School agrees students can stay

“I am satisfied,” one of the parents, Narong Niyomras, said about the news. 

The hunger strike began on Saturday. It prompted Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej to arrange a video conference yesterday between the parents and representatives of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec). Suchart was in South Korea but decided to try to resolve the dispute. 

“I hope no similar mistake takes place in the future too,” Narong said.

He and some other parents staged the hunger strike because Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni), one of the country’s most popular schools, had initially ruled that their children must leave the school after they completed Mathayom 3 earlier this year. The school said their children were not qualified to study there any further.

However, at yesterday’s meeting, the school simply said it was a mistake to decide that the children must leave, Narong said. 

According to the last resolution from the meeting, all of the more than 20 students who were earlier told to leave will be able to start Mathayom 4 classes at the school when the new semester begins tomorrow (May 23).

“I am so happy I am allowed to continue studying at my old school,” Pakwan Boonpichet, 16, said. She insisted that she was qualified to study further at Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni). 

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj General Wichai Sangphrapai, who joined the meeting yesterday, said officials at Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School had already set up a committee to investigate the school director over why the children were denied seats in Mathayom 4 classes in the beginning. 

An informed source revealed that the Obec representatives were in fact very uncomfortable with Suchart’s decision to have Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) take back all the students because some had not really met the school’s qualifications. Some allegedly had very poor academic records.

Obec secretary general Chinnapat Bhumirat said yesterday that students should be taught to respect rules. “I don’t think we should be swayed by pressure or public sentiment.” But he said he would respect policies issued by political-office holders. 

Suchart plans to hold a press conference on the Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School row, after he returns from South Korea. 

He has plans to host a banquet for the protesting parents and the affected students of Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) at 8.30am today, after which a press conference will be held.