Section 44 solution to student violence?

The Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) has proposed Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha use his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution to pass tougher laws on vocational student brawls.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Ovec urges hard student brawl laws

Dumrongkiat Mala

The Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) has proposed Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha use his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution to pass tougher laws on student brawls to curb the perennial problem of violence among vocational schools.

The move came after a recent meeting between Ovec and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to find possible solutions to end the fighting.

Section 44 could be used to avoid legal obstacles and cut short lengthy legal procedures so laws could be amended and implemented quickly.

Ovec's secretary-general Chaipreuk Sereerak said under a proposed law, penalties could cover parents and schools, not just students who are involved in inter-school violence, if the investigation can prove they failed to keep their students away from feuds.

"Parents and colleges have a duty to teach youths basic morals and norms, which will tell them what is right or wrong. If they fail to do so, they should also take some responsibility," Mr Chaipruek said.

Moreover, punishment will also cover non-students such as alumni, dropouts and ex-teachers implicated in violence as Ovec had found much of the problem stemmed from them, he added.

Mr Chaipreuk said the proposed law will also empower student inspectors and teachers to detain students involved in violence for up to six hours before sending them to police for further interrogation.

Forty-nine vocational students are rounded up on Bang Na-Trat Road in 2012 by police who seized from them 20 knives, four axes, two petrol bombs and a pen gun. SUTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKAN

"In the past, student inspectors and teachers weren't able to detain non-students or students who were involved in brawls because there is no legal basis to do so. So those who caused the problem usually got away without any charges being filed," the Ovec chief said.

As well as this solution, Mr Chaipruek said Ovec has formed a special team to focus on social media as a new data channel.

Teachers at present are assigned to monitor their students' online behaviour as the animosity between students from rival schools sometimes occurs first on Facebook.

Ovec has set up six working teams to monitor vocational schools closely in six different areas around Bangkok to prevent bloody and sometimes fatal brawls among adolescents.

"Each team will exchange information and they will list students and some alumni into three groups – black, grey and white – according to their behaviour and history of violence," Mr Chaipreuk said.

"We will then send police and teachers to meet the blacklisted students and their parents to ensure they don't cause any trouble."

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/883352/section-44-solution-to-student-violence