Surin SESAO Director clarifies Laos trip controversy

Thairath•Society•14h ago

Reader Briefing

The Director of the Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office denied allegations that a trip to Laos was a government mission, stating participants paid privately and acted voluntarily.

•The Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office (SESAO) refuted claims from the 'STRONG Anti-Corruption Club Thailand' Facebook page regarding a forced Laos trip.
•The trip, scheduled for July 24-27, 2026, costs 8,500 baht per person and is funded by participants' private money.
•The activity was organized by the Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association to honor retired executives.
•Participants are required to use personal leave rather than official government travel documents.

Overview

•The Facebook page 'STRONG Anti-Corruption Club Thailand' posted that the Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office was mobilizing directors to take a Laos tour between July 24-27, 2026, by charging 8,500 baht per person.
•Chawalit Jencharoen, Director of the Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office, stated the activity is not a government mission and does not use state budget.
•The Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office instructed administrators wishing to travel to use personal leave and did not permit the use of official government travel letters.
•Chawalit Jencharoen reported that personal leave requests are being collected and no travel has been approved yet pending careful regulatory review.
•Boonsak Boonjong, President of the Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association, confirmed the trip is a recurring activity for retiring executives where participants join voluntarily.
•Patipol Jamlong, a participating school director, stated the invitation was a request for cooperation and denied any coercion or forced mobilization.
•The Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association organized the trip to meet and show appreciation to retired executives.

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Key Entities

Person

Chawalit Jencharoen(ชวลิต เจนเจริญ)

Director of the Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office.

Boonsak Boonjong(บุญศักดิ์ บุญจง)

President of the Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association.

Patipol Jamlong(ปฏิพล จำลอง)

A school director who volunteered to participate in the Laos trip.

Organization

Surin Secondary Educational Service Area Office(สำนักงานเขตพื้นที่การศึกษามัธยมศึกษาสุรินทร์)

The educational agency whose director refuted claims about the Laos tour.

STRONG Anti-Corruption Club Thailand(ชมรม STRONG ต้านทุจริตประเทศไทย)

A Facebook page that posted allegations regarding the Laos trip.

Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association(สมาคมผู้บริหารโรงเรียนมัธยมศึกษาจังหวัดสุรินทร์)

The association that organized the trip to honor retired executives.

Place

Laos(ลาว)ℹ️

The destination of the trip organized by the Surin Province Secondary School Administrators Association.