Woman, 40, a teacher in Thailand, allegedly overworked & committed suicide, inquiry set up

A 40-year-old Thai woman, who was an English teacher in Chiang Mai, Thailand, allegedly committed suicide on Jan. 26 after she was overworked.

Her boyfriend, Surasit Maneejansuk, also known as "Ton", a police officer, posted a tribute to her on her Facebook profile on Feb. 2.

He alleged that his girlfriend, Sarinya Tayot, known as "Kru Por" or "Teacher Por", was overburdened by work assigned to her by her superiors.

She was allegedly handling accounting and financial work on top of her regular duties as an English teacher.

Ton stated in the post that she "was not mentally ill or depressed in any way".

He wrote that the only problem was "stress from accounting and financial work she was given at the school".

He added: "I urge those involved in the Thai education system to verify such facts. Don't remain silent as if nothing had happened."

Circumstances that led to her death

According to Tayot's Facebook page, she had been teaching at Sankamphaeng School, an elite public school in Chiang Mai, for more than nine years.

Ton told Thai TV Channel 3 that last Thursday started like any other workday.

The couple went to work in the morning, but Tayot never returned home.

At around 8pm, Ton began to worry as he could not contact Tayot, and she was normally home well before then, reported Bangkok Post.

He went to her workplace to look for her, but the night staff told him that she had left at around 9am and had not been seen since.

Ton panicked and searched for her throughout the night.

She was later found dead in her smoke-filled car near a public park.

Was called for a meeting with principal

In his Facebook post, Ton alleged that on the day of her death, "the principal of Sankamphaeng School called her for a meeting, she then impulsively left the school".

She then attempted suicide afterwards, he added.

He also stated that he had evidence that can be verified and said: "Do not let good people die in vain because of powerful individuals who intimidate and pressure lower-ranking officials into doing whatever they want".

Authorities would investigate

On Feb. 3, the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Thailand said it would fully investigate the circumstances that led to the Tayot's death, reported Bangkok Post.

OBEC secretary-general Phichet Phophakdee expressed his condolences and said the committee would investigate the matter.

Top photo from Yarin S. Tayot/Facebook