TEACHERS IN SOUTH DEMAND MORE SAFETY
Hundreds of schools in the deep South kept their doors closed yesterday as teachers’ associations protested against the government’s failure to tackle insurgency problems.
Sanguan Indhrarak, president of the Teachers’ Federation in Narathiwat, said if these problems remained unsolved, more schools would close.
The teachers’ associations and federations in the region decided to close 332 schools in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat from last Friday after Nantana Kaewjan, director of a school in Pattani’s Nong Chik district, was gunned down on Thursday – a mere 100 metres from her school.
Sanguan said teachers’ organisations were closely monitoring the situation and more schools in the province would be closed if the situation does not improve.
“We demand that security personnel review their safety measures and make plans to restore confidence and morale among educational personnel, particularly teachers and students,” he said.
The morale in the region is at its lowest following repeated attacks and deaths. Fourth Army Region Commander Lt-General Udomchai Thammasaroj, meanwhile, met with representatives of teachers’ organisations yesterday at the Sirindhorn Army Camp in Pattani’s Yarang district. The meeting was part of a bid to help ease problems in the deep South.
The teachers’ associations met after the school director’s killing and decided to protest against the government’s failure to protect lives of educational personnel by temporarily closing down schools in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Meanwhile, Boonsom Thongsriprai, president of teachers’ federation in the three provinces in the deep South, said his federation would ask the authorities to ensure that Udomchai and other senior security officials meet leaders of teacher’s foundations on December 4. He said this meeting was being held to discuss and review safety measures for teachers and students as well as look into finding systematic ways of solving problems.
Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana is also being urged to meet representatives of teachers from three southern provinces and four Songkhla districts on December 7.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanich said he would be heading to the South tomorrow to attend the slain school director Nantana’s funeral. He said he would meet security officials as well as school organisations while he is there, and went on to say that risk allowance for teachers in the South could be increased to Bt3,500 from Bt2,500. He did not elaborate.
Separately, Narathiwat’s deputy police chief Pol Colonel Banlue Chuwet said tight security will be provided during the Loy Krathong celebrations today. Celebrations are being held at the Taprayasai Dam and the Sirindhorn Park in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok municipality.
