Omicron Variant May Prolong Online Learning for Students

As a response to a new wave of Coronavirus infections caused by the Omicron variant, Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong has announced a work from home policy until January 14. Since the pandemic began two years ago schools have alternated between on-site and online learning classes.

Many parents would rather not see schools closed, while teachers prefer in-person instruction and may not go-to online learning unless they are told to by the Education Ministry.

Over 12,000 schools across Thailand are free to decide whether to resume on-site learning or continue with online learning.

Nevertheless, according to her, these schools are required to strictly comply with the Covid-19 measures known as the Sandbox Safety Zone, which includes social distancing, wearing masks at all times, and conducting antigen testing on students, teachers, and staff.

Approximately 6.5 million vaccine shots have been administered to students between the ages of 12 and 18. The government will begin offering vaccines to children aged 5-11 next month.

Omicron Variant can be controlled

International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) and International School Bangkok (ISB) president Usa Somboon explained that the Omicron variant puts no additional pressure on prevention measures at international schools.

After reopening their doors in early November, international schools were strictly monitoring for positive Covid cases. According to Usa, schools will follow the government’s Covid-19 prevention measures.

“We have learned that face-to-face teaching and learning are invaluable and are far preferred over online learning. The campus will, however, adhere to government restrictions, such as campus closures, she added.

Online learning is much better than it was in 2020, but it is not the recommended medium for instruction, Ms Usa said. Online learning did not work for all students in the last two rounds of closure.

She said that after the school reopened in October, teachers took some time to get students’ skills and participation up to school standards.

The ISAT president anticipates another year of on and off-campus education this year, but schools still prefer on-campus instruction.

Optimal learning occurs in the classroom

Educators, parents, and students all agree that optimal learning occurs in the classroom, not at home, which is why we remain committed to keeping our schools open.

According to her, “the Omicron variant appears to be spreading more quickly, but we are confident that international schools will be able to remain open into term two thanks to our existing Covid-19 protection.”

The past two years have seen schools adopt new technologies for online learning.

While some colleges have implemented interactive classes or incorporated virtual reality or 3D technologies in their classes, others have taken longer to catch up, leaving many students without the tools to take online courses. Some have even dropped out.

Due to this, the Education Ministry has announced a policy to bring those students back as well as introducing additional programmes to attract underprivileged students into formal education.

More aide for remote area schools

Education is one of the most important tools that students can use to shape their future. More opportunities will be made available to them,” said Ms Trinuch.

As part of this project, the Office of the Basic Education Commission will work with the Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission.

As a result, 46,400 students living in remote areas will receive education tools, toys, sports equipment, food, and other necessities through the Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education.

In addition, the Office of Vocational Education Commission will offer 5,000 students three-year scholarships.

Furthermore, the ministry plans to open Career & Entrepreneurship Centers (CEC) in every province so as to enhance skills for at least 500,000 people to boost their chances of finding a job.

Online learning and face-to-face method teaching

During the pandemic, many students were affected by school closures, but homeschoolers’ impacts were less severe, said Assoc Prof Dr Adisak Plitponkarnpim, director of Mahidol University’s National Institute for Child and Family Development (NICFD).

According to him, policymakers should encourage home-based education and support a hybrid learning approach that combines online and face-to-face methods.

The NICFD, for instance, has facilities for homeschoolers to participate in on-site classes in language, science, and mathematics to take advantage of the facilities available in schools.

Additionally, the NICFD offers activity-based learning programmes to enhance students’ skills. Students can study at home while using our facilities to develop their skills in the meantime.

He said, “This is the format education of the future should take, whether we face another pandemic or something else.” Furthermore, Dr Adisak said the educational system should emphasize nature-based education.

Preschoolers aged 1–6 years old are especially in need of this approach.

NICFD has been implementing this approach since last year. Its programme allows young children to spend most of their time outside of the classroom learning.

“Many of the problems we are currently facing are the result of the imbalance caused by humans in nature. We need to teach our children to immerse themselves in nature.”

Source: Bangkok Post