Ministry takes helm at Abac to quell rift

The Education Ministry has invoked Section 86 of the Private University Act to set up a special panel to take command of the administration of Assumption University (Abac) by next week, in a bid to end the conflict over its new rector.

Education Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan set up the panel, comprising five to 15 people, to temporarily take command of the administration of Abac, yesterday, after the two parties failed to reach an agreement in a reconciliation meeting held at the ministry.

The conflict, which began early last year, has divided members of the university’s council into two camps.

The first backs Bancha Saenghiran, a Catholic priest; while the other backs Sudhiporn Patumtaewapibal, a layman. Each claims the right to be the lawful rector.

According to the minister, Brother Bancha’s side stood firm in its call for all Abac councillors to resign so that the authority to select the rector could revert to the Saint Gabriel’s Foundation, which holds the university’s licence.

Mr Sudhiporn’s side called on the ministry to set up a new university council which would have a membership consisting of five people from each side plus three from the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec).

“The ministry needed to intervene as the ongoing dispute could affect students’ learning environments and the image of Thai higher education in the future,” Gen Dapong said.

He has ordered education permanent secretary Kamchorn Tatiyakawee and Ohec to select the special panel’s members as soon as possible.

The special panel is expected to take command of Abac’s administration by next week.

Following the order of Section 86, the ministry will invoke Section 87 to immediately terminate the duties of members of the university’s council, rector, lecturers and all staff at the university, Gen Dapong said.

University council member Weerasak Anusonthiwong, who supports Brother Bancha, said his side welcomed the invocation of Section 86, dismissing the claim that it could worsen the negative image of the university.

“We think it would be good to have outsiders help us clean up our house,” Mr Weerasak said.

Mr Sudhiporn told the Bangkok Post over the phone that he will appeal to Ohec next week because he thinks the current situation at Abac has not reached the point where Section 86 should be enforced as the university is still able to operate.

He said the invocation should be made only if there is chaos on campus and the university is unable to operate normally.