Ministers tasked with solving problem of student brawls

Dapong told reporters that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assigned the two ministries to jointly see if any laws could be applied to prevent and tackle such problems as well as find other possible solutions. 

He said the guideline being considered now would emphasise protection and prevention, as well as creating awareness so students studying at vocational and technical colleges learn to restrain themselves from engaging in such brawls. 

The Education Ministry has already joined the private sector in having many vocational/technical college students undergo job training with a salary so they realise that they have a bright future ahead, and refrain from participating in brawls when invited by their seniors, he said. 

The number of student brawls has actually halved from the previous figure of students from 27 colleges (seven public and 20 private ones) engaging in brawls, Dapong said. He said the ministry would consider giving more power to the Semarak Centre, which functions as student inspectors, to help police tackle the issue efficiently. 

Paiboon said they were also getting four groups to help solve the problem, including students, parents, educational institutes and outsider groups such as alumni. He said they would adopt a positive approach in tackling this issue rather than using suppression tactics, like the approach used to deal with street races and entertainment venues close to schools, and the punishment may cover parents.