Wai Khru Day is celebrated across the kingdom in June each year to honour teachers who disseminate invaluable knowledge and experience to their students.
For this week’s Exercises, SW looks at the Wai Khru Day celebrations held at Bangkok’s Chanhunbamphen School last year.
Wai Khru ceremonies are special for both teachers and students in Thailand. It is the time once a year when students pay homage to their teachers with trays decorated with joss sticks, candles and the four traditional offerings of kao tok (popped rice), dok makua (pea eggplant flowers), dok kem (Ixora flowers) and yah praek (Burmuda grass).
FUN ACTIVITIES
The director of Chanhunbamphen School, Ruangyod Uttarasat, said that each year the school arranges special activities to mark Wai Khru Day, which include planting trees, performing traditional dance shows, a tray decoration contest and a sports competition for the school’s alumni.
“I’m delighted to learn that many of our school’s alumni, such as famous boxer Khaosai Galaxi and popular singer Tae Uthenprommin, have made great contributions to society,” Ruangyod said.
Chanhunbamphen School’s English language teachers Wayne Cavanough and Headley Porter both agree that Wai Khru ceremonies and celebrations help to strengthen relationships between students and their teachers.
GOOD OPPORTUNITY
High school students Tara Tipa and Jidapa Joeikongkaew said that the Wai Khru ceremonies provide them with an official opportunity to show admiration and respect toward their teachers.
“The ceremonies also unite all the school’s students,” Tara said.
MODEL STUDENTS
In addition to their annual Wai Khru Day activities, Chanhunbamphen School gives Best Student Awards to students who have achieved the highest GPAs each year.
“I want to be a doctor, so I pay great attention to studying, behaving responsibly and reading books regularly,” Best Student Award recipient Phannarai Wongwan said.