Vocational schools in Bangkok and the vicinities will not accept applications from children who have tattoos or stretched pierced ears in the 2016 academic year.
The decision was made at the meeting of the Bangkok members of the Association of Private Technological and Vocational Educational Colleges of Thailand. The group has more than 400 member colleges nationwide.
Chairman Jompong Mongkolvanich said the meeting discussed the issue of frequent, sometimes fatal brawls among students from different colleges and decided some measures had to be adopted to improve the situation.
The meeting decided the measures will be implemented first at schools in Bangkok and the vicinities but may expand to cover those in the provinces later.
First, the screening process will be more stringent and the schools will monitor their students more closely, he said.
Furthermore, the colleges will be stricter with students' hair-dos and uniforms.
"We won't admit children with tattoos or large pierced ears in the 2016 academic year as in many cases ill-intentioned people try to apply to get a student cover," he said.
Second, any student who has been found with weapons or drugs in and outside the colleges will be expelled, he said.
Third, their names will also be put on a blacklist, to be shared by all institutes, so other schools will be kept updated and can turn down their applications.
Lastly, the association also discussed the issue with the National Police Office and sought the highest penalty for armed students. Parents will also be held accountable to prevent violent behaviours, he said.
Academically, the body pledged to develop the dual system in which students get on-the-job training at factories or companies while studying, Mr Jompong said.
"Their knowledge and skills will also be tested based on the requirements in the jobs markets both in Thailand and Asean," he said.