The Good Shepherd Foundation’s charity schools have been making headlines lately, as raids have unfolded against them in what appears to be a coordinated effort. This week, the BanYa Literacy Centre in Srisoonthorn found itself under scrutiny as officials from the Thalang District Office, led by none other than District Chief Siwat Rawangkun, descended upon the small establishment. With Deputy District Chief for Security Chaiporn Yangchin and village leaders in tow, they conducted a thorough inspection of the literacy centre nestled in Village 6.
The visit, as outlined in a succinct report from the Thalang District Office, aimed to investigate the centre’s operations as a school for children of Myanmar migrants. However, in a twist that raises more questions than answers, no concrete explanation for the raid emerged, nor did the officials highlight any specific irregularities that demanded their attention.
The Good Shepherd Foundation has been a remarkable presence in Phuket for decades, offering education and support to disadvantaged children while enjoying, or so it seemed, the tacit approval of local officials. So why the sudden change of heart? This crackdown comes hot on the heels of a similar raid on the Good Shepherd Phuket Town school, a haven for children in Soi Kingkaew, one of Phuket’s most impoverished locales, providing them with free education and meals.
In what seems like a pre-emptive move to quell public outcry, officials held a press conference where Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong defended the raids. He acknowledged that although the Good Shepherd Phuket Town school had been ordered to cease formal teaching, it was still allowed to offer activities for children. Yet, his words seemed to dance around the root cause of the scrutiny.
The motivation behind these sudden inspections remains shrouded in mystery, but the timing is intriguing. It coincides with an upswell of anti-Myanmar migrant sentiment sweeping through Thai social media, with allegations that migrant workers are mercilessly snatching jobs away from Thai nationals. This sentiment, captured by The Phuket News, suggests that the raids might be feeding into a larger narrative.
Attempting to brush off accusations of racial bias, Vice Governor Adul made it clear: If the school is caught operating outside the lines of legality, it could face the slap of a fine reaching up to 20,000 baht, a year in jail, or both. The stakes, as they say, are high.
In a related ripple, the director of a Catholic-run school in Phuket has taken issue with a foreign YouTuber’s depiction of a Myanmar community in the province as a “slum.” The contentious video on the Ride with Gabi YouTube channel portrays an expansive Myanmar migrant community living in cramped, challenging conditions, forking over roughly 3,600 baht per month for shelter and utilities. Despite these adversities, the community boasts a school helmed by a Myanmar national, offering free education, meals, and the sweet salvation of air-conditioned classrooms for young migrant children. It’s a support system that provides a glimmer of hope and opportunity amidst uncertainty.
As these events unfold, they paint a complex picture of social dynamics and governance in Phuket. The ripples from these raids reach far beyond the schools themselves, nudging every stakeholder—from officials to the general public—into a dialogue about education, migration, and community support. The conversation continues, with many questions hanging unanswered in the humid Phuket air.
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