Govt to focus on educational activities, cut entertainment

CHILDREN'S DAY

Govt to focus on educational activities, cut entertainment

SIRIKUL BUNNAG

The government will tone down the entertainment activities it had planned for Children's Day and focus more on educational activities and exhibitions, as the country is still mourning the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Deputy education permanent secretary Bunrat Wongyai said that despite the mourning period, the government would go ahead and organise activities for children on Saturday aimed at giving them knowledge to broaden their horizons.

The major venue would be moved from Sanam Sua Pa, near the Dusit Palace, to the Education Ministry's compound. Children would be allowed to visit all rooms in the ministry's office buildings, including the minister's office.

The government is also publishing a Children's Day book under the title Chuen Klao (pleasant mind) featuring pictures and biography of the late Princess and her contribution to the country in various aspects such as education, public health, and arts.

About 600,000 copies of the book would be put up for sale at 12 baht per copy, said Mr Bunrat.

As part of Children's Day activities, 680 children and youths who have helped lift the country's profile abroad would be given a chance to meet Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at Government House on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, which operates the BTS skytrain, will offer free rides to children not over 140cm in height between 6am and midnight on Saturday.

In Chiang Rai province, Sun and Khammee Pongkunmul, the parents of Juling Pongkunmul, the 24-year-old teacher who was beaten into a coma in Narathiwat by a Muslim mob and succumbed to her injuries months later in hospital, yesterday marked the first anniversary of her death in Chiang Rai's Doi Luang district by giving away coins collected by their daughter to pupils of the Doi Luang kindergarten school.