11 schools in Northeast on probe list

The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has instructed its northeastern-based office to investigate 11 schools across the region.

The order came after irregularities were found in the procurement of educational supplies at a school in Nakhon Ratchasima, according to Korntip Daroj, secretary-general of the PACC.

The PACC is the graft-busting agency that oversees corruption among state officials. The probe will be carried by the Office of Anti-Corruption in Public Sector Area 3, which overseas the region.

The agency will also work closely with the Ministry of Education to avoid overlap. Part of the probe has already been conducted by that ministry, Lt Col Korntip said.

The move comes after the irregularities were unveiled as the result of a recent field inspection of 11 provinces set up by Lt Gen Kosol Prathumchart, adviser to Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin.

Mr Teerakiat reportedly said the first issue was detected at the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area 5.

A supply officer was found to have used a fake receipt to disburse a budget of 600,000 baht to buy supplies for two schools from a store in Samut Sakhon.

The officer has been removed from his post and is being investigated by a disciplinary committee that has been set up by the ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry found that several Educational Service Area Offices in the region had requested a budget to buy equipment for occupational training, even though many schools insisted they did not want or need it.