• 
• 

Published on August 1, 2007

Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University student Saowapha Prachoom committed suicide on Sunday night.

She was found dead in her rented room in Muang district. It was reported she was depressed because she was penniless and had been turned down for a student-loan.

But rector Chatchai Sukrakanchana said yesterday that Saowapha's loan had been approved and that the funds would have been transferred into her account by August 3.

He said it was wrong of the student to claim she had been denied a loan.

"Students are denied loans for three reasons only - they resign from the university, choose not to draw it down or die," he added.

In addition, the rector said  Saowapha had already paid Bt7,200 in tuition fees. He added students had choices in settling tuition fees - in advance, after receiving loans or by seeking payment extensions.

Meanwhile, Saowapha's elder brother Anurak believed money was not the issue. He said the family was not poor and another brother "always gave her money".

"I've heard her friends say her grade-point average had fallen and she was worried she might not finish her degree and disappoint our parents," he said.

Wannapa Phetdee

Krisana Chutisawaeng

The Nation