Schools, courts work to save young lawbreakers
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Thanks to a new initiative, some well-behaved delinquents will soon return to the embrace of their families and resume studying until they complete Mathayom 6 level.
Their classes will be conducted at schools under the auspices of the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education Commission (NFE)
NFE secretary-general Prasert Boonruang has already signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the Central and Juvenile Family Court.
“Their class will begin as soon as the court has finalised the list of eligible delinquents,” he said late last week.
Prasert said only those convicted of minor offences will be allowed to join this initiative. During the course of study, if any delinquent goes astray or fails to attend class properly, they will be disqualified and sent back to their youth observation and protection centres.
At present, about 40,000 minors are convicted of crimes, of whom about 70 per cent have not yet completed the compulsory education or Mathayom 6 level (or equivalent).
When appearing before the court, many young criminals have pleaded for leniency, citing their hope for a chance to continue studying.
“Through this initiative, they can continue studying under the close supervision of the court,” Jiraniti Hawanont said in his capacity as chief justice of the Central and Juvenile Family Court.
He said the NFE would send the delinquents’ study reports back to the court.
Prasert said the best part of the initiative was the chance it gave young delinquents to go back to their families and study alongside other children.
“By the time they complete the Mathayom 6, they will become mature enough to return to society,” he said.
Ticha na Nakorn, who heads the Kanchanaphisek Remand Home, welcomed the move to provide education for children.
“If the youth are left at the detention centres, their access to education is limited,” she said, adding that convicted delinquents at her place could study for just one day per week.
However, Ticha was worried that the selection of delinquents for the initiative could hurt the feelings of those who were left behind.
