500 Schools In 18 Provinces Still Closed After Floods

500 schools still closed after floods

BANGKOK: -- This years floods have forced more than 500 schools in 18 provinces to remain closed as a new semester begins. The schools are expected to open in the coming two weeks, but extensive damage means that much repair work has yet to be done.

Kasama Varavarn Na Ayutthaya, secretary general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said 545 schools under its jurisdiction had informed the office that they could not begin classes on the opening day of the new semester November 1 because of flood damage.

Of these, 10-20 per cent are scheduled to open November 6, half will open November 15, and the remaining 20-30 per cent are uncertain when they will be ready.

However, Khunying Kasama said the schools will try to open on November 15 at latest.

Schools opening late will make up classes on weekends, holidays, and after-school hours to help students catch up with missed lessons. E-learning materials will be given to students to study at home.

The damages from flood were initially estimated at Bt800 million but damages at several schools which are still under water cannot be repaired at present.

Meanwhile, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Anucha Mokhaves said the flood situation in the central region is stable.

According to a department report, 47 provinces were affected by this season's flooding.

Floods in 32 provinces have eased but continue in 15 provinces. Three million people have been affected by floods and the cost of damage was worth more than Bt370 million.

He said Typhoon Cimaron--expected to make landfall in Vietnam--will weaken quickly and bring isolated rain showers to the lower northeast and east. The typhoon won't impact the northern and central regions.

--TNA 2006-11-01