Schools in southern Thailand resumes

PATTANI, December 2 (TNA) - Around 300 schools in Thailand’s southern province of Pattani will resume Monday, after a week’s closing since the shooting death of a female school director in Nong Chik district. Boonsom Thongsriplai, chairman of the Southern Border Provinces Teacher Federation, made the announcement and ensured of new security plans to safeguard teachers. Also, Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana approved last week an increase to teacher welfare benefits to boost morale in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. At least 66 teachers in Pattani have so far been killed and up to 46 others wounded since the renewed insurgency began in January 2004. (TNA)