Thais prove you're never too old to learn as pensioners finally "graduate"

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Thais prove you're never too old to learn as pensioners finally "graduate"

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The first batch of pensioners at a school for the elderly have graduated with flying colors.

 

Some 46 Golden Age men and women received their diplomas at the end of a 12 week course held in Thay Meuang district in Phangnga in the south of Thailand, reported Daily News.

 

Similar schools for the elderly are being held throughout Thailand in a bid to combat loneliness and give the aging more self esteem and sense of self worth.

 

The old boys and girls dress up in school uniforms reminiscent of younger days, do a variety of lessons and go out on day trips. Many

cycle into school promoting good physical fitness.

 

On hand to give out the diplomas was municipal chief Jirawat Phuangjit - and there were more than a few tears of joy among the happy gathering.

 

Jirawat said that the primary aim of the school was to promote a healthy mind and body in the aged. Life skills were also taught so

that the students would have a better and more fulfilling existence, he said.

 

This first batch of students have now completed the course that comprised 4 hours every Thursday for the past 12 weeks.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-02-14

[madusa]

If it is just for fun I guess many old folks will come to study. Anything serious will not be taken up because Thais don't like to be serious in life.

The Thai government had already screwed up their brains when they were in Schools, they were told not to figure out things for themselves and to stand stiff when they hear the national anthem on the public address system.

Now you try to unscrew their brain and get them to learn something? Well, sort of difficult I guess.

[Jeremy50]

Cycling to school, as every student and teacher should. Get out of your damn cars and off your stupid motorbikes.

[rkidlad]

And Thai police prove you're never too old to behave like spoilt children. 

 

 

[Krataiboy]

. . .the primary aim of the school was to promote a healthy mind and body . . .  Life skills were also taught so that the students would have a better and more fulfilling existence.

 

Wonder what the diplomas actually were. The story doesn't say.  Probably just more bits of meaningless paper to frame and proudly stick on the wall alongside those of their children and grandchildren.

 

Schools brainwash. Life teaches. If these ladies haven't learned what makes them happy and healthy by the time they reach 60, they almost certainly never will.

[Rhys]

they have a focus, leave it at that....

[berybert]

Fair play to them for still being about to get into a uniform. Could you imagine a class full of 60 year old American women.

Strapless Dungarees might do the trick.

 

[SteveB2]

Early every Sunday morning here in Pattaya when many of you are sleeping off your hangovers, more than 4,000 working Thai adults here head off to attend Thai Gor.Sor.Nor. schooling to study for the Thai national curriculum and gain basic elementary or high school diplomas to better their chances in finding a job. Class sizes are quite large - sometime 80-90 to a class. During last weekend many attended classes under trees at the Wat Jitapawan due to the unavailability of suitable classrooms - teaching still went ahead in perfect silence from all those present... no one messing about on their cell phones either.

 

Cost of tuition is free to all students. The teachers give their time for free. The Thai government funds text books for the students. Only school uniforms must be purchased which are sold at the school at a very reasonable price. It can take several years to complete training to get a high school diploma.

 

Any person in a Thai house book can attend the Gor.Sor.Nor/ teaching program (including foreigners) all over Thailand. All tuition is in Thai language. All students must have basic Thai lingual skills (talk, listen, read, write) at pre-elementary level and have basic Thai mathematics skills, know your times table in Thai, sing the national and Royal anthem etc as you would expect.

 

Ages of attendees range from 18 years through to old age pensioners. Many come from an age when there was no teaching available where they lived. Others had to curtail their schooling due to having to take on family responsibilities at an early age.

 

There's plenty of negative comments in this thread - I attend GorSorNor schooling as their only 'Farang' here in Banglamung and find many of the comments in this thread disheartening - <deleted>, these are mostly poor folks from difficult backgrounds trying to improve their lot in life with studies that will take them several years. 

 

Gentlemen - Give them a chance.  

 

 

[hdkane]

I'm sure that there are stories such as this all around Thailand...it would really help the nation if the accomplishments of citizens were publicized more in the media, as it seems there is a paucity of positive role models...great work on the part of the lifelong learners...

[SaintLouisBlues]

18 minutes ago, hdkane said:

I'm sure that there are stories such as this all around Thailand...it would really help the nation if the accomplishments of citizens were publicized more in the media, as it seems there is a paucity of positive role models...great work on the part of the lifelong learners...

That would completely undermine the hierarchical nature of Thai society. The only people who should provide role models are the "good people". If you let anyone be a role model then those down the social scale could be seen as morally worthy, indeed the moral equal of their social superiors, and they are, as we all know, not good people. Next thing we know you'll be advocating one vote, one value.