Academics on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the appointment of members and supporters of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), including chairwoman Tida Tawornseth, to subcommittees for the Office of the Education Council.

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Assoc. Prof Sompong Jitradub, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of education, demanded the Education Ministry review its appointment of the UDD members to the council’s subcommittees, saying when it came to education the ministry should have appointed people with non-political roles as well as those who are rational and widely regarded as experts in their fields, not political extremists. 

He said the subcommittees’ core task should aim at improving educational policies and instill a learning attitude in young people. Political activists should not be included. 

Mrs Tida should not accept any position in the agency, even though the subcommittee members had a limited role. This indicated the tendency for politics to play a more important role in education, he added.

Education Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech on July 18 approved the appointment of UDD leaders and core members in several Education Council subcommittees. For example, Mrs Tida and Thammasat University law lecturer Worapol Prommikabutr, who had addressed red-shirt supporters at rallies, were appointed to a subcommittee on policy and planning; Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's sister Yaowaret joins a subcommittee on empowering girls in academic institutes and Worachet Pakeerut, leader of the Nitirat group, is on a subcommittee on education law. Mr Worachet has denied accusations that he is a red shirt, however, the UDD rank and file tend to count him as one of them.

Others included former candidates and members of the Pheu Thai Party including a UDD lawyer.

Reports said members of the public could view the lists of the appointed subcommittees on the Office of the Education Council’s website at http://www.onec.go.th/onec_administrator/uploaded/Category/OECBoard/AnuBoardSapha2555UpdJul55-27-07-2012.pdf, but the link was later deleted after the media started covering the issue.

The name list can, however, be downloaded at:

http://www.posttoday.com/media/files/AnuBoardSapha2555UpdJul55-27-07-2012.pdf