The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ordered 437 schools to limit attendance to 400 pupils a day and class sizes to a maximum of 20 pupils for the new semester that will start on July 1.

The BMA currently operates 437 schools and has brought in these changes to accommodate social distancing for Covid-19, said a BMA spokesperson.

The BMA has classified its schools into three tiers -- small, medium and large.

Small schools with 400 students or less will open as usual but with class sizes limited to 20 pupils per lesson.

Medium-sized schools of 400-800 pupils will also be required to split their students into two groups which attend on alternate days in order to limit numbers on school premises.

For those pupils required to stay at home, schools should have distance learning online or via lessons broadcast by the state.

Larger schools will be subject to more severe attendance regulation as only kindergarten and elementary levels will be allowed to attend.

It has yet to be decided what measures will be taken to educate older age groups, said the BMA.

For distance learning, parents may be invited to give feedback on their children's levels of work from home.

Schools will also be subject to hygiene and sanitation regulations including mandatory face mask-wearing by bus drivers as well as frequent cleaning every few hours. Air conditioning will also be switched off in every school, he said.