The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has praised Kamphol Vacharaphol, the late founder of Thai Rath newspaper, for his work in education and promoting and developing journalism in the country.
Kamphol: Praised for lifelong contribution
Kamphol, who passed away in 1996, was lauded by the organisation as an individual of great importance for his establishment of Thairath Vithaya School and the Thairath Foundation.
According to the Unesco, Kamphol devoted the last part of his life to promoting formal education for those in rural and remote areas of Thailand.
He did this by building new schools, which now add up to 101, with 30,000 students, and form part of the Thairath Vithaya school network.
He introduced civic duty studies as a new subject, along with media literacy, in an effort to promote civic values.
His work continues to provide learning opportunities for all and furthers global awareness among Thai people.
Unesco has also pledged to mark his 100th birthday on Dec 27, 2019.
He is the only Thai national to have been honoured for his devotion to education and journalism by the organisation.
Hailing from a humble family background in Samut Sakhon, he later built the first school under his Thairath Vitaya school project in Lop Buri in 1969.
