14 year old student takes her own life after teacher expels her from school

A 14 year old female student in the southern province of Songkhla has committed suicide after a teacher expelled her from school because of her financial and family problems.

Thai media reported that a 14 year old female student decided to hang herself at a house in Songkhla province on May 13. Her friends told police that she had problems with her family and school. The friends also claimed that a teacher “pressured the girl” and forced her to leave the school.

According to the friend, the girl, named Bonus, studied in Grade 9 at Satri Phatthalung School in Pattalung province. She had ived with her mother in Songkhla and was unable to travel to Pattalung because no one could take her to the bus terminal. So she missed the first class of the semester on May 9.

Bonus’s friends said the teacher didn’t understand the reasons for her absence and said that Bonus would have to leave the school because “she was a problem for teachers”. Friends also told police that Bonus constantly fought with her mother because she didn’t have money for Bonus to study.

Police checked some of the messages between Bonus and her friends. She told friends she didn’t know what to do and said that a teacher expelled her because she didn’t have any guardians who could take care of her in Pattalung, and didn’t have money to pay her own way. She also told friends that she wanted to commit suicide and asked one particular friend to explain the story to others after she died.

The Director of Satri Phatthalung School, Malee Kaewlaiad, spoke to the Thai media claiming that the school was already prepared to help Bonus, but the incident may have happened because of “a misunderstanding and miscommunication” between Bonus and the teacher involved.

The teacher involved claimed she didn’t mean to discourage her student and tried to help her in every way. She told police that she had asked Bonus to bring her mother to the school, and for her to stay in a shelter for children but later found out that Bonus had already taken her life.

The school director says that a committee will be set up to investigate the incident in more detail, admitting that the school wanted to avoid situations like this in the future. Bonus’s family declined an interview with Thai media, saying they were in shock with the loss.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).

SOURCE: Sanook | Bangkokbiznews