Published on July 16, 2005

A school in Yala’s Muang district was closed yesterday after it was damaged by a bomb blast during Thursday night’s series of attacks in the province.

An electricity pole was broken in half by the blast and was blocking Ban Pongjeurai School’s entrance, school director Khaneung Thongwaen said yesterday.

The explosion also caused cracks in the school building, smashed windows, and caused computer malfunctions, Khaneung said.

As a result, the director said that classes were cancelled yesterday, effecting 437 students and 24 teachers.

Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik said there was no need to close other schools in Yala.

“I’ve already instructed school officials to be on the guard and there is no need to order the schools closed at the moment. We first have to wait and see,” he said. Adisai said the some 1,700 teachers who requested to be transferred out of the three southernmost provinces would be replaced on Monday.

He said teachers now being rotated around the region seemed to feel better, as the system allowed them to work closer to their homes.

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