Southern teachers’ demands remain unfulfilled
By Somsak Hunngam / Abdullah Whangni
Monday’s brutal killing of a schoolteacher by suspected militants in Pattani province provides a grim reminder that teachers remain an easy target despite increased protection provided by security forces.
Mr Samrith Panthadej, a teacher at Ban Na Ngor Yeesaw school in Tambon Kalubee, Kapor district of Pattani, was shot by the pillion rider of a motorcycle as he was riding a motorbike in his village. When the injured victim fell on the road, the pillion rider walked toward him, poured gasoline on him and set him afire.
Mr Samrith thus became the 125th teacher killed in the deep South in the past six years of violence since January 4, 2004 when the militants first staged their terror campaign by attacking an army armoury and escaping with more than 400 M16 assault rifles.
The victim’s father, Mr Vichai Panthadej, told Isra news centre that his son used to complain to him that he felt he was occasionally shadowed by some unidentified figures while he was returning home from school. However, he said his son was not scared and continued to teach at the school until the very day he was gunned down.
The grieving father appealed to the militants to spare the lives of the innocent people.
Mr Boonsom Thongsriplai, president of the Federation of Southern Teachers, however admitted that it is not possible for security forces to ensure 100 percent safety for all the teachers, especially in the high-risk areas. But as equally important as the safety issue for the southern teachers is their welfare and morale issues which need to be improved, he pointed out.
Mr Boonsom said that the federation had earlier proposed to the government for consideration financial and non-financial remuneration for teachers serving in the strife-torn region.
As for financial remuneration, he noted that the 2,500 baht a month special remuneration was minimal compared to the remuneration provided to the other professionals. Moreover, promotions are capped by a quota system which allows only 15 percent promotions. “That means only 15 out of 100 teachers will get promotions and salary increment each year.”
Scholarships for teachers are also scarce even though each teacher is entitled to one million baht life insurance coverage plus another 500,000 baht pledged by the committee for the promotion of teachers’ welfare, said Mr Boonsom.
On nonfinancial remuneration, teachers have wanted Royal titles in recognition of the sacrifices dedicated by the southern teachers, said Mr Boonsom, adding that the federation’s call for the upgrading of the status of teachers has not been satisfactorily fulfilled.
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caption :
1. The funeral of Mr Samrith Panthadej, a teacher at Ban Na Ngor Yeesaw school in Tambon Kalubee, Kapor district of Pattani, who was killed recently in the Deep South.
2. Mr Boonsom Thongsriplai, president of the Federation of Southern Teachers