Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Wed, 6 Jan 1993 14:48:20 EST
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Primary school teachers rally

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 23:31:14+0700
From: Kamol Hengkietisak <kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th>


PRIMARY school teachers from the Northeast yesterday threatened to
stop work if the Government continued to ignore their demand for a
ministerial level bureau for primary education independent of the
Education Ministry.

The school teachers also expressed dissatisfaction over Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai's response to their demand.

About 1,000 primary teachers from 17 northeastern provinces
yesterday morning rallied in front of Government House for about
30 minutes.

Ten representatives of the teachers later met Mr Chuan.

The teachers demanded that the education administrative system be
restructured and an independent bureau be established to be
directly responsible for primary education.

They also called for more say in running primary education.

The primary education bureau is to decentralise its power to
provincial primary education offices which are to be a juristic
person.

The teachers demanded that a primary school be given more power to
make a decision by itself in co-ordination with such local
administrative bodies as tambon councils. They also called for
better work conditions and allocation of funds.

In addition, the teachers demanded improvement in conditions at
teachers' institutes and amendments to the Teachers Act (1945) so
as to enable the Teachers Council to become a prestigious
occupational institution.

However, Mr Chuan told the teachers that he needed to look at the
national budget and the Government's policy on education before
considering their proposal for an independent bureau.

The Prime Minister urged the teachers to be "reasonable" and
democratic in order to set a good example for other people.

Preeda Boonphloeng, president of the Northeastern Teachers
Association said teachers nationwide would take turns to rally to
demand the setting-up of theprimary education bureau.

He said the association would collect signatures from primary
school teachers nationwide and forward them to Parliament during
the next parliamentary session.

Mr Preeda added: "Primary school teachers nationwide will stop
teaching, if our demand is ignored."

The teachers oppose the Education Ministry's proposal to set up
provincial education councils, arguing that the move would be
tantamount to bringing the primary education management under a
provincial governor, who, by position, will be the chairman of the
education council in each province.

Nakhon Phanom Primary Teachers Association president, Phanung
Siridamrong, said the provincial education council, if set up,
would take away their right to participate in the country's
education administration.

He said the teachers were demanding a primary education bureau
because the existing National Primary Education Commission under
the Education Ministry had many budgetary problems.

Education Minister Samphan Thongsamak is opposed to the
establishment of an independent bureau.

Niphon Chinta, president of the Primary Education Teachers
Association of Thailand said the Prime Minister told him that the
Government's policy was to support the establishment of provincial
education councils.

He quoted Mr Chuan as telling the teachers' representatives that
the Government currently had no policy to change the educ  aon
system because their immediate goal was to establish the Ministry
of Labour Affairs.

Vacharin Sonphud, one of the representatives, said the teachers
were careful in making the demand because they did not want the
opposition parties to use them as a tool to destabilise the
Government.

However, he warned that the Government's stability would certainly
be affected if the provincial education councils were set up as
proposed by the Education Ministry.

Yasothon Primary School Teachers Association president Vichan
Phrasopha said a bill calling for the establishment of the primary
education bureau had been forwarded to Parl JM nt by New
Aspiration Party's Kalasin MP Chingchai Mongkholtham.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU