THAILAND

Universities, schools barred from banning pregnant students

Thailand’s government has passed a new law that forbids schools, colleges and universities from transferring or dismissing pregnant students, in an effort to protect the students’ rights, reports Firstpost.

Anek Laothamatas, minister of higher education, science, research and innovation, and Treenuch Thienthong, minister of education, jointly signed the document, which was then published in the Royal Gazette on Saturday 18 February. According to the rule, no educational establishment in the kingdom is permitted to expel pregnant students or make them transfer to another school against their will. Additionally, it states that the action is intended to guarantee the protection of students’ rights to a quality education.

According to the education ministry, the government’s plan to combat teen pregnancies and their effects on young people’s lives includes the regulation. The government reports some progress in lowering the number of teenage pregnancies in the interim.
Full report on the Firstpost site