Hat yai: Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompao, acting as Director of the Center for Natural Disaster Water Management (CDMWDM), inspected the damage at Hat Yai Wittayalai Somboonkulkanlaya School in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, following the massive flooding that damaged buildings and educational equipment. The extra-large secondary school, under the jurisdiction of the Songkhla Secondary Educational Service Area Office 2, has approximately 170 teachers and 3,518 students, making it the primary educational institution serving the area’s large student population.

According to Thai News Agency, Lt. Col. Thammanat revealed that a survey of the area revealed severe damage to classrooms, conference rooms, the infirmary, and numerous teaching aids. Learning equipment, such as traditional Thai musical instruments, desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and various teaching aids, are unusable. The school’s management team reported that over 20 million baht will be spent on building renovations and new equipment to ensure the school can resume normal teaching and learning.

After hearing the report, Lt. Col. Thammanat ordered Mr. Pichet Phophakdi, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), to visit the area and collaborate with relevant agencies to expedite a detailed damage survey and develop a concrete recovery plan as quickly as possible. This will ensure effective budget support and address the needs of students and teachers in schools.

Lt. Col. Thammanat emphasized that restoring educational institutions is an urgent task, as schools are crucial for children and youth in Songkhla Province. Prompt action will help return teaching and learning to normal and minimize long-term impacts on educational quality. He stated that the government will expedite the rehabilitation of all flood-affected educational institutions and infrastructure to ensure that local residents can return to normal life safely and securely.