Min of Social Development to establish university for senior citizens

BANGKOK, 14 April 2014, (NNT) - On the occasion of the national senior citizen day on April 13th, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security says it is planning to establish a university for the elderly as well as quality-of-life- and career-development centers for the group nationwide.

The Minister of Social Development and Human Security Pawena Hongsakul said several countries are becoming societies of senior citizen, citing Thailand and Singapore as examples of the ASEAN member countries.

According to the 2013 data, senior citizens constitute 13% of Thailand’s population, implying the nation would become a fully-fledged society of the elderly within the next 7 years. To better embrace and benefit from the prospect, the ministry is planning to establish a university for the senior citizen, the minister said, saying such a feat was well received in China and New Zealand.

Aside from the college, the ministry is also proposing to erect centers to ensure the quality of life and career development for the elderly throughout the nation, aimed at integrating them into various units of the community, providing a wide range of activities for them to partake, and acting as hubs for passing knowledge from one generation to the next. The project is estimated to cost one billion baht.

Minister Pawena expects that within 3 years a center would be established in every district nationwide, adding that currently 99 such centers have already been set up in 73 provinces of the kingdom.

-- NNT 2014-04-14

Give them a descent pension first and then be worried about their education.

Big statements for nothing.......usual in Thailand.

Erm...... Didn't someone teach this goon that education is for people who want to grow a career??

What the hell does a pensioner need a university education for?

These politicians just crease me up..... They have a crap education system for kids and they are worried about grandma and grandpa's education.

Somebody wake me up after all this is over and we have a proper government back again.

Hurry up Cons court and NACC.

There comes a time when enough is enough, the Thai educational standards are very poor now , so improving the senior citizens lot is not going to improve the skills out put for the next generation, the whole context of this comment , me thinks ,is that they are thirteen days behind time, the problem starts when you do risk assessment, the bothersome topic of I can't remember , sets in

The Minister of Social Development appears to have missed the last couple of years of university or maybe he is confused by the bingo afternoon in ''old folk homes'' he visited and thought they were learning math.

A university for the elderly, will they be provided room and board, transport to and from school, health and dental care or will they be a North Korea model education system?

The proposed centers may be able to double as child care centers also as many of the elderly are taking care of the offspring of their grandchildren. Why is a budget even needed, the village funds that the PTP have been passing out should handle this example of political brainstorming.

why not set up an apprenticeship scheme so the elderly can learn a trade, like roofing...

Edited April 14, 201412 yr by brit1984

The key words in the article is a budget of 1billion baht.Wonder where that will go,and does it mean if grannies graduate we will see them in the bars.

These would be the same elderly who stopped their school at P6 or earlier decades ago ?

The key words in the article is a budget of 1billion baht.Wonder where that will go,and does it mean if grannies graduate we will see them in the bars.

sshhhhh the people who paid for their education outside Thailand already know where the 1 Billion will go. The buffalos don't need to get worried or upset about it. Let then enjoy some good positive kindness from the PTP.

Erm...... Didn't someone teach this goon that education is for people who want to grow a career??

What the hell does a pensioner need a university education for?

These politicians just crease me up..... They have a crap education system for kids and they are worried about grandma and grandpa's education.

Somebody wake me up after all this is over and we have a proper government back again.

Hurry up Cons court and NACC.

Imbecile.

Give them a descent pension first and then be worried about their education.

Big statements for nothing.......usual in Thailand.

Keep in mind that old age pensions are multi tiered and the people who have advocated increases in the pension plans have typically been aligned with parties long associated with the former PM of Thailand, Thaksin.

Government employees such as those who work for the EC and NACC enjoy a robust pension plan. Workers from the defined work sector, i.e. those who contribute the 3% share receive reasonable pensions. The basic pension was intended to provide people who did not formally work with some money. Only a small portion of the population falls under the 500 baht program.

How sad that the ignorant and arrogant have emerged from the crevices to criticize. Universities throughout the world offer courses specifically for senior citizens. The courses run the gamut from art appreciation, to geriatric health and social services subjects, to basic financial management. The courses offered provide valuable information and training to older people. Continued education also keeps the elderly functioning. Senior citizens can and do contribute to society through mentoring and volunteering. The proposed facilities are part of an integrated approach to keeping seniors active so that they don't become a burden, but are instead treated as the asset that they are.

The key words in the article is a budget of 1billion baht.Wonder where that will go,and does it mean if grannies graduate we will see them in the bars.

sshhhhh the people who paid for their education outside Thailand already know where the 1 Billion will go. The buffalos don't need to get worried or upset about it. Let then enjoy some good positive kindness from the PTP.

Credit doesn't go exclusively to the PTP. The old age strategy had input from a diverse number of interest groups. if you do not put a value on continuing education or the potential of senior citizens, then you obviously haven't been keeping abreast of socio economic changes around the world.

If they had a similar scheme back home my grandad would have graduated with a degree in roll-ups and telling me " You don't know you're bloody born" with a minor in Saturday afternoon wrestling and horse racing on ITVs World of Sport.

I can see all of the old people here really excited about the idea of going to university. They may have to put their teeth in so that they can be understood. And the idea of again being able to study english is so pleasing that they are almost giggly! The grandmas are happy about buying a new bra to lift their breasts from their knees and of course going to school wearing those sex uniforms puts a smile on their faces.

Sorry, but,... no money to study,... to busy, too....

It will be Ok - if they teach political science and what good governance is all about - OH! sorry we are talking about PTP here aren't we so you can forget that - guess the first compulsory course will be:

"What Thaksin and his brown-nosing hanger-on's can do for you) 101# - taught in 5 easy to understand modules.

We are the greatest - 10 hours

what we will do for you - 10 hours

How to grow rice and give it to the government - 5 hours

How to use your free computers - 2 hours

An introduction to the first car buyers scheme - 3 hours

Other subject matter will also be discussed forced on you.

At the completion of this course the students will have a good understanding of how to enrich Thaksin and his acolytes at the expense of the population.

85% attendance is required

pass mark is 60% or what ever you score on receipt of a brown envelope.

waste of time & money!

Thailand - Hub of wasted resources!!