Bangkok:The Ministry of Education is broadening its "Vocational Volunteer" service network to 140 locations across the country, aiming to provide immediate support to disaster victims. These services include the provision of food, drinking water, and repairs for electrical appliances and vehicles. Efforts are also being made to disseminate information about these services to the public to ensure they are easily accessible.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Ministry is working through the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) to expand these service points between September 27 and October 30, 2026. This expansion is intended to offer more comprehensive access to essential services for the public, including the repair of occupational tools and basic electrical system checks to help individuals resume their normal lives and work as swiftly as possible.
As of October 12, 2026, a total of 1,228 educational institutions across 39 provinces have been impacted by the disaster, affecting 861 institutions under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), 274 under the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), 47 under the Department of Learning Promotion (DLP), and 46 under the OVEC. The Ministry has allocated funds amounting to 23.38 million baht to OBEC and 2.2 million baht to DLP. Coordination with relevant agencies is underway to speed up recovery and restoration efforts for the damaged institutions to facilitate the resumption of classes.
To support disaster-affected communities, vocational students, teachers, and personnel have been engaged to provide ongoing services in these areas. Efforts include the establishment of nine vocational kitchens, which have supplied 36,949 food and drinking sets, the repair of 7,718 electrical appliances, inspections of 8,045 vehicles, repairs of 895 vocational tools, and electrical system checks in 33 homes. The Vocational Education Commission (VEC) has distributed food, water, survival kits, and cleaning supplies, while the Private Education Commission (PEC) is focusing on cleaning and repairing school buildings to mitigate the impact on both the public and educational institutions.
The vocational volunteer service points are strategically located, with 49 in Rayong province, 21 in Bangkok, 15 each in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan provinces, 14 in Nakhon Nayok province, 11 in Chachoengsao province, 7 in Pathum Thani province, 2 each in Nonthaburi and Ratchaburi provinces, and 1 in Sa Kaeo, Surin, Chonburi, Bangkok, and Nakhon Pathom provinces. These locations provide disaster victims with essential services, leveraging the professional skills of students, teachers, and vocational staff to benefit society.
The government has emphasized the need to quickly spread information about the vocational volunteer service locations to those in disaster-stricken areas to ensure victims can easily find and receive the help they need. The government is committed to continuing collaborative efforts to alleviate hardship, reduce costs, and aid people in returning to normalcy as rapidly as possible.