Learning amid the threat of violence in the deep south, Puang-phet Chompoopuang had almost given up hope of getting into university. However, her ambition to study at Thammasat University is back on track thanks to a tutoring project initiated by Bangkok's Satriwithaya School.

The girls-only school project, with the support of Office of the Basic Education Commission, provides a 40-day intensive course for 30 pre-university student girls from four Southern provinces for the university-entrance examination.

"Living in the South, we have to learn amid fear. An explosion might happen at any minute, and the school could be closed any day. Coming to school is life-threatening," said Puangphet, a student of Muang Narathiwat's Narasikkhalai School.

She is one of the 30 selected students from Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla who have already attended the intensive course to study Thai and English languages, mathematics and science from January 9 to February 17 at Satriwithaya School. The students stay over-night in the school dormitory.

Puangphet is a Bangkok-born girl who moved to Narathiwat with her family 13 years ago. It is not as peaceful as it was in those days. "I used to ride my motorcycle to school about two kilometres away from my home in the morning and ride back home late at night. Today, I can't do it anymore. Riding alone after 6pm is too risky," she said.

Puangphet added that when she had questions about her homework, she used to go to her teacher's home and ask for help. But not any more.

Her Narasikkhalai School has also been temporarily closed several times due to the unrest.

For Puangphet, 40 days in Bangkok feels like a break.

"It is a good chance for us to fully concentrate on the lessons and give us a hope of passing the entrance exam."

Puangphet dreams of studying either medicine or law at Thammasat.

Kassama Musor, a high-school student in Yahasirayanukul in Yala's Yaha district, said her studies had stopped because of the unrest. Her school was also closed down several times and she was forced to study at home by herself.

Her family members had trouble surviving as they were too afraid to go out to work.

Maneerat Chitsuwan of Songkhla's Natavee Wittayakom School, said she wanted the government to send more teachers to the South and provide students with more intensive courses in Bangkok together with scholarships and a quota in universities.

"However, the thing we need most urgently is peace," she said.

Fuengfah Praditpoj, headmistress of Satriwithaya School, said the project had received Bt150,000 in sponsorship from the Office of the Basic Education Commission.

"We created the project because students in the South are affected by the violence and unrest. We also want them to know that Bangkok people still care about them," said the headmistress.

Fuengfah said the project would continue until next year if the Basic Education Commission Office still supported it.

Thammarat Kitchalong

 The Nation