First school for older people opens in Phitsanulok
With ageing of Thai society, schools for older people provide place for sharing knowledge & exchanging ideas.
With ageing of Thai society, schools for older people provide place for sharing knowledge & exchanging ideas.
EDUCATION
First school for older people opens in Phitsanulok
11/05/2016
Chinnawat Singha
PHITSANULOK - A delighted Grandma Sayant Noppakun attended the opening day of Romsamer Witthaya School for older people (senior citizens) on Wednesday.
The school is the first of its kind in this northern province.
(Note: the government Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education does offer education for people in general in many provinces in Thailand (e.g. Chiang Rai) see here).
The grandmother said her life would no longer be so lonely.
The 70-year-old woman said she was so pleased to learn a school for older people was opening in her community.
She seized the opportunity to apply to be in the first batch of students at the school.
Elderly people from eight villages in tambon Samerkhae in Phitsanulok's Muang district enjoy reading books provided by Romsamer Witthaya School, the province's first school for the elderly, which opened on Wednesday. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
LIFE WILL NO LONGER BE SO LONELY
She hoped she could further expand her knowledge and her intellect.
Above all, she would not feel lonely anymore, since her children had all left to find work.
At the school, she could exchange views and idea with other students, she said happily.
OVER 100 PEOPLE APPLIED TO STUDY AT SCHOOL
Mrs Sayant was among over 100 people aged 55 or more from eight villages who applied to study at the school on Wednesday.
Romsamer Witthaya School, run by the tambon administration organisation (TAO), provides a one-year course for older students.
LEARNING GOALS
The local government drew up the school’s curriculum in line with the Second National Plan for Older Persons (2002-2021).
The school was intended to enhance recognition of older people as well as the dignity of older people and improve the quality of their lives.
The older students could benefit from exchanging views with other students of around the same age.
Volunteers, local educational officials and local scholars were invited to share their knowledge and experiences with the elderly students.
WHAT WILL STUDENTS LEARN?
The one-year course included fundamental subjects, general knowledge and informal education.
Each batch of students will attend 20-days of schooling, six hours each day.
The courses will be held once a week, every Friday.
The first semester began this month and ends in September, with the second semester from November to March.
SCHOOL OPENED AFTER YOUNG PEOPLE MOVED AWAY
The TAO decided to open a school for its older citizens after it noticed the many consequences arising from a change in the community’s population demographic, namely that there were more older people and less younger people.
As young people moved away, there were more older people suffering from illness and depression after being left at home alone in their houses.
The school would play a key role in providing education and activities suited to older people.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/968485/first-school-for-the-elderly-opens-in-phitsanulok
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