Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered ministries to study staggered school hours and remote learning to relieve traffic congestion.
He said on Wednesday that the idea could be implemented beyond the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic because learning from home and staggered school hours could reduce road traffic, along with working from home and staggered work hours.
He said he had ordered the Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation and the Education ministry to determine which subjects could be taught online or via satellite TV.
"Staggered school hours should be introduced, especially in areas with heavy traffic congestion," Gen Prayut said.
Staggered working hours could be arranged for employees who must send their children to schools, he said.
It would become a "new normal" that would change everyday life, he said.
The new school term is still scheduled to begin on July 1, he said, but the government would have to keep monitoring the Covid-19 situation.