BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s school authority ordered nationwide closures or a switch to online classes when fine dust pollution reached dangerous PM2.5 levels.
National three-step plan tied to Air4Thai app
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) issued binding instructions to all schools to respond to air quality based on the official Air4Thai application. Deputy OBEC secretary-general Pattriyawan Phannoi presented a three-tier action plan designed to standardise decisions across the country.
Under blue or green conditions, classes were to run as normal, while at the same time students at risk would be closely monitored. At the orange level, all outdoor activities had to be reduced or cancelled, and vulnerable pupils were to remain in so‑called “dust-free classrooms.”
Red alert allows closures and online teaching
The strictest measures applied when pollution reached the red category, indicating severe PM2.5 exposure. In this case, schools were allowed to close temporarily or move entirely to online learning in order to protect health.
The decision in each case rested with school principals, acting within the framework of regulations from the Ministry of Education.
“The safety of the students has top priority,”
said Pattriyawan Phannoi, deputy OBEC secretary-general. In the event of serious symptoms, schools were instructed to arrange immediate medical care.
Rising smog puts children at particular risk
Air quality in many parts of Thailand, especially in Bangkok and the northern regions, had deteriorated dramatically on a seasonal basis, with PM2.5 fine dust reaching levels harmful to health. Children were identified as one of the most vulnerable groups to the smog.
OBEC aimed to end hesitation and inconsistent responses with its clear directive, replacing ad-hoc decisions by individual schools. The new framework was intended to give all institutions a uniform, official basis for action.
Long-term shift toward cleaner school environments
Beyond immediate risk reduction, OBEC promoted longer-term strategies to address pollution around schools. These included encouraging the use of public transport for school journeys to cut traffic-related emissions.
Schools were also asked to create more green spaces and to embed environmental education firmly in the curriculum. The authority wanted to strengthen awareness of climate change among the younger generation.
A daily PM2.5 reporting system for high-risk areas was under discussion, aimed at giving schools better data for their operational decisions.
Role of parents and schools in protecting pupils
Parents were urged to use the Air4Thai app themselves and actively monitor local air quality. OBEC stressed that clear communication between schools and families was essential in managing health risks.
Schoolchildren with asthma or other pre-existing conditions were placed under special focus, and exceptions could already apply for them at moderate pollution levels. The directive brought greater flexibility but also increased responsibility for each individual school, with health protection clearly taking precedence.
Experts back unified national response
Experts welcomed the nationwide approach, noting that schools had previously reacted very differently to smog alerts, which led to confusion among parents and students. With the new plan, all institutions now had a defined roadmap for action.
The measures were seen as an important step to shield the younger generation from the long-term consequences of air pollution. Their effectiveness would depend on consistent implementation across all 20,000 schools under OBEC’s authority.