Unruly students to go on Govt list

29 มิถุนายน 2559

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is making another try to stop violent students, ordering police to compile a list of students prone to threatening and brutal behaviour.

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Government pushes to solve problem of youth fights

Post Reporters

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered police to compile a list of students prone to threatening and violent behaviour following a brutal brawl on Monday that killed a female vocational student and injured four others.

Acting city police chief Sanit Mahathavorn said he has ordered city police to compile a list of unruly students in their respective jurisdictions.

It will be the first time police have produced a list of students involved in fights and thuggish conduct, he said. In the past police have only drawn up lists of students involved in robbery and drugs.

The move was in response to the NCPO's directive of using Section 44 to take immediate action against misbehaving students.

Last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used his powers as the NCPO's chief to issue an order under section 44 of the interim charter to bring an end to violent clashes between students in vocational schools.

Under the order, people who urge or support students to violate a regulation under Section 64 of the Child Protection Act 2013 – which requires students to follow their educational institution's code of conduct – will face a maximum jail term of three months and/or a fine up to 30,000 baht.

Despite Gen Prayut's order, at least two student brawls occurred on Monday in Bang Chan district and Min Buri district which killed one female vocational student and wounded three other students.

Parents must be responsible for their children's actions, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said.

As part of the police process, officers will ask parents of a student engaged in a brawl to acknowledge their child's actions at the police station. The parents can put up bail of 5,000 baht for their child to secure their release.

If a student is found to be repeatedly engaging in brawls over the next two years, the surety will be given to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security's Children Fund.

Chaiyapruek Serirak, secretary-general of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) said his commission and vocational schools have been working to find solutions to the problem of student brawls.

Ovec is considering a new solution that involves the school administrative system, he said.

Under the plan, if a school is found to have threatening and potentially violent students, it would not be allowed to receive new students in the upcoming term.