PHITSANULOK : The principal of a high school in Wat Bot district will be transferred to an inactive post after pupils accused him of harassing six female pupils.
Students of Wat Bot School in Phitsanulok rally yesterday to demand the replacement of their school director, who they said sexually harassed a number of pupils. In response, authorities have transferred him to an inactive post and launched an investigation. CHINNAWAT SINGHA
About 100 students of Wat Bot Sueksa School gathered in front of the school's shrine yesterday at 9.30am, demanding the removal of their headmaster Samarn Sareekham.
The students demanded authorities investigate the accusations against Mr Samarn.
Ploy Konesantia, a Mathayom 6 (Grade 12) student who led the protest, said the principal had harassed at least six students, mostly in Mathayom 2 and 3.
Ploy said the girls accused Mr Samarn of groping their arms and fondling their hair.
Mr Samarn also joined a group of female students who were talking about their dreams while on school premises, and shared with them an indecent story about one of his dreams, she said.
One of the girls said the principal offered to take her home in his car but drove elsewhere and then asked her not to tell her parents.
He also telephoned her every Friday to ask her out, she said.
She said Mr Samarn gave her a tablet computer to play with while travelling in his car and claimed he tried to touch her.
Ploy said she did not consider Mr Samarn's behaviour to be tantamount to sexual molestation, but thinks it was highly inappropriate and unacceptable.
The group had written to Somkiat Boonrod, director of the Secondary Educational Service Area Office 39, through his deputy Suchon Wichiansawan.
The students agreed to disperse and attend classes after Mr Suchon told them the allegations would be investigated and Mr Samarn would be transferred to an inactive post from today. He would also be moved out of the area within two weeks.
Mr Samarn could not be reached for comment.