Children of Morgan Sea Gypsy community, resident of Born Yhai bay, Surin National Park, in Kura-Buri district, Phang-Nga province, in Southern Thailand are eager and concentrated to read and write Thai language under the shelter of a learning centre for the Morgan community on Surin island. This training or learning centre was built under HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn initiatives in providing knowledge in education for underprivileged children in remote areas. Mr. Nioh Nimu – Officer of Non-Formal Education in Phang-Nga province: (Our survey indicates that the Morgan Sea Gypsies children are capable of reading and writing but some are yet to graduate from a higher education however there is a possibility that some can reach such achievement.)

The Learning Centre of Morgan community in Surin National Park is providing and developing communication skills in reading and writing Thai language for Morgan kids and enabling them to communicate in Thai fluently to visitors. (pause) Not only can they read and write, but they can also draw pictures of Thai monks and the religious ceremony usually practiced at the temples. (pause) They can also sing the Thai national anthem with clear pronunciation and correct words, just after they join the training session at the learning centre. Also with support and help from the Provincial Office of Non-Formal Education in Phang-Nga, they hold sessions in educational Thai language along with monitoring development of their health and hygiene sanitation among the Morgan community. (pause) Mr. Nioh Nimu – Officer of Non-Formal Education in Phang-Nga province. (From now on, Morgan Sea Gypsy kids will have a better chance in enrolling into higher educational curriculum. Morgan children that studied with the Non-Formal Education department will be allowed to join the elementary and secondary as same as those students from the outside of their community.) Images of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn multifarious duties including her visit to the Morgan kids on Surin island plus various images of the Morgan traditional and customary life style and images of children’s development were displayed at an exhibition under the name ‘Thai Princess: the dedicated educator’. (pause) The exhibition was shown at the 44th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council Conference (SEAMEC) and the 4th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting held during the 5th – 8th of April at Sheraton Grand Laguna hotel in Phuket, under the promotion and investment in education and life-long learning, human resource training and capacity-building’s theme. The ASEAN group of countries strongly believes in focusing on expanding equal education for ASEAN’s population and also preparation and development. They focus not only on academic excellence but also on enhancing morality and ethics in all demographics for underprivileged children and are determined to protect opportunities and education, and the Princess’s initiative program for the Sea Gypsies children is one good example.

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