The new school term, which is scheduled to begin next month, may be postponed to June due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.

Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong said she would discuss the matter on Monday with the permanent secretary for education and the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec).

The Covid-19 situation and its impact on schools and students would be assessed until April 30, to see whether it is still possible to start the new school term in May as planned, said Ms Treenuch, but the new term may be postponed to June 1.

The minister said the likely delay would only be imposed once several factors had been taken into account, including plans which each educational authority has for in-person classes during the outbreak.

However, the minister said she did not expect every school to have to fully move classes online, following reports that many parents and students around the country are concerned.

Certain schools now have strict Covid-19 control measures if and when they are allowed to reopen, which means they shouldn't have to fully shift to online learning, she said.

Those schools that do not have adequate social distancing at school will, however, probably have to move classes online instead, said Ms Treenuch.

Two foreign teachers had contracted Covid-19 and ended up infecting at least 30 other people at a private school in Samut Prakan.

Of the 30 infections, two were other foreign teachers, one was a Thai teacher, 23 were students and four were family members of some of the infected students.