Bangkok schools delay opening up for new term until June 1

BMA orders closure for sake of students' safety

• Published: 15/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Schools in areas close to the anti-government rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection have deferred the start of the new term for safety reasons.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday ordered 17 schools under its management in the affected areas to delay the beginning of term from Monday to June 1.

Eight out of the 17 schools were in Pathumwan district where the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's (UDD) main encampment is located, said Deputy Bangkok Governor Thaya Theepsuwan.

The city administration would continue to assess the political situation and decide later if the 17 schools near the rally site would be able to reopen on June 1, said Mrs Thaya.

If the security situation does not improve by then, the BMA will have to relocate students and teachers to other schools, she said.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat yesterday said the ministry, school administrators and security agencies had agreed that all educational institutes around the protest site would delay opening until the situation is safe for their students.

Chulalongkorn University announced on Thursday it was closing yesterday. Also shut are Mater Dei and Triam Udom Suksa schools, which are near the centre of the rally.

Mater Dei School has decided to defer opening until May 27 while Triam Udom Suksa School has called off a meeting with parents of Mathayom 5 and 6 students that was scheduled for today.

Both schools encouraged their students to check their school websites for announcements on the rescheduling.

Rajamangala University of Technology's Uthen Thawai campus and Pathumwan Institute of Technology have also decided to suspend classes.

Rajamangala University of Technology has announced it will close until tomorrow and further information on whether it will resume classes on Monday or not will be provided later.

Pathumwan Institute of Technology, meanwhile, has decided to close until Monday.

Other schools close to the red shirt rally site were also ordered to defer opening, said Mr Chinnaworn.

Schools facing delays in beginning term would have to arrange extra catch-up classes, he said.

Parents and students are encouraged to call the ministry's hotline number 1579 if they have any queries.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul said the BMA has also decided to postpone indefinitely the soft opening of the Bus Rapid Transit system.

The BMA was initially set to begin the free BRT service today.