Teachers flee deep South for safety
More than 6,000 teachers have asked to be transferred out of the three southernmost provinces since 2002 for fear of their own safety.
According to the information provided by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in response to an interpellation made by Bangkok MP of the Democrat party, Mr Watchara Petthong, on February 18 this year which was now printed in the Royal Gazette, out of the total of 6,178 requests for transfer, only 1,843 teachers were actually transferred out of the strife-torn region while the rest of the teachers continue to teach there.
The followings are a breakdown of the transfer requests from different educational zones in the troubled region during the eight-year period from 2002 to 2009:
Zone One of Pattani which covers four districts, namely Muang, Yaring, Nong Chik and Panareh, there are altogether 145 state-run schools in the zone. Altogether 2,444 teachers in this zone have asked to be transferred but only 363 were actually transferred. On average, there were between 40-70 requests each year, but the number of requests jumped beyond 300 in 2005-2009 after an outbreak of violence in January 2004 when dozens suspected militants sacked an army arms depot in Narathiwat and robbed more than 400 assault rifles.
Zone Two which covers Mae Larn, Mayo, Yarang and Kok Pho districts of Pattani, there were 228 requests for transfer and only 51 requests were fulfilled.
Zone Three which covers Sai Buri, Mai Kaen, Kapor and Thung Yang Daeng districts. Teachers in the zone started asking for transfer three years ago. There were altogether 200 requests but only 87 of them were transferred.
Zone One of Yala which covers Muang, Raman and Krong Penang districts. Requests for transfer dated back to 2002. Altogether 984 teachers asked for transfer and 398 of them were moved out.
Zone Two of Yala which covers Bannang Sata, Yaha and Kabang districts. Requests for transfer started in 2003 and continued ever since. There are altogether 490 requests and 86 of them were realized.
Zone Three of Yala which covers Betong and Tharnto districts. Requests started flowing in three years ago. There were 91 requests and 33 of them were granted.
Zone One of Narathiwat which covers Muang, Bacho, Yee Ngor, Ruesoh and Si Sakorn districts. Requests for transfer began in 2002 and continued ever since. A total of 850 teachers have asked for transfer and 519 of them were allowed to leave.
Zone Two of Narathiwat which covers Tak Bai, Waeng, Sukhirin, Su-ngai Kolok and Su-ngai Padi districts. Requests started in 2004 and until last year, the number has gone up to 726. Only 215 requests were granted.
Zone Three of Narathiwat which covers Janeh, Ra-nage and Cho-I-rong districts. Teachers started asking for transfer three years ago and, so far, there have been 165 request for transfer. Only 91 were transferred.