Embattled director of St Gabriel’s College suspended ‘at his request’

Payom Chinnaong, secretary-general of the Office of the Private Education Commission, said yesterday that the foundation had issued the suspension order on Thursday. 
Foundation chairman, Brother Surasit Sukchai, is now doubling as acting director of the college. 
The suspension was at Vinai’s request, after he bowed to the pressure from parents, students and alumni. 
Vinai has been accused of several wrongdoings, including allegedly having a relationship with his consultant and mismanaging the school’s funds. Hundreds protested against Vinai at St Gabriel’s College on February 19. 
Kasem Jamninkul, who represents the parents of the students, said yesterday that he would now press for the foundation to launch an investigation into Vinai’s alleged wrongdoings.
“We will convene a meeting on February 24 [today] to discuss our next move. But definitely, we will demand that the foundation investigate Vinai,” he said. 
Torsak Sanguan-suk, an alumnus, said he is considering compiling evidence of Vinai’s alleged wrongdoings and forwarding it to the foundation to facilitate the probe. 
“Probably, we will go to the foundation on February 26,” he said.
The St Gabriel’s Foundation has established several boys-only schools in Thailand, including St Gabriel’s College and many Assumption schools. 
Established in 1920, St Gabriel’s College now ranks among the country’s most prestigious schools. Its alumni include high-profile figures including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon, Privy Councillor and former prime minister General Surayud Chulalont, and former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula. 
The St Gabriel’s Foundation, managed by the Thai Brothers Network, was founded in 1901 with the goal of educating children. In the beginning, most classes were conducted by the brothers themselves. More than a century later, the foundation now supervises at least 15 large schools. Overseeing these schools are brothers appointed by the St Gabriel’s Foundation. 
Many of its schools are popular with parents keen to enrol their children there.
The brothers seemed beyond reproach until 2013 when the teachers of Assumption College rose up against their director, Anant Prichavudhi, over his handling of several issues. 
Those issues included Anant’s refusal to raise their pay in line with the Education Ministry’s policy and his backing of a project to develop Assumption’s Rama II campus.
While the St Gabriel's Foundation resolved to remove Anant from the helm of the Assumption College, it continued with the Assumption College Rama II Campus.