International schools in Thailand say they are bracing for a doomsday scenario if the coronavirus outbreak is not contained by the April Songkran break.
The Ministry of Public Health and the Office of Private Education Commission ordered the temporary closure of Harrow International School on Friday after some students had visited a coronavirus-affected country.
The International School of Bangkok (ISB), along with many other schools in the capital, have asked parents and students to self-identify and self-quarantine for two weeks if they have traveled to a coronavirus impacted country.
ISB will also be shut on Monday according to the school’s website while administrators take “time to process the self-declaration forms, assist teachers with online learning plans and allow counselors time to address social and emotional issues.”
Tip of the iceberg
An administrator at an International School in Chiang Mai said that this is only the tip of the iceberg and that the school year will be severely affected if the worldwide situation is not contained by the April Songkran break.
“Students, parents, and teachers are going to be traveling overseas for Songkran. If this is not over by then, we’re looking at a doomsday scenario where classes will have to be canceled for extended periods,” he told Thai Enquirer on condition of anonymity.
According to the administrator, schools in Chiang Mai and in Bangkok have made plans for extended online learning periods and are preparing for a worst-case scenario.
“All the schools have been talking to the ministries about emergency situations and what happens if we have to shut down schools for extended periods,” he said.
“Online learning is fine but it is no substitute for a real classroom, we have to prepare kids for IB exams, for IGCSEs, for APs, for SATs and TOEFL, this could really affect the kids.”
[Story corrects earlier report that said Harrow students visited coronavirus affected countries on a school trip. This was not the case.]