Thursday 12 January 2024 at 1:45 p.m. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid a visit and followed up on the Royal Assistance Project on science experiment at the Orphan Cultural School, Vientiane Province (Lak 67), Lao People’s Democratic Republic.  Executives from project implementing agencies joining the royal audience and presented the report are:  Professor Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Information Technology Foundation under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (PSIT), Mr. Bunrak Saraggananda, PSIT Committee Member, Ms. Suporn Trinarin, Secretary General, Office of Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB), Mr. Chanwit Hanket, Director of the Udon Thani Irrigation Project, Dr. Kusalin Musikul, Assistant Director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), Mr. Chaliew Sorasit, Director of Pathumthep Wittayakarn School, and member of working groups from related agencies.  

     The project started from the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, in consideration that the school delivers science teaching only on theory but still lacking science experiments.  With this concern, PSIT has coordinated with related agencies in Thailand to carry out the project to provide assistance on science experiment to school, which has been implemented from 2016 until present. There are 8 agencies involved in the operation as follows:

      [1] Office of the Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB)
      [2] Udon Thani Irrigation Project, Irrigation Office No. 5
      [3] Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane
      [4] Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST)
      [5] National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
      [6] Pathumthep Wittayakarn School, Nong Khai Province
      [7] Nong Khai Technical College, Nong Khai Province
      [8] King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)

     Operations to assist with science experiment for the school are divided into 3 areas as follows:

1. Infrastructure for conducting science experiments; constructed building and classrooms and installed science experiment equipment. Currently, the school has a science laboratory building, funded by the Office of Royal Development Projects Board and constructed by the Udon Thani Irrigation Project, with the total budget approximately 5,161,000 baht. The building was given the royal name “Manmit”, meaning a building that brings close and secure friendship. PSIT, IPST and NSTDA support science experiment equipment.
2. Curriculum and science teaching activities; developed and selected science curriculum activities that are aligned with the curriculum of the Lao PDR, including science teaching training plans for teachers. Currently, there are 15 science teacher training courses, developed by IPST, Pathumthep Wittayakarn School and KMUTT.
3. Scientific personnel; organized training in teaching techniques for science experimentation for science teachers and follow-up meeting, as well as giving opportunities to teachers and students to continuously participate in the exchanging of knowledge about science experimentation between Thailand and Lao PDR for more than 16 times. During the COVID-19 outbreak, teachers training on science experimentation were conducted in a new normal way through use of digital media, online system, and delivery of equipment. Related agencies jointly support resources including budget, knowledge, and personnel.

     In conclusion, from November 2017 until present, Lak 67 School began teaching science experiments to students.  After the building construction and installation of equipment were completed, all students have conducted a full science experiment in the science laboratory in the Manmit Building.

     The school has reported 100% students passing in monthly, semester and academic year assessment in 2023. In addition, students have also taken the Phon Hong city competitive exam and received the first (1^st) place in both Chemistry and Physics.  There was no competitive exam in Biology.  Science teachers are also interested and eager in organizing activities for students to do more diverse experiments.

     On the occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s royal visit to the school this time, teachers and students have demonstrated science experiment teaching activities in 4 rooms as follows:

      Room 1 Physics: Electrical circuit connections (by students in Mathayom 6)
      Room 2: Chemistry: Preparing substances for acid-base titration (by students in Matthayom 7)
      Room 3 Biology: Microscope (by students in Matthayom 7)
      Room 4 Technology, Invention project “Automatic alcohol gel dispenser to deal with the COVID-19 situation” and other projects (by students in Mathayom 7)