Students of Praratchathan Ban Thap Lamu School in Phang Nga’s Thai Muang district jump for joy in front of their new school building, which was painted in vibrant colours chosen by the students.

With the new term starting in May, nearly 1,300 students whose school buildings in Phang Nga and Ranong were completely destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami will be studying again in a brand new environment.

Donations from the public and private sector helped to reconstruct buildings for four schools - the Praratchathan Ban Thap Lamu School in Phang Nga's Thai Muang district, Kiatpracha School in Phang Nga's Khura Buri district, and Ban Bang Ben and Ban Samnak schools in Ranong's Kapoe district.

"We're excited. We used to study in an old one-storey schoolhouse that was ruined by the waves, but now we have a new three-storey building. We were also allowed to choose the paint colours for the classrooms," said 11-year-old Rungthip Saengsin, a Praratchathan Ban Thap Lamu fifth-grader.

"I'm thankful for the kind-hearted people who donated money to rebuild our school. We kids here have a new life now," said Rungthip, who eagerly showed The Nation around the new building.

Another student, Sam-ang Aramnetra, aged 10, said she could hardly wait for the school opening on May 8 when she and her 20 classmates would be studying in the "beautiful building" they had waited such a long time for.

Praratchathan Ban Thap Lamu School - with two new buildings - currently has 132 students from kindergarten to Prathom 6. The student numbers will increase to 432 students from kindergarten to Mathayom 3 this academic year as those at the nearby Phang Nga Navy Base would also be sent to study there, said school director Vira Thuchavej.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who took great interest in the school reconstruction, presided over the opening ceremony on Monday. Eighth-grader Kriengkrai Najin, 15, from Kiatpracha School on Koh Phra Thong, said he and his classmates had been studying at temporary sites so everyone was overjoyed with the new three-storey school building.

The structure has 18 classrooms equipped with all-new blackboards, tables and chairs. His classmate Jittipong Klathalae, 14, said they were grateful and eager to study hard.

The students painted the balcony walls before the opening ceremony last week.

Kiatpracha School currently has only 64 students. There were nearly 100 before the tsunami, but many were forced to move to mainland schools for fear of another disaster, said school director Somporn Sinthop, who hoped more students would return to this island school.

Loic Tardy, chairman of Unilever Thai Group, said the company had given Bt58 million to assist victims in two phases: initial short-term aid to provide basic supplies; and long-term assistance including the rebuilding of four schools and playgrounds for the more than 1,200 students.

Anan Paengnoy

The Nation