POLICIES

INTRODUCTION

Child abuse and neglect are a growing concern in schools throughout the world. Child abuse and neglect are violations of a child’s human rights and obstacles to the child’s education as well as their physical, emotional, and spiritual development.

Schools fill a special institutional role in society as protectors of children. Schools need to ensure that all children in their care are afforded a safe and secure environment in which to grow and develop. Because educators have the opportunity to observe and interact with children over time, they are in a unique position to identify children who need help and protection. As such, educators have a professional and ethical obligation to identify children in need of help and protection and to take steps to ensure that those children and families avail themselves of the services needed to remedy any situation that constitutes child abuse or neglect.

Whenever any RIS employee has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse or neglect, that employee must report the suspected instance of child abuse or neglect. Reporting and follow-up of all suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect will proceed in accordance with administrative regulations respective to this policy. Furthermore, cases of suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported to the relevant employer, to the respective consulate in Bangkok, to the appropriate child protection agency in the child’s home country, and/or to local authorities.

Ruamrudee International School’s policy is guided by the Thai Child Protection Act of 2003 (CPA) and endorses the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), of which the host country, Thailand, is a signatory and seeks to be a safe haven for children who may be experiencing abuse or neglect in any aspect of their lives.

Ruamrudee International School is committed to reviewing its Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct and Policy annually. Every academic year, RIS will share policy updates with the parent community, communicate this policy to students, provide child safeguarding training for all RIS employees, and make every effort to implement hiring practices to ensure the safety of children. In the case of an RIS employee being reported as an alleged offender, Ruamrudee International School will conduct a full investigation following a carefully designed course of due process.