A school director in Chon Buri province accused of inflating the number of students in the school's lunch programme to pocket more state subsidies could face disciplinary and criminal charges for corruption.
A preliminary investigation found irregularities in the programme that were likely committed by Nipawan Suwannoi, the director of Wat Mai Noen Phayom School in Sri Racha district, according to Kosol Prathumchat, an Education Ministry adviser.
The scandal came to light after a teacher at the school filed a complaint with the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec).
Obec ordered Primary Educational Service Area 3 in Chon Buri to set up a committee to investigate the matter.
Mr Kosol said an initial investigation found grounds for corruption as the total number of students enrolled in the school and the number registered for school lunches did not match. Mr Kosol did not reveal the numbers.
"The number of students registered in the school lunch programme was higher than the number of students enrolled in school.
"This means the number in the free lunch scheme was almost certainly fabricated so the school could gain more benefit from meal subsidies," Mr Kosol said.
The school lunch programme is funded by the Department of Local Administration Promotion. A budget of 20 baht a day is allotted for each student, but management of this meal fund is the responsibility of the director of each school.
The fund goes toward buying ingredients and cooking the meals.
Mr Kosol said the investigation committee conducted a quality audit of the lunch programme and found the lunches were nutritious and hygienic.
"Although students are served decent lunches, corruption is corruption. Someone must be held to account for the wrongdoing," he said.
Mr Kosol said if the school director is found guilty, she would face severe disciplinary punishment and the ministry would bring criminal and civil lawsuits against her.
Mr Kosol said the ministry has asked area offices nationwide to see if the same problem exists elsewhere.
