BANGKOK, 25 January 2013 As violence continues plaguing the three southernmost provinces, educators in the restive region have reportedly come up with a proposal requesting higher compensations to boost morale of teachers and related personnel working in the area.
According to Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana, a meeting was held among Education officials, teachers and school administrators in the restive South to find solutions and relieve their hardship in carrying out duties.
He said the proposal weighs the importance on raising risk allowance for teaching personnel working in the region, increasing compensations for teachers and staff killed in the violence, a rise in government subsidies given to private general education schools, and the planned construction of student dormitories in private Islamic schools known as Po-noh.
The proposal will be reviewed by an ad-hoc Committee on for Special Development Zone in the Southern Border Provinces, before being submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.
Mr. Pongthep also said that there is no need to send border police to teach students in affected schools as there already are volunteers who are also locals and hold qualified degrees to do the jobs.
On the proposed construction of dormitories for teachers, the Minister said it is pending a fact finding procedure to see whether the plan is the right answer as many teachers have indicated they prefer to stay with their families.
