Bangkok - Many schools in the South have suspended classes in recent months because of the frequent attacks on teachers. Security details assigned to protect the lives of school staff have not been effective.
Wassayos Ngamkham talked with Boonsom Thongsriprai, chairman of the Confederation of Teachers in the three southern border provinces, in Pattani about the plight of his members.
What is your assessment of teacher safety this semester?
Initially, I thought the violent situation would gradually improve after the school term began this month. However, things did not turn out as expected.
At a recent meeting with relevant agencies, I learned that police and soldiers have changed their strategy.
Security forces have opted for going on the offensive when dealing with the southern unrest. This means insurgent sympathisers will be arrested and houses will be searched. As a result of this, teachers will surely become sitting-duck targets of insurgents.
Why are teachers so often the victims of insurgent attacks?
There are two reasons. Actually, the insurgents‘ strategy has two targets _ soldiers and teachers.
They opt to attack teachers as they want to create a climate of fear. They are aware that teachers, armed with chalk, play a key role in the country‘s education system and that their attacks on teachers will bring education progress to a standstill. The insurgents are aware that such attacks will always draw public attention.
How is the morale of teachers working in the three southernmost provinces?
Teachers‘ morale is now sorely dented. They never know if they will return home safely after class. Although the three southernmost provinces have been declared a special economic zone, nothing special has been given to teachers.
Despite the proposed relaxation of academic requirements to enable teachers in the deep South to get faster promotions, nothing has changed.
Their risk allowance of 2,500 baht a month has not been increased. If the situation in the three southernmost province was the same as in other regions, we would not make any demands.
Will the confederation take stringent measures if more teachers are attacked by insurgents?
It‘s hard to say. We can order schools to permanently suspend classes.
However, the quality of education in the deep South would be badly affected if we do this.
As teachers still teach in these areas, protection should be provided for them. Action speaks louder than words. Authorities must increase budgets and have clear proposals to guarantee the safety of teachers.
Do you think the closure of schools can solve problems?
It can solve the problems on the surface. Whenever a teacher is shot, schools will be closed.
Recently, the confederation decided not to order all schools in the province to suspend classes, as the mass closure of schools is exactly what the insurgents hope for. Innocent children are affected by school closures.
Do you think ponohs schools offering only an Islamic curriculum] should offer secular subjects alongside religious teachings?
Schools should offer both courses. We cannot abandon religious teachings. At the kindergarten level, a bilingual system should be introduced. This means courses would be taught in the local Malay dialect and teachers would translate them into Thai. Muslim children are eager to learn, while Buddhist pupils studying in the same classes could also learn the Malay language.
Governments have failed to take care of education in ponoh schools. We want authorities to ensure the curriculum and quality of education in these schools is on a par with other schools. Teachers at these schools should be better trained and teaching equipment upgraded.
State scholarships should be provided to students from needy families who are studying at ponoh schools.
The curriculum should include the teachings of all religions, not only Islam.
Source: www.bangkokpost.com (14 November 2007)
