Thai schools tighten security after deadly shooting

Bangkok students observed new security protocols outside their school on Friday following a deadly shooting on August 7. The government has instructed all Thai schools to increase security after a 14-year-old student killed his grandparents, five staff members and another student before taking his own life. Headteacher Suparong Sawangngamwong of Bangkok's Sawasdee Wittaya School emphasized that the heightened checks aim to provide parents with peace of mind, assuring them that their children are safe.

Teachers at the modest public school, which caters to pupils aged six to 12, meticulously searched bags, pockets and pencil cases of every student arriving for class. The school, which has more than 500 students and 30 teachers, previously only performed random bag checks for higher grades or students with behavioral issues. The Bangko Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has mandated schools it oversees to screen for weapons, maintain 24/7 security and enforce strict visitor protocols.

Parents, such as Araya Chanu whose daughter is in fifth grade, welcome the new measures, believing they will enhance safety in the school. The school already collaborates with local police for regular emergency drills and has two security guards and six teachers on duty daily. However, Suparong acknowledged that the school needs more funding to fully implement the necessary changes, including repairing broken CCTV cameras.

The incident in Nonthaburi, where the attacker used his grandfather's gun to kill five people and himself, reignited discussions about Thailand's gun control policies. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing firearms licenses and tighten regulations following the attack, though past attempts at stricter gun laws have not prevented previous shootings.