A deputy director of an elementary school in Phetchabun province apologized on Friday after one of its teachers put a shameful sign on a student to remind his parents that the tuition is due.
In a story that has been widely criticized on social media this week, a boy had a message “I haven’t paid my THB700 (US$22) tuition yet” written on clear tape across his chest.
Arisara Pattanagoon, the deputy director of Phetchabun Municipality School, said an investigation will be launched against the teacher, whose name was not revealed, and apologized that the teacher’s method to collect tuition has upset the boy’s parents and the public.
While public education is free in Thailand, some schools may collect small fees from the parents to pay for extra activities. However, the fees could be waived for families who can’t afford them.
The school’s apology came after the boy’s angered mother posted about the incident online. In a post that went viral Thursday, the mother explained that her son got bullied all because of the teacher’s method.
“Do you know how emotionally scarring this is for a child? How did you even become a teacher? Tuition overdues are the parents’ responsibility, not the student’s,” she wrote.
Thai netizens were quick to also express their anger.
Arisara said that a committee will be set up to handle future tuition transactions.
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