300 schools in Pattani close temporarily
PATTANI, Nov 26 – More than 300 schools in Pattani have closed temporarily since Thursday’s gunning down of a school director while similar moves have been urged in Yala and Narathiwat to pressure security agencies to beef up protection for teachers.
Boonsom Thongsriplai, chairman of the Teachers Federation of the Three Southern Border Provinces, met representatives of primary school teachers in Pattani’s Education Zone 1 today following the killing of Nantana Kaewchan, 51, director of Tha Kamcham School in this southern border province last Thursday.
He said the teachers resolved to temporarily close 332 schools in the province.
The teachers will urge their peers in Yala and Narathiwat to take similar action to demand that security agencies improve teacher protection plan to prevent a repeat of deadly attack against teachers.
In November alone, two teachers were killed and another two were injured in insurgent attacks.
Pattani has seen 66 teachers killed and 46 wounded since the insurgency flared up eight years ago.
