A shock to the education sector: The Director of Surin Secondary Education Office refutes a popular page's claim, explaining that the 8,500 baht Laos tour was not an official duty. All participants voluntarily joined using personal funds to meet and pay respects to retiring executives, with no connection to government budget.
On 21 July 2026, reporters reported that the Facebook page “STRONG Club Against Corruption Thailand,” with over 390,000 followers, posted a message stating, “Secondary Education Office prepares Laos tour, compelling directors to take leave, forbidding official travel letters, collecting 8,500 baht each” for a trip from 24-27 July 2026. This sparked heated online debate, with netizens heavily criticizing the trip’s appropriateness. Some viewed it as a publicity stunt, while others used harsh language attacking the implicated agency.
Following the controversy, reporters visited Mr. Chawalit Jencharoen, Director of Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office, who clarified that the activity was not official duty but organized by the Surin Secondary School Administrators Association without using state funds. Therefore, the office did not permit official travel letters and instructed administrators wishing to travel to use leave rights only. Leave requests are still being collected and no approvals have been granted yet, as decisions must follow strict government regulations.
Mr. Boonsak Boonjong, President of the Surin Secondary School Administrators Association, affirmed the trip was to meet and pay respects to retiring administrators, an annual tradition. All participants joined voluntarily, paying 8,500 baht each from personal funds, with no involvement of government budget.
Meanwhile, Mr. Patipon Jamlong, one of the school directors who signed up for the trip, also confirmed that the invitation letter was merely a request for cooperation, with no coercion or compulsion for administrators to join. He emphasized that the claims linking the Surin Secondary Education Office to the controversy are inaccurate and urged the public to consider all sides before judging or criticizing.