Bangkok: The government is set to cancel the "White School" project by 2027 in a bid to reduce paperwork and enable teachers to focus more on classroom activities under the "Returning Teachers to the Classroom" policy. Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government is committed to alleviating the workload on teachers and educational staff.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Education has issued an urgent order to terminate the "Drug-Free and Vice-Free School" project starting from the fiscal year 2027. This decision reflects the government's determination to reduce teachers' administrative burdens and return them to the classroom in a more effective manner. The Ministry's educational management policy for 2026-2027 underscores the importance of "Returning time to teachers to return a future to children," highlighting the use of technology to cut down non-teaching related work.
The "White School Project: Drug-Free and Vice-Free Schools" was initially designed to aid youth development but has resulted in extensive paperwork. Teachers find themselves spending too much time on evaluations and project documentation, detracting from their ability to develop teaching methods and provide personalized support to students.
The Deputy Spokesperson emphasized that as the new school term begins, teachers should dedicate their time to student interaction. However, the current situation burdens them with paperwork, evaluations, procurement, and redundant projects, leaving little time for lesson preparation. Acknowledging the challenges faced by educators, the government is moving forward with scrapping traditional projects.
The cancellation does not imply that the government is ignoring drug issues in schools. Instead, it represents a restructuring effort to modernize operations by adopting digital technology for reporting and monitoring. The government plans to work closely with local administrations and community networks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness while reducing bureaucratic obstacles for teachers.