A Nan primary school teacher on Tuesday was recognized for her dedication to protecting students’ safety by exposing a private firm that supplied spoiled milk to her school.
Chukiat Darnthanasub, director of the Nan Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, presented a "certificate of honour" to Wilaiwan Kongnan at Ban Nam Lee School in tambon Ping Luang of Na Muen district.
He said the award recognised Ms Wilaiwan's good deed, which led to further inspections of the quality of school milk nationwide, and set a good example for government officials and the general public.
On Sept 7, Ms Wilaiwan told the media that Lampang-based UM Food Product Co Ltd supplied spoiled milk to students at her school. She said most of the milk in cartons had curdled even though its expiry date was marked as Feb 21 next year.
A probe conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives found the company supplied milk which had gone off. It also found that U.M. Food Product Co is not a member of the quality school milk producers club. The company had earlier been caught supplying milk that had gone bad to schools in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district.
Before reporting her findings, Ms Wilaiwan said she had been pressured and threatened by people involved with local school milk distribution who did not want her to complain publicly.
The situation forced her to consider moving to another school or quit her job if her request for transfer was not accepted.
"I am glad that my compliant about the milk problem has been fixed. I hope good things will happen to all students across the country, especially those in remote areas," Ms Wilaiwan said after receiving the certificate.
"After this, I will continue to work as a teacher because it is what I love."
Thanachote Wanawat, managing director for UM Food Product, told ASTV-Manager on Tuesday that the bad milk was found in one box out of nine supplied to the Ban Nam Lee School and the company had replaced it.
He said the company had only 0.1% bad milk in its total production line, while the ministry allowed 1% spoiled. He added the factory took the problem seriously and was trying to find the cause of the problem.