Bangkok: School directors in areas affected by PM 2.5 dust have been granted the authority to immediately close schools as a protective health measure. The Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Lt. Col. Thanu Wongchinda, emphasized the urgent need for school administrators to respond to the hazardous dust levels, particularly in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and other vulnerable regions such as the Northeastern, Lower Northern, and Eastern areas.
According to Thai News Agency, the OBEC has been vigilant in monitoring the PM 2.5 dust situation, which has been reported to affect health in January 2025. OBEC has issued instructions for schools to adapt their teaching activities in response to the dust levels, which have reached alarming levels in some areas. School directors have been empowered to close schools for seven days or until air quality improves if the PM 2.5 levels are deemed harmful.
The OBEC Secretary-General highlighted that many schools in Bangkok have effectively transitioned to online learning in response to the dust situation. So far, 57 schools have closed, with 8 under the Office of the Primary Education Area, 7 under the Office of the Secondary Education Area Bangkok 1, and 42 under SEAO Bangkok 2. The Secretary-General urged school administrators nationwide to remain vigilant, educate students and teachers on appropriate protective behaviors, and monitor those with respiratory conditions closely. If dust levels reach critical levels, immediate school closures are recommended for the safety of students.