OBEC rushes to provide assistance to families of those who lost loved ones in bus fire, and implements strict measures for field trips.
On October 2, 2024, Lt. Col. Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), revealed that in the case of a field trip bus of students and teachers at Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School, Uthai Thani Educational Service Area 2, which caught fire and resulted in multiple injuries and deaths, the latest preliminary information is that on October 1, 2024, the school took 112 students on a field trip, consisting of students from kindergarten 2 to Mathayom 3, with 15 teachers, janitors, and student teachers in training who supervised the trip. Three buses were chartered, and the second bus involved in the accident had 45 passengers. Of the victims, 23 were unable to get out of the bus, including three teachers and student teachers and 20 students. The rescue team took the bodies to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine for ident
ification. There were 19 people who were not injured, 3 teachers and 16 students. There were 3 injured students in Prathom 1, Prathom 3 and Mathayom 3. All of them are under close medical care. His Majesty the King has graciously accepted all patients as royal patients.
For the 89 children who were not injured, 35 were picked up by their parents in Bangkok and picked up along the way. For the remaining 54 students and 7 teachers, 3 vehicles were sent to pick them up. The vehicles were coordinated by the government, through the Ministry of Transport. They traveled from the Coordination Center for Royal Initiatives and Security Projects (CCISP), Royal Thai Army Headquarters, to Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School safely. Parents have already picked up the children and returned home. In addition, 31 relatives of the victims were accommodated at the SKK dormitory. The SKK office supported the cost of the room, snacks, and drinking water. The Office of the Basic Education Commission supported the staff of the Stude
nt Behavioral Promotion Office (PSNO) under the Office of the Secondary Education Service Area 1, Bangkok (Secondary Educational Service Area 1) to take care of the order and provide convenience to the relatives of the victims at 4 locations: Thammasat University Hospital, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (Children’s Hospital), Institute of Forensic Medicine, Police General Hospital, SKK dormitory, and provided a shuttle van. And most recently today (October 2, 2024), the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has prepared breakfast and lunch for the victims’ relatives, as well as providing a shuttle van service from the SKSC dormitory to the Police General Hospital so that the Ministry of Justice can collect data and gather relevant documents to request financial assistance.
‘From today’s meeting, Pol. Gen. Phermpoon Chidchob, Minister of Education, has given a policy to the affiliated agencies to refrain from unnecessary field trips, except when it is necessary to go for educationa
l purposes, such as a scout camp. Detailed safety measures must be set, with the school director as the primary responsible person, as field trips are still necessary for learning. However, before traveling, the vehicle must be checked and emergency response procedures must be rehearsed. For compensation for the families of the victims and religious ceremonies, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) will be the central unit to coordinate with relevant agencies to provide comprehensive assistance. Initially, the Office of the Basic Education Commission provided financial assistance of 500,000 baht to the victims and their families, and has prepared to request royal cremation for all the deceased. On this occasion, the Office of the Basic Education Commission would like to thank the schools and agencies that provided support in terms of accommodation, food, and transportation, such as Benchamaracharalai School under Royal Patronage, Triam Udom Suksa School, Sri Ayutthaya School under Royal Patronag
e, Wat Makutkasat School, Thepsirin School, Saipanya School, and Phayathai School. Phraya Prasertsuntharasai School (Krajang Singhaseni), Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, etc.” said the Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission.
In the afternoon, the Minister of Education, along with the Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, visited and gave moral support to the injured students at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (Children’s Hospital) and Thammasat University Hospital. The students are safe and under close medical care. They then traveled to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Police General Hospital, to give moral support to the families of the deceased and to help send the bodies back to their hometowns for religious ceremonies.
Source: Thai News Agency