School Meal Scandal: Director Removed Over Shoddy Food

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has swiftly acted to transfer a school director following a public outcry over poor-quality school meals in Chiang Mai.

 

Cries erupted on social media after images revealed a meagre breakfast consisting of chicken scraps in broth and a single boiled egg, despite a 30-baht-per-meal budget per student.

 

The school at the heart of the scandal is Rajaprajanugroh School in Mae Ai district, serving over 822 underprivileged and hill-tribe children. All students receive three meals daily, each funded at 30 baht per meal.

 

Concerns were raised about whether these meals were truly reflective of the allocated budget, sparking widespread public outrage.

 

In response, Obec ordered an immediate investigation and temporarily reassigned the school’s director to the Office of Special Education Administration.

 

This move aims to maintain fairness and prevent any interference with the ongoing probe. Obec Secretary-General Lt Thanu Wongchinda made it clear that any misconduct found will lead to disciplinary and legal consequences.

 

Lt Thanu issued an apology for the incident, underscoring the importance of providing nutritious meals to students. He stressed that students should never be denied their fundamental right to quality food.

 

Obec has also mandated the school to urgently enhance meal quality, with a team deployed to monitor the improvements closely.

 

Moreover, Obec has made it clear that food budgets, as public funds, must be utilised transparently and for their designated purpose.

 

They assured thorough scrutiny to prevent any misuse. Furthermore, Obec is implementing wider measures across all schools nationwide to review and improve meal programmes.

 

Regional offices have been tasked with supervising school meal schemes, especially in boarding schools benefiting from full meal funding.

 

The review will prioritise transparency in procurement, maintaining nutritional standards, and boosting accountability through community and parental involvement.

 

By ensuring these steps, Obec aims to restore public trust and guarantee the wellbeing of students across the nation, securing their right to wholesome, quality meals.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-27

 

 

[Bert got kinky]

 

Instead of transferring him, why not turn it into a legal matter and scrutinize his bank accounts/assets?

 

[JimHuaHin]

Yet again.

 

What not imprison this thief and abuser of school children?  Because it is Thailand.

[chuang]

Transferred to another post and starts his corrupted practice once again...

What kind of deterrence is this....

[jvs]

Not the first time and will not be the last,it is a very bad thing to make money this way!

Kick him out and make an example of him.

Stealing from already hungry kids is among the lowest things  you can do.

Compare this to a school lunch in France.

[dddave]

I once saw this type of thing first hand.  I was staying in an Udon Thani MooBan with a GF and her kids. For his birthday, her 7 year old son asked for us to buy ice cream for him and his whole class at lunch.  We went to the school headmaster and he said it had to be done through him and asked for B1000 for the ice cream.  

On the special day, each kid got about a tablespoon of the cheapest possible ice cream, the kind vendors sell for B10 a scoop.  My GF said all in, probably cost him less than B200.  The rest went into his pocket.

[cdemundo]

So sad.

A school intended to help disadvantaged kids and school management uses the meal program to exploit them.

Greed and lack of conscience.

Maybe indifference to the concepts of right and wrong.

Astounding.

[Quentin Zen]

this is only part 1.

 

Part 1.  Give the kids garbage, and not enough

Part 2.  SELL the kids lots of sugar stuff nearby and make loads of money

Part 3.  SELL more stuff later in the day, after school, etc. and make more money

 

 

[robertyongym]

6 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Instead of transferring him, why not turn it into a legal matter and scrutinize his bank accounts/assets?

 

Don't forget - This Is Thailand. They will not adopt this step until all avenues to "justice" have been exhausted. Still, I think this School Director would eventually face a light punishment, like a transfer to another district and the case would be closed.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Lt Thanu issued an apology for the incident, underscoring the importance of providing nutritious meals to students.

That costs money.... Some school persons are despicable people

[Hawaiian]

3 hours ago, dddave said:

I once saw this type of thing first hand.  I was staying in an Udon Thani MooBan with a GF and her kids. For his birthday, her 7 year old son asked for us to buy ice cream for him and his whole class at lunch.  We went to the school headmaster and he said it had to be done through him and asked for B1000 for the ice cream.  

On the special day, each kid got about a tablespoon of the cheapest possible ice cream, the kind vendors sell for B10 a scoop.  My GF said all in, probably cost him less than B200.  The rest went into his pocket.

When he goes he will be resurrected as a cockroach. 

[fonzo]

12 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

When he goes he will be resurrected as a cockroach. 

He's one now.

[bkk6060]

Abusive and negligence should be criminally charged.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

They assured thorough scrutiny to prevent any misuse.

It has been third party private whistleblowers that have reported these food abuses.

I don't recall in the last 12 years that a government agency took the lead to independently discover these abuses and investigate the people responsible without whistleblowers. 

What "scrutiny" will the current government propose in taking the lead to find such abuses that will be any different. 

[Purdey]

It is quite normal in schools (and prisons) to steal the money allocated for food. There is also the scam where the wives of school directors own the shop that sells school uniforms. The Ministry of Education knows full well that this goes on so there is a lot of handwringing but not much action. However, not everyone is evil and I know teachers who ensure the kids get a proper meal.

There are also foundations like SOS (Scholars of Sustenance), who collect unused food from hotels and shops to give to the poor, including schools. Amazingly, there are still so many poor schools in Thailand. Nothing is going to change as long as some believe they are right to keep the money for their own families first.

[SOTIRIOS]

...Shameful...

...Do The Math...

...4 Baht An Egg Wholesale....

...Could Make The World's Biggest Omelet Every Day... (?)

[fonzo]

1 hour ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Shameful...

...Do The Math...

...4 Baht An Egg Wholesale....

...Could Make The World's Biggest Omelet Every Day... (?)

with cheese filling

[Ubonian Canadian]

7 hours ago, dddave said:

I once saw this type of thing first hand.  I was staying in an Udon Thani MooBan with a GF and her kids. For his birthday, her 7 year old son asked for us to buy ice cream for him and his whole class at lunch.  We went to the school headmaster and he said it had to be done through him and asked for B1000 for the ice cream.  

On the special day, each kid got about a tablespoon of the cheapest possible ice cream, the kind vendors sell for B10 a scoop.  My GF said all in, probably cost him less than B200.  The rest went into his pocket.

Something definitely amiss. I have 8 family members, 7 adults and 1 child, living on my 5 rai small hobby farm. I spend around 20,000 to 24,000 baht per month on food. This also feeds 4 dogs and 8 cats. Our meals average about 30 baht each and we eat well and healthily. For 30 baht a child they should be getting ice cream for dessert. Kids need good food for their development and well being. I hope they find the corruption and punish in the public square.

[zyphodb]

7 hours ago, Quentin Zen said:

this is only part 1.

 

Part 1.  Give the kids garbage, and not enough

Part 2.  SELL the kids lots of sugar stuff nearby and make loads of money

Part 3.  SELL more stuff later in the day, after school, etc. and make more money

 

 

 

Part 5. Make kids wear a different uniform every day for your cut of the sales...