Hundreds of alumni, students and parents gathered again this morning at a prestigious private all-boys school to protest the removal of two popular administrators.
About 500 people gathered at Bangkok Christian College for the second protest in three months as thousands of parents reportedly withheld tuition to demand the reinstatement of a former school director and manager removed in the wake of an internal dispute over a land deal.
Rocked by outpouring of anger, Bangkok Christian College cancels classes (Video)
A parent identified only as Anongnart told reporters that protesters want the school to reinstate former school director Suphakit Jitklongsub and manager Watcharapong Apinyanurungsr, who were sacked following allegations of impropriety.
Protestors, who gathered on the school’s football field, want the school to set up a committee to conduct a credible investigation of the land dispute deal. Anongnart said that many students have been unhappy since the removal of Suphakit – a popular administrator who made headlines earlier this year for initiating the elite’s school “no-uniform Tuesdays.”
The school canceled classes when the first such protest was staged in late August but remained open today. Someone answering the phone at the school said students attended classes as usual once the protest concluded.
In a more stinging form of protest, parents of about 4,000 of the school’s 5,000 students, or 80% of the student body, has not paid tuition for their second term, which multiple media outlets say is the first such protest at the school.
In one clever bit of timing, at least to this reporter, the school just handed out report cards Saturday, meaning it cannot use them as leverage with the families.
กลุ่มผู้ปกครอง-นักเรียนและศิษย์เก่า กรุงเทพคริสเตียนฯ ชุมนุมอีกครั้งในนามกลุ่ม #SaveBCC เรียกร้องชี้แจงเหตุย้าย ผอ.คนเก่า https://t.co/iDlaJObX25 pic.twitter.com/3dD6zelCKX
— Workpoint News (@workpointnews) October 28, 2019
School director Bangjong Rangsaksa told reporters today that he would not personally talk to the protestors for he had “already done so.”
“I already talked to them. They don’t have to see me today. I already told them that my responsibility is making sure classes resume as normal,” he said before quickly walking away as soon as protest cheers start next to his interview.
Bangjong did participate in a later meeting between the school board, parent representatives and members of the Save BCC campaign. Secretary of the Private Education Commission, Attaphon Treuktrong, presided. As of publication time, the meeting was still ongoing
The Save BCC campaign was organized after two admins were removed from their positions after being accused of mishandling a THB70 million (US$2 million) deal to acquire another Christian school in the northeastern province of Bueng Kan.
After word reached parents, alumni and students the Save BCC campaign was launched in late August.
The 167-year-old school was established by American Presbyterian missionaries and moved to its present location in 1902, according to its website. Graduates of the elite school maintain a close-knit community.
Related:
Rocked by outpouring of anger, Bangkok Christian College cancels classes (Video)
Viral photos of Thai students taking exams in traditional attire fuel ongoing uniform discussion
