There are two ways that schools can protect students against the harmful effects of pesticides:
Firstly, schools can teach students about the dangers of pesticides. The Ministry of Education has been supporting this kind of activity in many provinces. In fact, some Thai teachers and students are world leaders in environmental education, and people from other countries have been visiting Thailand to see what they are doing.
Secondly, schools should have their own Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme. This means using non-chemical means to reduce the occurrence of rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes and other pests. When pesticides become necessary, the management of the school should make sure that chemicals are chosen which have low toxicity to humans. Spraying should only be done after school hours.
