Schools Report Building Damage, Sexual Harassment Complaints Via New Platform
Thailand's Education Ministry has received about 30 complaints through its new Traffy Edu platform since late August, with most reports involving deteriorating school buildings and four cases of teacher misconduct that were quickly resolved
On September 21, 2569, Deputy Education Minister Linthiphon Warinawatroro announced that since the Education Ministry established its Center for Protection of Rights, Freedom, and Safety and launched the Traffy Edu complaints system on August 25, 2569, approximately 30 complaints have been received. The most frequent complaints concern school building conditions and safety, including aged deteriorating classrooms and construction projects unfinished for over 10 years that have begun to decay, raising concerns about hazards to students and teachers. These issues are complex, particularly cases where contractors abandoned work, which the ministry is currently reviewing to develop appropriate solutions.
Four complaints involving sexual harassment were received, though investigation found them not to be severe or involve physical injury, but rather cases of teachers inappropriately touching students. All four cases were addressed and closed within approximately two weeks through referral to school authorities and education district offices for investigation, fact-finding, and disciplinary action.
Other complaints included student-to-student violence with clear evidence, environmental problems around schools such as betel leaf shops and cannabis outlets near educational institutions, and complaints by teachers against school administrators regarding unfair work assignments.
Warinawatroro noted that field inspections and student training revealed many students nationwide were unfamiliar with Traffy Edu, but quickly understood the reporting process once introduced. The ministry's current priority is raising awareness. A central team representing all Education Ministry departments screens and forwards complaints to relevant education district offices. On September 15, 2569, the Deputy Education Minister issued orders to all education districts nationwide to accelerate promotion of the system at school level, organize media contests, and conduct regional roadshows. The ministry expects that within six months, more than 50 percent of teachers and students will be aware of and able to access Traffy Edu. All complaint data will be recorded in the system and statistics released publicly to inform prevention measures and systematic safety improvements in schools, Warinawatroro concluded.
