Pressure to root out school graft
CALL FOR DIRECTORS TO DECLARE ASSETS
>> The government has been urged to force school directors nationwide to declare their assets to ward off possible graft in the wake of the so-called “tea money” scandal at Samsenwittayalai School.
The call was made yesterday by Chana Wongmusik, former chairman of the school’s alumni association, which made headlines last week after its director Viroj Samluan was accused of demanding 400,000 baht in tea money from a parent in exchange for enrolling a student.
Speaking at a press briefing on the scandal, Mr Chana, who is also a former member of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organisation council, said the scandal involving the school is now common knowledge.
He said he wants to see school directors declare their assets and that this will be proposed to the government.
“If this materialises, I believe Thailand’s education circle will improve,” said Mr Chana. Most of the prestigious schools in the country receive money for enrollment but there must be receipts making this subject to scrutiny, he added.
According to Mr Chana, the school enrolled more than 100 students in Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) and Mathayom 4 through requests from parents this year, but no receipts were seen.
The government should check where the money has gone and how it was spent, he said.
The case first drew the attention of the media after one parent circulated a video clip allegedly showing Mr Viroj receiving money for accepting his child into Mathayom 1.
The parent allegedly recorded every contact with the school director, including phone calls and the handover of the purported bribe. The director was said to have had his deputy accept the cash on his behalf.
The parent said the cash was a bribe and that the video footage was made public to get the permanent secretary for education to look into the issue.
Mr Viroj later countered the allegation, saying he was the victim of a plot to oust him by disgruntled alumni whose children were not admitted to the school.
Mr Chana said he was aware that the clip’s owner sent the material to the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for investigation. He said the clip clearly shows the face of Mr Viroj’s deputy, who was asked to receive the money, and that of a woman who submitted the money.
He also urged public schools to accept students wholly on the merit of exam results, thus giving students from impoverished families a fair shot.
There should be no system that allows parents to use their personal connections or financial means to get their children enrolled at schools, he said, adding that this would stop officials from chasing directorial posts at prestigious schools to reap the benefits.
PACC secretary-general Prayong Preeyachit said the clip in question was obtained by his agency last week. The PACC officers will examine whether it was doctored or anything staged, he said.
The officers will also determine whether the PACC has the authority to take up the case for consideration, he added.
Mr Viroj has been assigned to work at the Secondary Educational Service Area Office 1 from tomorrow. He has not been removed as the school’s director.