New director takes over at troubled AC

St Gabriel's Foundation yesterday named the new director of the Assumption College (AC) to control the damage following recent protests by teachers.

Surasit Sukchai took the AC helm yesterday, in line with an order signed by the foundation's chairman, Sirichai Fonseka.

The former director of AC, Anant Prichavudhi, has been suspended from duty and a fact-finding committee will soon be established.

"The committee will identify problems after which we will seek sustainable solutions," the order said.

Anant ran into trouble following his reaction to an imminent protest by teachers with an order to suspend AC classes at the time students were about to sit final exams.

AC teachers had planned the protest against him on several grounds including his refusal to increase their monthly pay in line with government policy, his alleged lack of transparency in developing the Rama II campus, and his plan to merge the AC primary and secondary sections.

AC teacher Supawadee Khamfuekfon said Anant's removal was one of six demands made by the teachers.

"The foundation has not yet addressed the welfare issue," she said.

St Gabriel's Foundation holds the licences to operate 17 schools including AC. Established more than a century ago, AC is a famous males-only school.

Sitthichai Parinyanusorn, a teacher and spokesman of the Save the AC Group, yesterday described Anant's removal as the first success for his group.

He had hoped that Surasit would be able to solve other problems at the school.

Surasit worked at the AC previously and was well known to several AC teachers.

Sittichai said his group planned to ask its members to stop donning a black bow - a sign of protest - out of respect for Surasit.

Surasit will have a meeting with teachers of the AC secondary section tonight.