Chonburi: A mother is appealing to the Ministry of Education after her child suffered a broken arm requiring surgery and physical therapy for over 5 months. The private school is refusing to take responsibility and has only offered 10,000 baht in compensation, despite the child's annual tuition fee being 200,000 baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Davika Thanyawut, the guardian of a fourth-grade male student, along with lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpetch, president of the Foundation for the Campaign to Reclaim Justice, submitted a letter of complaint to the Minister of Education seeking justice for her son's serious injury sustained during a play incident at a private school in Chonburi province on November 24, 2015. The son suffered a fractured arm requiring surgery, metal plate insertion, and ongoing physical therapy for over five months, incurring medical expenses of approximately 200,000 baht. To date, the child has not received any compensation or clear resolution from the relevant authorities.
Ms. Davika stated that after the incident, the school informed them that it was merely a playful interaction between students and not the school's responsibility, advising them to discuss the matter with the other party directly. However, because the other party was a foreigner, they were unable to contact or speak with them directly. They attempted to request the school's assistance in coordinating the matter but received no cooperation. Furthermore, the school lacks CCTV cameras within the premises, leading the family to feel that the school does not have sufficient safety measures. Despite paying nearly 200,000 baht in tuition annually, they are only able to claim 10,000 baht from the school's accident insurance. Throughout the treatment period, the school never visited or showed any responsibility.
Furthermore, the son's academic and mental health were negatively affected. He was unable to participate in activities with his friends normally, leading the family to eventually withdraw both children from the school. Both children also received failing grades ("F"). The parents had previously filed a complaint with the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) and were informed that the matter had been forwarded to the Chonburi Provincial Education Office, which issues licenses for school establishment and oversees private schools in the area. However, after more than three months, there has been no progress or clear response, only being told to "wait for the process to be completed."
Attorney Ronnarong Kaewpetch stated that although this case involved a minor altercation among children, it highlights a significant problem reflecting on the safety measures in educational institutions. He specifically mentioned the school's response to the serious injury, including a broken bone, where a child was only offered a 10,000 baht insurance payment, despite tuition fees reaching nearly 200,000 baht per year. He asked for justice, inquiring about the school's responsibility and whether the Ministry of Education could offer compensation if the school refused. He emphasized that children's issues are sensitive and impactful on future prospects, and that every time parents demand accountability, they are forced to transfer their children out of the school, which is unfair. Attorney Ronnarong further called on the Ministry of Education to implement measures to protect parents and students in cases of accidents or disputes within schools, preventing children from losing educational opportunities or bein g pressured into transferring, despite being victims of such incidents.
Mr. Monthol Paksuwan, Secretary-General of the Private Education Commission (PEC), stated that after receiving complaints from parents, the PEC did not remain inactive and investigated the information. However, the process must be followed, as resolving issues depends on the facts and legal aspects. Once the facts are known, the PEC will expedite the process of having the school provide clarification and re-examine the facts within two weeks. Furthermore, since this incident occurred in Chonburi province, the PEC will need to coordinate with the Chonburi Provincial Education Office, as the authority responsible for authorizing the establishment of schools in the province and overseeing private schools in the area, to conduct a further investigation. A more in-depth investigation is required. The PEC will expedite the process to reach a resolution as quickly as possible, ensuring fairness to all parties and, importantly, addressing the safety concerns within educational institutions.