Schools sing pandemic blues

Given the continuing surge of Covid-19 cases countrywide, the Ministry of Education had no choice but to postpone the start of the new school semester from June 1 to today.

When this time comes, many parents may have no choice but to send their little ones back to class despite concerns coupled with the vaccine conundrum facing all Thais.

Before schools, especially those in high-risk areas can re-open their doors to students, the Ministry of Education requires that they pass each of the 44 criteria stipulated in the Ministry of Public Health’s Thai Stop Covid Plus system, which assesses schools’ readiness to resume operations.

For academic institutes in the red zones — Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani — that want to open earlier, only online classes will be allowed for safety purposes. Although schools begin their semester on…