It's about time!

I have witnessed on too many occasions, perfectly able female students being forced to leave public high schools due to being pregnant, even in the early stages. The usual rationale given is that the school do not want to be embarrassed by having a pregnant girl matriculating in front of other students, and thus setting a bad example.

So far as I'm concerned, barring a pregnant teenage girl from studying at a public school makes about as much sense as also barring the father of the baby from studying.

If anything, pregnant girls at schools must be encouraged to keep studying until giving birth, as once the baby is born, there will be little time for the mother to study.

Paul

Alien contribution

Aliens have resided in Thailand for centuries. Over a century ago, at the behest of benign rulers like King Rama V, they were asked to introduce Western technologies to modernise the country, even to the extent of being appointed to exalted royal positions for their efforts. As of late, I have not witnessed any such worthy endeavours. Instead, the ogres of commercialisation and environmental abuse (despite associated "impact assessments"), among other disamenities, reduce this formerly lovely country to a shadow of its former self.

Ellis O'Brien

Vegan alternative

Re: "Half of Bangkok's population are obese!" (Online, Feb 18).

One thing I like about Chiang Mai is that it's one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities I've ever visited. Some vegan restaurants here do tremendous business. Yesterday, in a period of five minutes, I walked into a McDonald's restaurant and then I walked into Vegan Heaven restaurant and saw Vegan Heaven had over twice as many customers. So why doesn't McDonald's follow the example of Burger King and serve vegetarian burgers, which would no doubt attract some of the people who are going to vegan restaurants?

In light of the fact that your newspaper reported that "Over half the people in Bangkok are obese", doesn't the health department have a responsibility to promote more vegan options in restaurants since obesity is rare among vegans? Instead, the irrelevant health department is only promoting useless and dangerous Covid vaccines.

Eric Bahrt

Thanks for the nod

Re: "Right man for the job", (PostBag, Feb 20).

I sincerely thank my good friend Khun Songdej Praditsmanont for suggesting that I should help vet expats wishing to improve the English competence of our students.

I would be honoured to help and know that Khun Songdej -- one of the University of London's most illustrious alumni -- is most qualified to join in such efforts.

With elections looming, debates in English on topics of the day would arouse tremendous interest and help audiences in deciding who to vote for.

Issues should include, for example: Should our provincial governor be appointed or elected? Should the police in our province report to our governor or to Bangkok? What did His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great mean when he said, "The use of the lese-majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy"? Should PM Prayut reveal Khun Vicha Mahakun panel's report on reforming the Royal Thai Police and public prosecutor's office? Why do we consistently lag the rest of Asean in our GDP growth rate?

Burin Kantabutra