A 15-year-old student at Triam Udom Suksa Phatthakan School in Bangkok, who defied school regulations, has been expelled for allegedly not reporting to school within the deadline, after she was released from a remand home.
In a statement, jointly issued yesterday (Wednesday) by the basic education committee of the school, the alumni association, the parents association and the student council, the committee said that the student in question, Yok, did not bring her mother with her as required when she had to report to school by the June 10th deadline, after her release from Baan Pranee remand home in Nakhon Pathom where she was being held on a lèse majesté charge. She has, however, been allowed to attend class since May 22nd.
The committee said, however, that the school does not have her record in their system and, therefore, she does not have the status of a student.
The committee also explained that all students, including Yok, had been notified to comply with the school regulations outlined in the student’s manual, which was approved at a public hearing held by the school networks.
It also said that all the students have complied with the regulations, except Yok, who does not wear the student uniform, has dyed her hair and is attending classes at her own convenience. She has also refused to participate in the flag-hoisting ritual in the morning and other group activities.
“The school has never rejected a student and has taken care of all students to its utmost ability, although some students are not cooperative in improving their behaviour,” said the committee in the statement.
The BBC Thai news service, however, reported that, on May 20th, Yok was accompanied by Bung Taluwang, political activist Tantawan Tuatulanon, a member of the National Human Rights Commission and a Move Forward party member to the school to report to attend class, following her release.
Netiporn has claimed that he acted as Yok’s custodian, with which the school had no problem and agreed to allow the student to return to school, according to the BBC.
When asked by a BBC reporter about Yok’s parents, Bung Taluwang claimed that he was told by the student that she no longer lives with her parents, but did not elaborate.
The BBC further reported that, on June 9th, the school told Yok to bring her mother with her, to properly report to attend class as required, or she would face expulsion.
Quoting Netiporn, the BBC reported that, on June 13th, Yok was approached by two school administrators and four teachers, who informed her that she was no longer a student of the school, but Yok resisted, claiming her basic right to an education.
On June 14th, Yok returned to the school with some members of the Taluwang activist group, but found the front gate locked. She finally climbed over the fence to get into the school.
According to the BBC report, Yok claims that the dress code and hair style are not an indicator of her academic performance. She insists that, in order to instil the concept of rights and liberties in youth, it must begin at schools.
