“If you don’t stop, you may be summoned,” Dapong said yesterday.

Last week, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued an order that paves away for the centralisation of power in the educational sector, with Dapong heading the Educa-tional Reform Steering Committee and provincial governors heading provincial education committees.

In the wake of the drastic order, rumours have swirled during the past week.

Dapong yesterday dismissed the rumour that the Educational Reform Steering Committee was preparing to transfer teachers to local administrative bodies and strip them of their civil servant status.

“It’s also untrue that we are planning to revoke teaching licences and teachers’ academic ranks as well as associated allowances,” he said.

He also denied a rumour that the Office of the Welfare Promotion Com-mission for Teachers and Educational Personnel would be abolished and teachers would be forced to receive welfare services via the social security system.

Dapong said the rumours had caused panic among teachers but he was not sure whether people behind them had a hidden agenda.

“I would like to ask them to stop spreading groundless information,” the education minister said. “If they don’t stop, I may have to summon them.”

Dapong also downplayed concerns that provincial governors might lack the academic background to do the job properly.

“Provincial governors are all well-qualified. In addition, they are not supposed to directly organise educational services. They are the ones who supervise and integrate educational works,” he said.

Dapong said he was confident the members of each 22-member provincial education committee had the credentials to handle the task.

“I am sure they won’t go astray,” he said in response to rumours that provincial education committees would install mafia figures in education-related offices. In relation to the structural overhaul, Dapong said discussions had already been held between him and the Office of the Pubic Sector Development Commission.

“We also welcome opinions and recommendations from others,” he said.

He said recommendations could be sent to the Education Ministry via http://www.moe.go.th or the ministry’s hotline 1579.