A secondary school in southern Thailand will close its campus for two days and switch to online classes after a former foreign teacher allegedly posted a firearm-related threat on social media.
Hatyaiwittayalai School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, announced that all classes would be held online on Monday and Tuesday as a precautionary measure. The school has around 3,600 students and 250 teachers and staff.
School director Thitiwit Meechooworapong said the decision was made to protect students and employees following what the school described as a threatening post by a former teacher.
The individual was identified as Pieter Johannes Dreyer, who previously taught English to students enrolled in the school’s English programme.
According to the school, Dreyer’s employment was terminated on July 24 after management determined that he had breached the terms of his contract.
The director said that following his dismissal, Dreyer allegedly shared a photograph showing a firearm, along with written messages and an audio recording, in a public LINE group.
School management considered the material to constitute a threat against students, teachers and members of the administration.
The school subsequently reported the matter to Hat Yai police, while additional security measures were introduced around the 81-year-old campus on Phetkasem Road.
Police said the foreign national had already left Thailand on July 19 and had not returned to the country.
The school said the temporary closure and move to online learning were intended as precautionary measures while authorities dealt with the reported threat.
