Heady moment for elderly students
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THERE IS no better example to reflect the saying "it's never too late to learn" than the Tuesday graduation ceremony at Thailand's first "school for elderly people" at Wat Phrathat Doi Saket in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district.
As many as 259 seniors with the oldest person being a 92-year-old woman, Chanfong Suksamran were granted their “final period of life degree” upon their completion of courses comprising lessons as well as socially stimulating activities at the Charaban Wuttiwitthayalai School in tambon Choeng Doi.
They were the second batch of graduates 55 of whom got mock bachelor’s degrees, while the remainder got so-called master’s degrees.
Family members and friends showed up to congratulate the beaming students, dressed in graduation gowns, and many posed to take photographs together.
Disathorn Watcharothai, deputy secretary-general of the Royal Household Bureau, who presided over the ceremony, praised the project as an exemplary project that gives importance to older people’s exchange of knowledge and experience.
Choeng Doi Municipality mayor Chaloem Sanpang had established the school on August 28, 2013, which brings older people together to share their knowledge and experience, as well as participate in activities together.
It is hoped that these activities would help old people relax and socialise with each other as well as reduce their chance of developing Alzheimer’s or depression.
The school which holds a class every Wednesday for those over 55 and requires them to have at least 70-per-cent class participation has become an outstanding model for development of an elderly care system, attracting as many as 98 agencies nationwide to visit and learn from it.
