Pattaya School No. 9 celebrated its 58th anniversary with an exhibition on the importance of education in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
Principal Sornchai Khemkhaeng welcomed Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome to the September 2 event entitled “Education: Preserve Thai Cultures Heading into ASEAN.” Thailand joins the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
The day also featured a merit-making ceremony with monks from area temples offering blessings to the institution, teachers and students.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome rings the school bell to officially launch Pattaya School No. 9’s 58th anniversary celebrations.
The ASEAN exhibit illustrated the geography, local cultures and relationships between the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries. The 2015 AEC has weighed heavily on the minds of Thai educators and politicians, due largely to Thailand’s relatively poor proficiency in English and Chinese, the ASEAN two common languages. Every public event these days seems to hover around Thai anxiety over the common market.
Non-AEC activities included an exhibition on the history of Luang Pho Bunmee Akhapunyo, former abbot of Bhodhisamphan Temple and founder of the school. Current Abbot Punya Pattanaporn led the religious ceremonies.
Pattaya School No. 9 was founded as Wat Bhodhisamphan School on 11 rai on the grounds of the temple on Sept. 2, 1955. Initially the sermon hall was used as a classroom. In 1978, the government incorporated Pattaya City and the school was transferred to city supervision. It now offers classes from nursery school to Mattayom 3.
