Fight Against Extortionate Student Lunch Prices at City Schools in Bangkok

The outcry of Pheu Thai Party MP, Jirayu Huangsap, has influenced Governor Chadchart Sittipunt of Bangkok to take action against the extortionate student lunch prices in city schools. After the director of the Bang Chan School was arrested by the police Anti-Corruption Division, Mr Jirayu called out the Bangkok governor to investigate the issue thoroughly and take serious action.

What Led to the Arrest?

The cost borne by the contractor in providing student lunches was reflected in high meal prices, which not only caused outrage among students and parents, but prompted Mr Jirayu to file a complaint in November against Governor Chadchart. This prompted the police to intervene and take legal action against the school director, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s Response

Following the incident, Mr Chadchart promptly responded by suspending the school director and taking legal action against him. He also ordered the permanent secretary to investigate the matter further and promised fair treatment to all parties involved. Mr Chadchart then directed his consultant, Gen Niphon Thonglek, to monitor the process of student lunch provisions and to ensure food-quality standards were being met.

A Complaints Platform Created by City Hall

To further investigate and prevent such incidents from occurring again, City Hall offered a complaints platform named Traffy Fondue in order to reduce corruption. Governor Chadchart made it clear that the platform was created to “solve the problem”, implying the need to accept that such an issue existed in the first place.

The Education Minister’s Stance

Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong had ordered the school to be transparent in their lunch provisions with their student population in the future.

In conclusion, the swift action taken by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt of Bangkok has allowed for an investigation of the high student meal prices in city schools. It also shows that City Hall is taking measures to reduce extortion and corruption, as evident with their complaint platform Traffy Fondue. With the Education Minister’s support in enforcing transparency in school lunch provisions, it is hoped that this incident will not be repeated.