Pattani – Thai authorities have tightened security across the restive southern provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat as some schools reopened on Thursday.
In Pattani, Chairman Boonsom Thongsriplai of the Three Southern Provinces of Teachers Federation said that he met with local teachers, police and soldiers to review measures to prevent possible insurgent attacks on the first day of the new semester on May 16.
However, some schools began the semester on May 15.
The measure focused on escorting teachers to and from school and having security guards at school in violence-prone areas.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) Khunying Kasama Varavarn Na Ayuddhaya visited Pattani Thursday to meet with teacher representatives, local authorities and governors of three southernmost provinces and to follow up current situations.
In addition, she proposed installation of closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) and the construction of school fences.
In Narathiwat, a number of students in 13 districts came to schools on their first day of semester actively among tight security. However, teachers will hold a meeting with agencies concerned to find strict security measures and to subsidise transportations for teachers, fuel and vehicle costs.
Most teachers were still worried about travelling from home to school and called on the authorities to inspect the areas thoroughly, according to the director of the Narathiwat Education Service Area Office 2.
Source: enews.mcot.net (16 Mei 2008)
