From the survey data, no child who had sexual intercourse while studying wanted to get pregnant. None, except that they could not access contraceptive devices such as condoms.
Children do not intend to, and it is a loss of their future opportunities. So we thought that we should help them, which is why we initiated this project. For this group of children, alternative education requires them to study on Saturdays and Sundays. The school will assign tasks, and the children can graduate along with their peers, with no difference from regular children.
When they drop out, such as during the second semester of Grade 9, their classmates continue to study as usual. The dropouts study on Sat-Sun and graduate with their friends. This group of children has similar problems, and the Sat-Sun group is not very large. Therefore, when people with similar problems come together, they tend to take care of and help each other more than engage in various forms of teasing behavior.
From their social experience, they see that having a child is a significant matter. If unprepared, it is very difficult to raise a child with quality. I think no child wants to have a child while still in school.
Currently, the Act on Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Problems mandates that schools must not let children drop out and must take care of both their education and quality pregnancy issues. However, some schools may face internal organizational readiness issues. But I think it is best for them to continue studying at that school, even if they face various problems. I believe Namridwitthaya School can exchange and learn from each other on this matter.
I think it is the school’s duty to accept students and help them graduate with quality according to their potential. It is not just about accepting students and not helping them graduate. I think that is not the goal of education management.
When problems arise, as administrators or teachers, we must have a positive perspective, believing that the child’s intention was not to cause such problems. Children should have access to reproductive health rights. It must be a decision made by the child and their parents together, whether to terminate or continue the pregnancy. In the school’s case, the problem is that the parents do not want it, but the child does. In such cases, they should discuss it together.
I think currently, in general, there are many children dropping out in the regular system. I think one problem is teenage pregnancy. Schools must review and implement preventive measures, and if problems arise, they must collaborate to solve them through cooperation between agencies, integrating public health, social development, and human security, or other agencies. I believe this will enable Thai youth and students to graduate without dropping out and become quality students for the country.
I think society must be aware that every child is a Thai child. Therefore, I think the RSA project will help children live in society with quality. I invite all of us who are aware of this issue to support it.
Source: Interview with Mr. Wichian Panmuang, Director of Namridwitthaya School, Uttaradit Province, at the Knowledge Exchange Meeting on Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Problems, July 11-12, 2019, at Ambassador Hotel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok.