Teachers Set For Mass Rally

[george]

Teachers set for mass rally

BANGKOK: -- A group of state teachers reiterated yesterday that they would stage a mass demonstration in Bangkok tomorrow [Tuesday] to protest the government’s plan to transfer schools from the Education Ministry to local administrative organisations.

Under the banner “Nine teacher organisations opposing the education administration transfers”, the group announced yesterday that thousands of teachers would join the rally. Its aim is to get the government to remove the term “voluntary transfer” from the Decentralisation Act, which requires the mandatory transfer of schools’ to local administrative bodies.

The group says transfers should not take place under any circumstances, whereas other teachers’ groups siding with the government have agreed to transfers on a voluntary basis.

The Nation 2005-11-28

[george]

Teachers opposed to school transfer to rally in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Teachers nationwide belonging to nine teachers' organizations will rally in central Bangkok Tuesday to show their unity against school transfer to local authorities.

Teachers representatives Thanarut Somkanae and Auychai Watha told a press conference on Sunday that schoolteachers from all four regions countrywide would rally next Tuesday at the Royal Plaza and in front

of the Education Ministry.

The two representatives said that thousands of cars with at least ten thousand teachers will come to Bangkok that day.

The rally aims at displaying teachers' opposition to transferring schools to local authorities, Mr.Thanarut and Mr. Auychai said.

They will also submit a letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to delete the word "voluntary" in the draft amendment before it goes for deliberation.

By maintaining the word "voluntary" in the draft creates confusion in the educational system, said Mr. Auychai, adding that reports that teachers in some provinces -- including the three northeastern provinces of Mahasarakham, Chaiyaphum and Sisaket -- had agreed to be transferred and come under the jurisdiction of provincial authorities were untrue.

Junior teachers in those three provinces were forced to sign their names by their superiors who happened to have received some benefits, Mr. Auychai charged.

--TNA 2005-11-27

[george]

50,000 teachers to protest Tuesday

BANGKOK: -- At least 50,000 teachers from across the country will stage a mass demonstration in Bangkok Tuesday to protest the transfer of schools from the Education Ministry to local administrative organisations.

Thanarat Somkhanay, spokesman for the Network of Teachers Against the Transfer of Government Schools to Local Administrative Organisations, said Monday that teachers from a number of provinces including Buri Ram, Kalasin and Surat Thani said they would be attending the protest. At least 50,000 teachers are expected to join the rally in front of the Education Ministry today to demand that the govern?ment scrap the transfer plan.

A number of teachers will also stay on to continue the protest Wednesday, voicing their opinions at Kurusapa Council hall and requesting that the ombudsman of Thailand ask the Constitution Court to clarify whether the trans?fer is constitutional, Thanarat said.

--The Nation 2005-11=28

[bino]

Anyone know where the Education Ministry is?? Sounds like a good traffic jam to avoid tomorrow if possible!

[lopburi3]

A little late but it is across the klong from the UN buildings, after Dusit Zoo, and I had planned to travel that way today but changed mind after reading of 1,000 bus and 500 vans being expected.

Edit: Bangkok Post had this as front page news but neglected to inform its readers the location of the Education Ministry.

Edited November 29, 2005 by lopburi3

[Jai Dee]

MORE THAN 50,000 TEACHERS GATHERED IN A MASS RALLY TODAY AT EDUCATION MINISTRY

More than 50,000 representatives of teachers have gathered in front of Education Ministry, protesting against the transfer of educational institutes to provincial administrative bodies.

The 50,000 representatives of teachers said that they would like Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra and Education Minister Chaturong Chaisaengwant to understand that as many as 50,000 teachers nationwide disagree with the government’s amendment to the Power Decentralisation Act that allows voluntary transfer of state schools wanting to be under the supervision of local administrative bodies. Mr. SOMKIET WONGPAIBOON (สมเกียรติ วงศ์ไพบูลย์), a representative said that this gathering was not aimed at discreditting the government. He said the protest was arranged as to get the attention of the government.

Today, teacher representatives will discuss, exchange ideas. In the evening, candle lights will be lit as a symbol reflecting Thailand's future education.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

OPPOSITION DEMANDS GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW AMENDED LEGISLATION ON POWER DECENTRALIZATION FOR REVIEW BEFORE SUBMITTING TO PARLIAMENT

The opposition prepares to file a censure motion against the government if it does not withdraw an amended Power Decentralization Act for a review or bring it to a cabinet meeting first. Opposition whip Satit Wongnongtoey ( นายสาทิตย์ วงษ์หนองเตย) said that the opposition had a discussion on the Thai Rak Thai MPs’ proposal to amend the Power Decentralization Act yesterday, adding that the study has shown that the teachers’ organization and local administrative bodies have expressed disagreements on the planed transfer of schools. He said that the government cannot brush aside its responsibilities, because the government was the one who proposed the transfer of education management to local bodies.

Therefore, Mr. Satit said that the government should withdraw the amended draft for joint discussions. He said that the government, teachers’ organizations, the opposition, and local administrative bodies should jointly debate the draft before it is submitted to parliament. He said that if the government insists to submit the draft bill to parliament today, the opposition will wait to see whether it has been proposed to the cabinet meeting.

He said that the opposition whip will hold a special meeting on this issue to formulate strategies on how to debate this bill.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

TRT EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE TEACHERS WILL UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON SCHOOL TRANSFERS

Thai Rak Thai party expressed confidence that teachers will finally understand the government’s policy on school transfers, adding that the party will meet representatives of the teachers today. A working committee on amending the Power Decentralization Act, led by former Edcuation Minister Pongpol Adireksal (นายปองพล อดิเรกสาร)and president of the teachers’ network Kampan Pongpan (คำพันธุ์ ป้องปาน) announced that the amended bill will be submitted to parliament today for its first reading.

There will be 35 people in the special committee to deliberate the bill, with 5 representatives of the teachers present during the discussion. The committee expressed confidence that it can reach an understanding with teachers opposing the transfers, as ministerial regulations will be issued in preparation for the transfers. The regulation will set clear definitions for the term “voluntary”, which has caused concerns among the teachers.

The teachers admitted that the problems occurred due to lack of communication with the teachers. The committee plans to meet the teachers today to explain issues related to the transfers to them.

During the first reading of the bill today, representatives of teachers will come to observe the deliberation and will submit their demands to Parliament and Senate spokesmen.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

EDUCATION MINISTRY DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF TRANSFERRING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES IN THE MINISTRY MEETING

The Education Ministry officials discussed the government plan of transferring educational institutes to provincial administrative bodies, with an aim to find the best solution to work out the issue. The ministry is also considering the benefits of learners according to the policy of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Deputy Minister of Education Rung Kaewdaeng (รุ่ง แก้วแดง) said that this issue has been raised in the ministerial meeting today. He said that it is a difficult case because people in the society have different perspectives, and that it is the responsibility of the Education Ministry to take care of every group.

However, he said that the matter is currently under the consideration of the parliament, and the Members of the House of Representatives are now responsible to take care of the issue.

Mr. Rung said that further difficulties should not emerged.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE POWER DECENTRALIZATION ACT

The House of Representatives has accepted the draft amendment to the Power Decentralization Act, which defines the transfer of state schools to local administrative bodies on a voluntary basis.

The House spent more than 7 hours debating the draft amendment to the Power Decentralization Act, before voting to accept the draft by 312-0, with 65 abstentions. The meeting set up a 35-member special commission to deliberate the bill by two days before presenting the House for its 2nd and 3rd readings.

Education Minister Jaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) said that the government is willing to accept the draft bill in its first reading, adding that the 2nd and 3rd readings of the bill depend on many parties involved. He also explained that the government did not sponsor the draft bill because the government does not have to take the law up for consideration, as the parliament’s session is about to end.

Meanwhile, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ) expressed his opinion that the draft amendment is just a face-saving, temporary measure that could pose more problems in the future. He urged the government to explain clearly the reasons behind the transfers of schools to local bodies, adding that the government MPs did not participate in debating the bill during the House meeting.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 1 December 2005

[Jai Dee]

TEACHERS PREPARE TO SUBMIT A PETITION TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING TODAY

A Teacher Network protesting the planned school transfer prepare to petition His Majesty the King, after the House of Representatives voted to maintain the phrase “on a voluntary basis’ in the draft amendment of the Power Decentralization Act.

President of the Samutprakarn (สมุทรปราการ) teachers association, Ladda Ruenrerng (ลัดดา รื่นเริง) said that the decision by the House of Representatives virtually destroyed everything the teachers have done, adding that the group of teachers will submit a petition to His Majesty the King at the Royal Secretariat Office today (Dec 8) at 8AM.

Mr. Ladda also said that teachers from across the nation will join a weekly talk show hosted by Manager Daily Founder Sondhi Limthorngkul (สนธิ ลิ้มทองกุล) at Lumpini Park this Friday, to see the stance of the gathering crowd.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 December 2005