All schools in Pattani province are to be closed indefinitely following increasing attacks on teachers, while teachers in Narathiwat and Yala are wondering whether to follow the move.

The decision was made during a meeting of Pattani teachers in the wake of the brutal killings of two senior teachers by suspected militants earlier this week, Boonsom Thongsriplai, chairman of the Teachers' Federation in Pattani, said yesterday.

"The decision will affect all 336 schools, ranging from elementary to high schools, in the province," he said. "The closure will start on Monday. We have to close the schools indefinitely because no one can guarantee teachers' safety."

Non Chaisuwan, a 48-year-old school director, was shot by suspected militants while sitting in his parked car on Friday. The car was then burnt with Non still alive inside.

On Thursday, Suradet Wassadaeng, 40, a teacher at Baan Don Rak School in Pattani was gunned down. Police found his body riddled with bullets. "We have no choice. Teachers have become prime targets of the militants. We are well aware the closure will affect our students, but we believe that solving educational problems is easier than tackling the problem of our safety," Boon-som said, adding that teachers were afraid to even leave their houses.

Pattani Governor Panu Uthairat has been informed of the decision, said Boonsom.

"We hope that the authorities will understand and respect our decision on the matter," he said.

Teachers in Narathiwat and Yala will meet soon to discuss whether they should close their schools, he added.

Sa-nguan Intararak, secretary-general of the Teachers' Federation in Narathiwat, said teachers and school administrators would meet soon to consider their next move.

"We will meet to determine necessary measures for our students should we have to close the schools in the province," he said, adding that if the violence continued teachers would have to find ways to secure their safety.

Schools in Narathiwat have been closed from time to time as a result of the daily violence in the province.

Sunya Suwannapo, president of Teachers' Federation in Yala, said teachers in three districts, Bannang Sata, Than To and Yaha, which have been classified as "red zones", had already intensified calls for their schools to be temporarily closed.

However, he said most schools that had been affected by violence were located in the province's outer ring while those in the central district had not been harmed. He said this would be taken into account if some schools were to be closed.