Photisampan Pittayakarn School celebrated its 58th anniversary in Naklua with prayers and games.
Former Pattaya Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Pairoj Prawatlert-Udom, chairman of the local Basic Education Commission office, participated in the July 10 festivities for the school started on the grounds of Photisampan Temple.
Pairoj lit candles and incense to pay homage to school founder Luang Pho Boonmee Akkaboonyo. Nine monks from the temple chanted holy stanzas and partook in a morning meal.
In the afternoon, school officials handed out 185 scholarships and kicked off sports competitions and hosted a school-wide party.
In 1956, Naklua locals Prong and Yin Phansamniang donated five rai of land to Boonmee to build a temple. He had only 40 baht to spend, but built the temple with donations from the community.
In 1960, he applied to the government to open a Prathom-level school at the temple and, a year later, opened the Mattayom-level classrooms and the school took the name Photisampan Pittayakarn School.
