Assumption College closes abruptly as teachers ask for pay rise
Assumption College on Friday abruptly suspended all classes for a week, with effect from today, reportedly in response to teachers' demand for a pay rise and to internal conflicts.
Alumni who gathered in front of the school in Bang Rak district dressed black and demanded the director’s resignation.
Parents and students did not learn of the closure until they arrived at the school and found the announcement printed on a banner in front of the school. The chaos caused by hundreds of students and parents stranded there worsened already the heavy traffic on Charoenkrung Road.
The college’s website said the administration had decided to suspend classes until February 1 because some ill-intentioned groups planned to instigate chaos inside the college compound. The school was worried that it might unable to provide safety for students and that the chaos could cause damage to its property.
The announcement was signed by Brother Anun Preechawut, the director.
The teachers were scheduled to submit the demand to the director this morning. Their representative said they learned about the closure at 5am. They however doubted the closure was linked to their demand.
Some sources said the decision to close the school could have stemmed from report that some teachers, students and alumni would gather at the school to protest against a policy to sell the college’s property and also merge the elementary and secondary levels.
Narong Weeraprachak, a teachers’ representative said the teachers wore black and would submit to the college a demand that it resume giving Bt1,500 living expenses and a Bt2,000 profession fee.
“We demand the administrator adjust the salaries, that the director resigns and that the college resumes classes on Monday,” he said.
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