Thai school drops military-style uniforms for kindergarteners after backlash

14 Sept 05:04 Key points summarised by AI

A Thai school in Kanchanaburi reversed its decision to require kindergarteners to wear military-style fatigues weekly following widespread public criticism.
The backlash primarily stemmed from concerns over the financial burden on parents and accusations of military indoctrination.
Despite dropping the uniform, Grade 3 kindergarteners will still participate in territorial defense training, and other non-traditional uniforms (ASEAN vest, tracksuit) remain mandatory on specific days.
The school director explained the territorial defense program, initiated in 2016, aims to instill patriotism, discipline, and loyalty to the monarchy.
The controversy gained significant traction after a popular Facebook page highlighted the issue, leading to extensive public debate on the necessity and cost of multiple school uniforms.

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