Thai schools to shift lessons online amid severe air pollution threat

[webfact]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry. Teachers are advised to monitor students’ health as PM2.5 haze pollution affects several provinces, including Bangkok.

 

Siripong Angkasakulkiat from the Education Ministry stated yesterday, January 14, that Minister Permpoon Chidchob urged the creation of appropriate plans to organise classes in schools impacted by fine dust and cold weather.

 

Siripong noted that low temperatures and wind conditions tend to trap fine dust particles, increasing PM2.5 levels in many areas, which significantly affects schools.

 

The surge in fine dust particles raises the risk of respiratory issues among children, with symptoms including clogged nostrils, red eyes, and fever. Additional symptoms such as sleeplessness and snoring can hinder students’ learning abilities.

Schools are instructed to limit outdoor activities to reduce exposure to air pollution. Activities to be halted include morning assemblies, outdoor sports, and scout training. Schools experiencing high PM2.5 levels should conduct online classes or make necessary arrangements to minimise exposure.

 

Some schools have already taken steps to mitigate fine dust exposure by installing dust control equipment, ventilation fans, and water sprays, as well as educating students about the health risks posed by haze.

 

“These initiatives allow students to reach their full learning potential in a safer environment during the pollution crisis.”

 

Photo courtesy of Thai PBS World

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s air quality monitoring centre, AirBKK, reported that 70 areas in the capital exceeded the 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) safety threshold yesterday.

 

Suchatchavee Suwansawas, Deputy Democrat Party leader, suggested the BMA implement a low emission zone (LEZ) in 16 inner-city districts to tackle air pollution.

 

His proposal covers 130 square kilometres, including Phra Nakhon, Pomprap Sattruphai, Pathumwan, Samphanthawong, Dusit, Ratchathewi, Phaya Thai, Sathon, Bang Rak, and Yannawa districts, reported Bangkok Post.

In a Facebook post, Suchatchavee stated that this measure would lead to cleaner air. The policy would charge drivers of fossil-fuel vehicles to enter the zone, exempting electric vehicle drivers.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-15

 

 

[edwinchester]

Here is Kanchanaburi/Suphanburi the air quality has deteriorated alot since the beginning of December. Sugarcane and rice stubble burning is still going on virtually as before. Many of the kids in my daughter's class at school seem to be on a continuous round of runny noses, itchy eyes and irritating coughs. My kids doctor says much of it is caused by the rampant air pollution.

The fact that the Govt is talking about online classes as a solution says they have given up on addressing the root causes to me.

[2long]

Is there no air pollution at/around the kids' houses?

So to avoid it, all the families will need to turn on air con to filter the dust and stay home to babysit their kids.

Surely schools have air con.

 

But it's too little, too late as always here.

[lordgrinz]

Gather up all the useless RTP officers, send them out into the country side and give them orders shoot anybody burning anything.

[phetphet]

Seems like they are assuming everyone has access to both internet and a computer or Tablet.

Many children's parents are both working while they are at school. Some will likely miss out of schooling if they implement it

 

Better to work at fixing the causes of the pollution.

[Hardcastle P]

54 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Here is Kanchanaburi/Suphanburi the air quality has deteriorated alot since the beginning of December. Sugarcane and rice stubble burning is still going on virtually as before. Many of the kids in my daughter's class at school seem to be on a continuous round of runny noses, itchy eyes and irritating coughs. My kids doctor says much of it is caused by the rampant air pollution.

The fact that the Govt is talking about online classes as a solution says they have given up on addressing the root causes to me.

Sorry but how will schooling at home save the children from the effects of the dust.will it not be the same at home as it is in school. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry. Teachers are advised to monitor students’ health as PM2.5 haze pollution affects several provinces, including Bangkok.

That would be embarrassing for her ladyship... 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Hardcastle P said:

Sorry but how will schooling at home save the children from the effects of the dust.will it not be the same at home as it is in school. 

Thai logic.. don't think too much

[NorthernRyland]

Where I am these people live in smoke. It doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest. Sure there's a burn ban on now and mostly has stopped but they still don't enforce even that. If they actually cared about smoke they would have had measures in place to stop it entirely for the duration of the year before it could accumulate to these levels.

 

Even worse is many of these kids being taken out of school have the parents who are the ones burning. It's all a total clown show really.

[brewsterbudgen]

Quite ridiculous.  What are working parents supposed to do?  How many Thai homes have air purifiers?  Haven't we learned from the ridiculous school closures during Covid? 😡

[realfunster]

I was up around Khao Yai area last weekend, visual evidence of recent burning on display and we saw several large fires lighting up the skies on both nights...

[BangkokReady]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Nice idea, but we all know they'll be logged in and fast asleep.

[dinsdale]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry.

If people read past the headline they will see 'may transition". Doesn't say this is going to happen and IMO it won't. Just more grandstanding. Let's face it for the majority of the year Bangkok air quality is poor to unhealthy to even hazardous in some areas. Absolutely impossible to implement. Having said this empty headed idiots run the show so who knows.

[phetphet]

Taking a page out of the old 'using speedboat's propellors to drive the floodwaters away', they could bulk buy pedestal fans and blow the particulates back from whence they came.

[Gknrd]

Well, to get ready for your next trip to the LOS's , you need to close the garage door, and start your car for a few minutes everyday. To slowly acclimate your body to Thailand. 

 

If you don't have a garage just suck on your tail pipe a few minutes every day. 

You will be fine and ready for Thailand.

[Justanotherone]

make the rice and sugar cane GIANTS pay ?   are there not machines that could harvest the leftovers instead of burning?   this should be provided for free to farmers, the service, not the machines 

[nowhereman]

When will this stupidity end? Closing down schools for kids to have online classes from home is sheer stupidity. Like kids at home can enjoy a pristine air, can they. Maybe they all have air purifiers and know how to operate them properly. I've worked with such morons who make such decisions for 15 years. It had a significant effect on my health, more than pollution ever will, though it is a serious matter. 

[0ffshore360]

Critics of the announced policy obviously choose to ignore the associated reality factors.

As a justification it avoids accountability for//from physical harm due to  compulsory presence at school, it avoids accountability for occupational harm to teachers, it does not reduce salaries for same teachers and/or  associated administration staff who also get to  stay home .

That it impairs the slim chance of actually  imparting a degree of useful education  is irrelevant.

[DrPhibes]

On 1/15/2025 at 12:07 PM, Hardcastle P said:

Sorry but how will schooling at home save the children from the effects of the dust.will it not be the same at home as it is in school. 

Their teachers can fly to Samui and teach from there 😉