Buddhist schools probed over claim of inflated student numbers

[snoop1130]

Buddhist schools probed over claim of inflated student numbers

By The Nation

 

File photo// photo from: www.madchima.org

 

National Office for Buddhism (NOB) branch offices are to probe budget spending at Phrapariyatidhamma schools across the country following a monk’s complaint last week that some institutes had allegedly exaggerated the number of their students, said NOB director-general Pongporn Pramsanehon on Monday.

 

Buddhist scripture schools, funded by the NOB and under curricular supervision of the Education Ministry, were opened by temples to provide lower and upper secondary level education to Thai monks and novices. 

 

NOB branch offices would join the respective school cluster offices to check the number of students at each school in their jurisdiction to get an accurate update for a report to the Buddhist Education Division by July 6, Pongporn said. 

 

Pongporn said the fact-finding probe was in response to a complaint which didn’t necessarily mean there was corruption going on. 

 

As for a separate probe into some NOB officials’ alleged involvement in siphoning maintenance funds allocated to temples, Pongporn said the fact-finding panel had investigated several temples and they aimed to complete the probe within 60 days.

 

Four NOB officials, including deputy director-general Pranom Kongpikul were accused of embezzling Bt60 million from maintenance funds belonging to 12 temples in six provinces, while four civilians were accused of aiding and abetting the crime. 

 

One temple each in Ayutthaya, Lamphun, Phetchaburi and Chumphon, as well as three in Amnat Charoen and five in Lampang, were implicated.

 

Pongporn said the deputy director-general, now facing the fact-finding probe, was not yet officially suspended from work as she has not been found guilty of any crime.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319783

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-3

[thhMan]

Im sure the NOB will have all this settled soon

[Lupatria]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pongporn said the fact-finding probe was in response to a complaint which didn’t necessarily mean there was corruption going on. 

The country would be much better off without these robbers in robes.

[wvavin]

All along there are great problems in this Buddhist country in particular on money matters but as usual, nothing had been done and everyone pretends there are nothing serious.

[hotchilli]

Where there's money there's corruption.. it's rife in every corner of Thai society and temples are no exception.

With huge amounts of money coming in the form of maintenance funds or donations from the public the temples are unfortunately a prime target for those who are not as Buddhist in their thinking as they should be !

[Keesters]

More corruption discovered in Buddhist temples. Is it any wonder that the people are so corrupt when their faith leaders are. They are just following the faith.

 

 

[Itay]

26 minutes ago, Keesters said:

Is it any wonder that the people are so corrupt when their faith leaders are. They are just following the faith.

Well said Keesters

[colinneil]

Why are they over inflating the student numbers?

The answer is so easy, ...... MONEY......

I think they get money per student, so if they say they have more students, they get more money.

Everything here to do with temples is money, money, money.

[mikiea]

15 hours ago, thhMan said:

Im sure the NOB will have all this settled soon

yea .... whats a little fib among friends  ?

[Zack61]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Where there's money there's corruption.. it's rife in every corner of Thai society and temples are no exception.

With huge amounts of money coming in the form of maintenance funds or donations from the public the temples are unfortunately a prime target for those who are not as Buddhist in their thinking as they should be !

So very true. I have seen and experienced it first hand. the monkhood has great career paths for the criminally inclined and it is discussed openly between themselves. Not all are bad but far too many are.

 

[Dumbastheycome]

I  find  this topic  uncovers  a  contradiction.  Thailand  claims  no  official  religion. Is  there an  office  of   Hindu,  Muslim,  Christian,  Bahai ,Zionist,  Moon  Worship,   etc distributing   pubic  funds?