Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont receives a present from representatives of the National Union of Students at Government House yesterday. The students offered the government possible solutions for tackling various problems plaguing the country.

Meeting with the PM at Government House, the group presented him with requests and suggestions gathered by secondary students from each region who joined a recent leadership camp hosted by the Office of the Basic Education Commission.

Saranyu Sosing from Surin's Thatoom Prachasermwit School urged the government to eradicate poverty in the region, as it made many students struggle just to continue to higher education. He urged the government to support students' part-time jobs and to promote His Majesty the King's sufficiency-economy philosophy in rural communities.

Ekkapot Khajornkuljira from Surat Thani 2 School said southern students wanted the government to set a curriculum that taught about differences between cultures as a way of fostering better understanding and decreasing violence.

Cheunchit Boonthanom from Phitsanulok's Triam Udom Suksa School, asked for access to education for stateless children who could contribute a great deal to Thailand.

Adisorn Saengprapai from Saraburi's Mor Pattananukul School mentioned a budget shortage for school activities and the imbalance of teacher materials between big urban schools and small rural schools. He asked the government to encourage big and small schools to share their resources with each other.

Singkham Boonreung from Chiang Mai's School for the Blind urged the government to open cooperative schools - allowing the able-bodied and disabled to study together - in all provinces and provide them with specialist teaching materials and staff.

Wachiraporn Kladcharoen from St Joseph's School in Nakhon Pathom urged the PM to set up a committee to support her Power of Youth Network, which consisted of students from seven flood-hit central provinces.

The network could set up a fund to help flood-affected residents and coordinate between state agencies and victims in flood-relief work, she said.

Surayud promised to assign a committee led by Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an to assist the network.

The premier also said he was very pleased to see that Thai students understood their responsibilities and were enthusiastic about participating in problem-solving.

Surayud said the government was ready to help with all of the students' requests, because the country needed a new wave equipped with knowledge, virtue and fire to work for the country's development.

Surayud cited the example of Asean, which had many countries of different cultures working together, saying that Thailand's southern region, which was of a much smaller scale, should be able to achieve peace and reconciliation.

Students recently attended a camp to promote reconciliation and leadership at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom.

Union president Chaiwat Krittakom from Roi Et said the camp activities allowed youths to practise good leadership, school and community participation and interpersonal communication skills. They also learned about democracy through discussions and an election for their representatives.

Ninnete Surarat

The Nation