Nakhon Pathom's Mahidol Wittayanusorn School resumed classes yesterday for the first time since a student set one of its buildings ablaze on June 6.
The arsonist is currently undergoing psychiatric tests at the Galyani Rajanagarindra Institute, which will take another week to determine the boy's mental condition.
The Mathayom 5 student cited stress as the reason behind his action, which left the building seriously damaged. Provincial public-works officials will conduct a comprehensive inspection to determine how to repair it.
Deputy Education Minister Narisara Chawaltanpipat expects the inspection results to be released within a month.
"Then, we will seek a budget from the Cabinet for repairs," she said yesterday. "We plan to install sprinklers to facilitate fire control in the future too."
Mahidol Wittayanusorn is a prestigious boarding school and many of its students have won awards at Academic Olympiads.
"The fire is unprecedented and everyone is sorry for what has happened," Narisara said, while visiting the school to offer moral support. She encouraged everyone to help each other and rebuild the school's reputation. The school has about 700 students.
Many teachers returned to school yesterday to boost the morale of students.
The school has set up 15 temporary classrooms to replace the ones affected by the fire. Now that its library is in ruins, the school is calling on people to donate books, especially those related to the English language and science. Though it has received 15,000 books from donors, that number is not yet close to the more than 70,000 books lost in the fire.
However, school director Yuwadee Nakhapadungrat urged students to forget about the incident and move on. She said the school could provide safety to all students.
Student chairman Suttichai Chalalaisathaporn said the students did not appear to be scared.
"Don't blame anyone. No one can correct the past. We can only do what is best for today," he said.
Suttichai, a Mathayom 6 student, said it was easy to get stressed out in relation to study, "but we can always help each other". He plans to encourage senior students to offer more help to their juniors and provide them with advice and counselling.
Suttichai, however, refused to say whether the arsonist would be able to return to the school.
"I cannot speak for others, but as far as I'm concerned, he's still a student here," he said.
Narisara said the school had not lodged a complaint against the student, but "the law will run its course".