Schools urged to review tattoo, piercing ban
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THE EDUCATION Ministry has urged private vocational schools in Bangkok and nearby provinces to reconsider their new admission standard barring students with wide ear-piercings and clearly visible tattoos.
Education Ministry permanent secretary Kamjorn Tatiyakavee has told Private Education Commission Office secretary-general Adinan Pakbara to convince the Association of Private Technological and Vocational Education Colleges to have a policy rethink.
The new admission standard, proposed earlier this month, will be implemented at the start of the next academic year at the association’s private vocational schools in Bangkok and nearby provinces.
Kamjorn said wide ear-piercings and tattoos are just teenage fashion and didn’t reflect a person’s behaviour, so it is improper to deny them from access to schools.
“I understand the association’s aim is to screen [and prevent] unpleasant persons becoming their students, but many teens with wide ear-piercings and tattoos have a good intention to study and the schools must educate them both in terms of knowledge and behaviour,” he said.
He said the schools should consider applicants’ knowledge and ability to study – not what they looked like. “If the schools are worried these kids may cause a problem, they can do a background check instead,” he added.
Although the authorities couldn’t force private schools to do anything, some institutions receive funding from the government, he said, adding that they could lose that funding.
According to the new standard, students found to be carrying a weapon or narcotics will be kicked out immediately and blacklisted from re-entering other member vocational schools.
Jomphong Monkolwanich, the Association of Private Technological and Vocational Education Colleges president, said the association is happy to discuss with the secretary-general of the Private Education Commission Office, as this is a central measure by private vocational schools to take care of their students’ every aspect.
“It is not about the ear-piercing and tattoo but it also includes uniform, hairstyle, weapon and addictive drug carrying and academic matters. Previously, there was no consensus on these issues, so we have come out with this measure to cope with the problems proactively,” Jomphong explained.
He said he has come in for criticism, but he insisted that he had never said that anyone with a tattoo is bad and there will be no reconsideration on the admission standard.
“It is all about the security for our students because some tattoos can be seen as provocative and children may put themselves in danger. The student’s admission is also under the school’s judgement,” he said.
