The raid on Mathayomwatsing school that disrupted an university entrance examination and injured 12 people will cost the government at least 700,000 baht, as authorities have to scramble to find a new venue to hold another test next Tuesday.
The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) said the cost of arranging the test -- as well as the cost of repairing the damage to school assets -- will be recovered from the 24 suspects, as the commission plans to file lawsuits with the Civil Court.
Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachintorn said Wednesday that Obec came up with the 700,000-baht estimate after it calculated the cost of printing new sets of examination papers for 248 students.
Earlier, the National Institute of Educational Testing Services (Niets) said the students will be allowed to re-sit their test, after a group of drunken men raided the school -- which is located adjacent to Wat Sing in Bangkok's Ekachai Road -- and assaulted both students and teachers on Sunday.
At least 12 students were in the middle of finishing the exam when the group raided the school.
The incident forced Niets to arrange another venue for the Professional and Academic Aptitude Test (PAT) -- which is a requirement for admission to universities -- to Bangpakok Wittayakom School in Rat Burana district. The police are currently assessing the damage and will ask prosecutors to help handle the case, said deputy national police chief Pol Lt Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk.
School director Bunyaphon Phothiwatthanat said tables, chairs and television units at the school were among the items destroyed in Sunday's raid.
So far, 24 suspects -- including four underage boys -- have been detained and are facing charges for trespassing, damaging public property, assault, and consuming alcohol at a temple.
Among them is Wanlop Nuchfaeng, 32, leader of the group, who is also accused of sexually assaulting a student. He offered a tearful apology on the basis he and his mates were drunk. "He denied the charge, but the victim implicated him," Pol Lt Gen Suwat said.