Education Minister Appoints Four Experts to Strengthen School Rights Center

Education Minister Pol. Gen. Akkaranan Kanjanakitthinan, serving as chair of the Center for the Protection of Rights, Liberties and Safety, chaired a committee meeting to appoint four qualified experts to the Ministry of Education's Rights Protection Committee. The move aims to recruit knowledgeable and experienced individuals from various fields to strengthen the center's operational mechanisms across education, mental health, child and youth development, and human behavior analysis, thereby elevating the protection of rights, liberties, and safety in educational institutions comprehensively.

The four appointees are: - Ms. Lintiporn Warinwatra, former MP and former deputy education minister, with experience in politics and education policy. - Mr. Parame Waijongjaroen, who has played a role in education reform and driving education issues. - Dr. Yongyuth Wongphiriyasan, a psychiatrist and mental health expert, instrumental in advancing mental health work, child and youth development, and applying mindfulness curricula in organizations and the education system. - Mr. Trun Pho-rak, a forensic criminologist, academic, and lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, specializing in criminal behavior analysis and body language interpretation.

Minister Akkaranan stated that the appointment of these four experts from diverse fields aims to bring specialized knowledge to enhance the center's work, ensuring comprehensive protection of rights and safety in schools — covering prevention, assistance for those affected, and holistic care for children and youth.

"I want all qualified committee members to help fulfill the center's mission with their respective knowledge and experience, so we can view problems holistically — not just respond after incidents occur, but prioritize prevention and building effective care systems. Especially protecting children and youth, making schools safe spaces where they can learn and grow with confidence. When problems arise, there must be ready mechanisms to receive cases, coordinate assistance, and provide appropriate care for those affected," the minister said.

Recruiting qualified experts from various fields represents another important step in upgrading the Rights Protection Center into a comprehensive mechanism capable of addressing issues holistically — not merely fixing problems after they occur, but emphasizing prevention and risk reduction so children and youth can learn, grow, and live safely in educational institutions with reliable rights protection and assistance systems when problems arise.