40 Thai schools close as southern violence intensifies

from The Nation:

Over 40 schools in Narathiwat closed after teacher slain by militants

Narathiwat - Over 40 schools in the Rusoh district are closed Thursday with no schedule for reopening after a female teacher was killed by a drive-by shooting on Wednesday.

Phairaj Saengthong, director of Narathiwat's Education Zone 1, said the schools stopped teaching because teachers feared about their safety and because they wanted to mourn the death of the female teacher.

Kulthida Inchampa, 33, acting deputy director of Lamoh School, was shot dead by militants while she was riding her motorcycle home after classes.

Phairaj said Kulthida had been teaching in the area for over 10 years and had a role for education development in the area.