Outrage as Thai students made to raise flag during heavy rain

The incident happened on May 16 at Ban Hin Kob School in Chumphon province, during the first day of the new school term, Bangkok Post reports.

Despite heavy rain and strong winds, the school director reportedly ordered three Grade 6 students to carry out the morning flag-raising ceremony as usual.

Video of the incident, filmed by a teacher, showed the students standing outside holding umbrellas while battling the storm.

The clip was later removed from TikTok, with some reports suggesting the teacher was pressured to delete it.

“The director cared more about the flag than the children,” read a message posted with the video.

The teacher, whose name was not revealed, said the students were drenched and that she was “devastated” by what happened.

Bangkok Post cited a Thai PBS report that indicated parents’ shock by the decision, with some of them fearing for the children's safety, especially with the risk of lightning strikes.

One parent said they had considered moving their children to another school in the past due to concerns over strict punishments but held back, fearing the small school would close if enrolment dropped.

Even the school janitor, Sothorn Phokheree, stepped in during the storm to give the children umbrellas and later criticised the director’s decision.

“I have never seen anything like this,” he said.

The principal, who has not been officially named, later apologised on social media under the name Jeeraporn Sanguanchart. She said she had met the affected families and taken full responsibility for her actions.

“I made a big mistake,” she said. “I only wanted everything to go well on the first day of school. I apologise to the students, parents and school board for the damage caused.”

Ban Hin Kob School serves children from kindergarten up to Grade 6. The number of students enrolled has not been made public.