Government to scrap ‘White School’ project to reduce teachers’ paperwork

The government has announced the cancellation of the long-running ‘White School’ anti-drug project, effective from the start of fiscal year 2027, in a major push to cut through red tape and return teachers to their classrooms.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Capt. Dr. Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn revealed that the Ministry of Education issued an urgent order on June 9, officially dissolving the ‘White Schools Free of Drugs and Vices’ project.

The move aligns with the administration's broader educational policy for fiscal years 2026–2027, which operates under the slogan ‘Return time to teachers, return the future to children’.

Patdarasm stated that, while the project initially had good intentions, its execution in practice had become bogged down by bureaucratic processes.

“Teachers have had to spend an excessive amount of time on paperwork, evaluations and compiling project booklets, instead of using that valuable time to develop teaching methods and provide full individual care to students,” the spokesperson said.

She noted that, at the beginning of new school terms, a time when teachers should be fully engaged with their students, many across the country find themselves overwhelmed by paperwork, assessments, procurement tasks and redundant projects.

“Recognising this widespread burden, the government decided to axe the project in its current form,” she said, while dismissing concerns that the cancellation would weaken anti-drug efforts in schools.

She emphasised that the government is not abandoning the fight against illegal narcotics, but is modernising its approach. The traditional, paper-heavy evaluation system will be replaced by digital platforms for monitoring and reporting.

Furthermore, the ministry will integrate its efforts with local administration officials and community networks to ensure agility and efficiency, meaning that teachers will no longer be burdened by administrative chores.