Anti-government movements affect over 300,000

BANGKOK, January 27 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Education reports that anti-government demonstrations have affected more than 300,000 students in Bangkok over the past three months. Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang told journalists on Monday that attempts to paralyze Bangkok by political demonstrators have affected 316,982 students and 18,164 teachers, as 934 schools in the capital were closed. Chaturon pointed out that anti-government protesters also broke into the Kurusapa Ladprao press building, under his ministry's Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Education Personnel (OTEP), causing damage worth 141.83 million baht. Besides, OTEP's dormitory and hospital were closed and consequently lost more than 4 million baht worth of income opportunities. Chaturon said that all affected schools have been reopened and their closure should not recur because students' examinations are approaching. According to the caretaker education minister, he has ordered the permanent secretary for education to file a complaint about the serious impacts on students from the anti-government protests with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) because demonstrators had forced schools to close for several days,affecting students' learning, examination preparations and grade advancement.(TNA)