SURIN: A school in this northeastern province has reportedly implemented a regulation to deduct "good behaviour" scores from students if they do not stand or sing the national anthem and royal anthem loud and clear.
The matter has drawn public attention after a Facebook account called "Bad Student" on Saturday shared a photo of the regulation given to new students during orientation day at Sangkha School in this eastern province's Sangkha district.
The regulation stipulates that the school will take 10 points off students' scores if they do not stand up for either anthem, five points off for not singing both songs loudly, another 10 points for not being a "good student" and five more for failing to take part in religious activities.
Students who conduct activities considered a threat to the highest institution and the three pillars of Thai society -- nation, religion and monarchy -- will see 50 points shaved off their scores.
The Bad Student group also claimed the school director told students during orientation that if they cannot accept the rules, they should leave the school.
The director, who asked not to be named, told the media the regulations had been implemented for many years since they were approved by the student council. He declined to give further comment.
In response, Samroeng Boonto, director of the Secondary Educational Service Area in Surin, said the office has already provided guidelines for the school director to revise the regulations to stay in line with the criteria set by the Education Ministry and the Office of the Basic Education Commission.
Mr Samroeng said the director was trying to maintain strong discipline.
He urged the director to make sure all of the students are very clear about how the deducted-points system works, adding that a verbal warning should be issued first before any points are lost. The school also must give clear details about what behaviour is considered seriously offensive, Mr Samroeng said.