Music Teacher Suspended After Assaulting Four Students

A music teacher at Wat Mae Nang Pluem School under Ayutthaya Municipality has been suspended from duty pending disciplinary and criminal investigation following allegations that he physically assaulted four male students and threatened them with a knife after they declined to join a school sports group activity. The students reported being kicked, having their heads pushed down, and being threatened with a blade. Acting Ayutthaya Municipal Mayor Somthong Sarpakosalakul convened a meeting on September 14 with school officials and the acting school director Onerudthai Chanmala to investigate the incident. The mayor stated that while preliminary disciplinary measures have been applied, the teacher has been placed on suspension pending full investigation and criminal proceedings will follow police procedures. He expressed sincere apologies to the parents, emphasizing that schools serve as second homes for children and must provide the highest standard of care. The municipality plans to implement stricter safety protocols across all eight municipal schools to prevent similar incidents. Although the mayor has not yet met the children and families directly, the acting director has contacted all parents, and multiple organizations, including the Paveena Hongsakhul Foundation, have offered support. The school director noted that the accused teacher has been a dedicated, responsible educator who arrives early and conducts music and band rehearsals after school, having won national competitions and brought recognition to the school. However, she stated she had never witnessed the reported behavior and expressed shock upon learning of the allegations, immediately visiting parents to hear their account and apologize for what occurred.