Half of high school students skipped class at least once and one in every 10 carried weapons to school, a Social Development and Human Security Ministry survey has indicated.

The poll found that 50 percent cut classes because they were fed up with teachers and the school system, and seniors tended to skip class more often than juniors, according to local newspaper The Nation internet news.

The survey, conducted by the ministry and the National Institute of Development Administration, explored "risk behavior" that students were engaged in over the past year.

About 280,000 Mathayom 1-6 students from 1,400 schools nationwide took part in the poll.

The poll also found that one-tenth of the respondents carried weapons to schools, thought about committing suicide and suffered physical abuse at home.

When asked about sexual orientation, 7 percent preferred people of the same sex while more male students suffered sexual violations than females.

Males had twice the risk of sexual harassment compared to females and most of those suffering sexual abuse were sexually deviated.

Sexual violations were closely related to suicides and sexually- abused students had four times the risk of committing suicide compared to others.

Source: Xinhua