Akkanat Accelerates Storm Relief Efforts in Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Yasothon Schools, Vows Safety is Top Priority

Deputy Education Minister Akkanat Kankittinant visited Nonhayakha Nongsaraphit School in Chaiyaphum and Bansongyang School in Yasothon on May 1 to assess damage from recent summer storms and accelerate relief efforts for affected educational institutions.

Following his field inspection of Nonhayakha Nongsaraphit School, which sustained severe damage, Akkanat ordered immediate demolition approval for the heavily damaged Grade 1 classroom building and instructed local authorities to expedite budget requests for replacement construction, prioritizing the safety of students and teachers.

He praised the school's exceptional academic performance, noting that despite having only 55 students and 5 teachers, the school achieved an average O-NET score of 90 points, demonstrating the effectiveness of a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio. The Education Ministry plans to expand this staffing model to other schools to improve learning outcomes.

Akkanat also conducted an unannounced inspection of the Buayai District Learning Center in Nakhon Ratchasima, discovering outdated 2008 curriculum materials, and directed modernization efforts. He subsequently traveled to Yasothon to oversee assistance for five storm-affected schools, allocating nearly 1.88 million baht in remaining central budget funds for safety repairs before the school term reopens.

The ministry will suspend operations at the severely damaged Yasothon Kindergarten and is preparing to advance 14 million baht from the 2570 fiscal year budget to construct 18 replacement classrooms.

"Under this administration, safety in education must be our top priority," Akkanat stated. "We cannot allow children to be at risk in educational institutions. Additionally, learning centers must rapidly adapt to serve over 100,000 out-of-school children and vulnerable groups. I am pushing to allocate an additional 4 billion baht in the 2570 budget to address personnel shortages and teacher qualifications, while transforming learning centers into the modern era through online re-skilling courses and converting libraries into co-working spaces. Education is the foundation of national security."