Student hunger strike
The hunger strike by a group of Matthayom students who have been denied entry to the upper secondary level at their former school continued their hunger strike yesterday as the Education Minister said they were being used as a political tool.
The hunger strike by a group of Matthayom 3 students claiming irregularities in the admissions system of a Bangkok school is politically motivated, said Education Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech.
Four students of Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School continued their protest at Government House for a second day yesterday, calling on school management to admit all Matthayom 3 students into Matthayom 4 to further their studies at the school.
Mr Suchart said he believed the students were being used as a political tool by a certain group of people.
He instructed the Office of Basic Education Commission to lodge a police complaint against the people he believes are behind the protest.
The minister refused to name the people he suspected.
The protesting students said they finished Matthayom 3 at Bodindecha School with a GPA of over 2.0, but were not selected to continue their studies because the management had allocated some seats for new students.
The protesters said all Matthayom 3 students who wished to continue studying at the same school should be allowed to do so.
Bodindecha School principal Suwat Wiwattananon yesterday denied irregularities in the school’s admission system. He said the school has limited seats for students and the selection process was conducted with transparency.
Mr. Suwat said the school would accept another 20 former students to Matthayom 4 after some admitted students declined to attend, freeing up their seats. However the students refused to call off their hunger strike.
‘‘We will continue our protest until all Matthayom 3 students can further their study at the school,’’ said Apiwat Sorthnanusak, one of the protesting students.