Police have not ruled out arson just yet. Khong Piangthaisong, 55, the villager who alerted police, said villagers usually patrol the school from 6pm to 1am every day.

He saw smoke rising from the old wooden school building after all the guards had gone home, and the flames spread so quickly that by the time the fire engine arrived the whole building had burned down and nothing was left to secure.

He insisted that there was no conflict between the school and the community, which had just raised funds via merit-making to help replace the school's wiring and fix its roof. It was built in 1973. He thought a short circuit was likely to blame.

The province's educational zone 3 director estimated losses at Bt1.2 million and said his office would set up temporary classrooms, while a proposal for financial support to put up a new building was proceeding.

Chaiyaphum police commander Maj-General Termpong Sitthiprasert said police had not identified the cause of the fire yet pending their processing at the scene and examination by forensic officers. The school building had three classrooms accommodating 45 students from kindergarten to the sixth grade.