Education transfers 'to help probes into graft'

[Lite Beer]

Education transfers 'to help probes into graft'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: - -Officials moved faced complaints, but were not necessarily corrupt, govt says

Several Education Ministry officials have been transferred or suspended from duty pending probes over alleged corruption or irregularities, deputy government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Sansern was referring to order 6/2558 and 7/2558 of the National Council for Peace and Order.

He said some officials were transferred to positions believed more appropriate and in line with their qualification and background. Permanent secretary Suthasri Wongsaman, for example, had a career path from the Education Council, so she had been moved to head the council.

He said the Prayut government wanted to reshuffle several posts since it took over but decided to do it now to prevent allegations of political interference.

Some officials are suspended because initial probes have found irregularities. The suspensions would ensure that investigation can be done effectively. "It does not mean the officials are certainly corrupt but it means there is a possibility, as there are complaints against them, and the Budget Scrutiny Committee will carry out probes on them,'' Sansern said.

A source said the latest transfer and suspension of Education Ministry officials had nothing to do with a list of more than 100 officials suspected of corruption.

Sansern said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was exercising Article 44 of the interim charter constructively and the latest move was not for self-interest or political reasons but to push national and educational reforms.

The NCPO order No 7/2558 removed the following officials from their posts: directors of Khurusapha, the Teachers Council of Thailand, the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Education Personnel, the Business Organisation of the Office of the welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel.

The order stated that the reasons for the removal were to pave the way for educational and management reforms to ensure efficiency. The vacant posts would not be filled until the NCPO changes its order or ends it status.

Former Khurusapha chairman Prof Paitoon Sinlarat said he was surprised to be removed from his post, saying his agency had been independent of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel.

Somsak Tachai, secretary of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel, and Sommart Meesilp, chief of Business Organisation of the Office of the welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel, were not available for comment.

Former education minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, who is now a monk, posted a message on his personal Facebook page, in support of the government's latest order, saying it was a significant step taken by the NCPO and Prayut. He expressed confidence that the government would exercise its power constructively. "The government will make a name as a coup-installed government as urged by the people."

He said the government did not need to wait for proposals from the National Reform Committee because of time constraints. "This should be a major achievement of the Prayut government. I support the government in reforming education by improving education quality, the quality of teachers and providing equal educational opportunity," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Education-transfers-to-help-probes-into-graft-30258262.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-19

[Strangebrew]

Guess that lear jet in back yard raised a flag huh?