Kanchanaburi: The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation following allegations from teachers regarding accusations against them concerning school lunch expenses. Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, the Minister of Education, disclosed that she had been informed about a teacher civil servant in Kanchanaburi Province who sought justice. The teacher was accused of collaborating with a former school director to authorize the disbursement of school lunch funds. In response, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has been tasked with probing the matter alongside the Office of the Education Area. Reports indicate that no disciplinary actions have been taken by the area as of now.
According to Thai News Agency, OBEC plans to provide legal counsel from its central office to assist in gathering pertinent information, allowing the implicated teachers to appeal to the National Anti-Corruption Commission under Section 99 of the NACC Act B.E. 2561. The Ministry of Education has affirmed its commitment to offering comprehensive support if the teachers are found to be uninformed or uninvolved in the alleged misconduct. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narumon emphasized the ministry's readiness to ensure justice is served and to support the teachers throughout the process.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is preparing discussions with its executives to reassess the non-teaching responsibilities assigned to teachers. The focus is on financial and procurement tasks, which are intricate and legally risky, to alleviate the burden on educators and enable them to concentrate more on their primary teaching responsibilities.