Wooden school in the concrete jungle
The busy Sukhumvit Soi 8 area of Bangkok has office buildings, condominiums, hotels, bars, massage parlours, restaurants and one wooden school that has changed little since it was built in 1946.
That school is Wannawit School, owned and managed since 1954 by 94-years-young Mom Rajawongse Ruchisamara Suksawadi, who prefers to be called "yai" or grandmother.
Her school building may be nearly 70 years old, but is still in good condition. The floors are clean and shiny and the wood looks well cared for. None of the classrooms has air-conditioning, but a natural breeze flows throughout the building.
These days, the school, which does not get government funding, is struggling a bit with 514 students, down from its peak enrolment of 800.
Fees are remarkably cheap, kept that way to provide a place for children of lower-income people to get a quality education. The school charges 1,702 baht each term for primary school children and 1,318 baht for those at secondary level. Pupils pay an extra 600 baht every semester for computer lessons.
Even though her school is grappling to cover its expenses, MR Ruchisamara made it clear that she doesn’t want any donations.
“I don’t want to bother other people. I have my own money to cover all costs.
While the school may be relatively poor, the land it sits on is worth many millions of baht and MR Ruchisamara has been approached by developers more than once.
“I told them no, this school is not for sale,” she said.