Subsidy cut hits poor schoolkids
Parents in Khon Kaen are upset by a government decision to cut a subsidy to help poor students following the transfer of responsibility for schools from the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) to provincial administrations.
A group of 400 parents yesterday went to Muang Phon Pittayakhom School in Phon district to demand an explanation as to why the subsidy of up to Bt1,400 per head per semester for 430 poor students to cover basic expenses was no longer available. Urged by school director Pethai Jarat to ask officials at Khon Kaen Educational Zone 3 Office, which oversees subsidy payments, parents were told by a senior official, Athipprat Thatpitchayangkul, that it was because the school now came under the provincial administration. Confirming the change, which has deprived the school of Bt43,000 in subsidies, Pethai said the school had contacted Obec and been told that the Educational Zone 3 Office had submitted a budget request, including help for the 430 poor students. Although administration of the school was transferred last November, the regulation clearly stated that the office should provide the subsidy until the first semester in 2007, according to Pethai. The provincial authority did not set aside the funding because it had already agreed the budget last June, he said. Under the Educational Zone 3 Office's jurisdiction, Phon district's Muang Phon Pittayakhom School, Ban Khukhad (Sathit Upatham) and Ban Nong Siew, have all been transferred and have had their subsidies terminated.
The Nation KHON KAEN
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