Thousands of retired teachers to be rehired

“They will continue teaching at their schools until the end of the 2017 academic year, or in other words for six more months,” Obec secretary general Boonrux Yodpheth said yesterday. 
He said the re-employment of retiring teachers was aimed at easing a shortage during the upcoming re-allocation of staff. 
Up to 19,962 teachers at 11,326 schools across the country reached their mandatory retirement age on September 30. 
“We will fill all vacancies vacated by retirees. We have already got the approval to do so. But it will take time to find replacements,” Boonrux said. 
Various projects are already in place to fill the vacancies. For example, the local-development teacher project will choose 4,830 new teachers, he added. 
“We can assure you that there will be adequate teachers for students when the second semester begins on November 1,” Boonrux said. 
Earlier, Preecha Tunapong, director of Pracha Samakkee School in Phitsanulok province, revealed on social media that he was the only teacher left following the retirement of four colleagues. 
“It will take about two months to find replacements. So in the meantime, I would like to call on qualified volunteers to come forward and help conduct classes for children,” he said.