Addressing Emotionally-Based School Avoidance in Thai Schools Post-Pandemic
A quiet crisis is emerging in classrooms worldwide and now affecting Thai students: emotionally-based school avoidance, or EBSA. New international research shows more children miss school due to anxiety, depression, and other emotional distress. In the United Kingdom, studies indicate a fivefold rise in students missing more than half of their school days over the past decade, reflecting the lingering effects of the Covid-19 era.
EBSA is not simply refusal to attend. It describes students who feel unable to go to school because of overwhelming emotional or physical distress. The key distinction is that “I can’t” reflects a mental health and support challenge, not just discipline. This reframing guides how schools respond and support students.