) after Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew issued a provincial order less than 24 hours earlier.
The move made national news last Sunday night (Jan 16), as schools elsewhere
throughout the country must remain closed to on-site classes until Jan 31 under an order
by the Ministry of Education.
The order, Phuket Provincial Order No. 352/2565, although posted online last Sunday (Jan 16), was marked to be in effect from Jan 15-31.
The order was posted online by the Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, just after 10am, giving students and their parents less than one day to make arrangements to prepare to go back to school.
The provincial order recognised the previous order “asking” all schools, kindergartens and other educational institutions on the island, both public and private, to “refrain” from holding any on-site activities
from Jan 15-31.
However, the order noted: “In the case of any educational institutions that are ready to open classroom teaching (On Site) before the deadline, they must follow the following measures…”
Schools with students 12 years old or older must randomly ATK test students, teachers and personnel on commencement of classes, and continue random testing every seven days.
Schools with students younger than 12 years old must ATK test all students, teachers and personnel on commencement of classes, and continue random testing every seven days.
All schools must comply with the Thai Stop Covid Plus operating requirements, the order added.
“The Office of Education of Phuket Province or the agency under the jurisdiction of each educational institution shall prepare a report on the results of educational
institutions that are ready and wish to open classroom teaching (On Site), which must be reported to the province [provincial government within 7 days after the start date,” the order noted.
Educational institutions must also submit to the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) their response plan for any students, staff or personnel who test positive by ATK, the order added.