Patong’s first high school to open 2014

PHUKET: Patong Municipality will spend 320 million baht to renovate and expand the Ban Sainamyen School, establishing it as the busy Phuket tourist town’s first high school.

Plans have been drawn up and construction is expected to take two years, with the high school slated to open in 2014.

“The [existing] school building is old but clean, though at present it only offers primary education. There are many students in Patong who need high school education. Ban Sainamyen School needs to be renovated so we can better meet these educational needs,” said Patong Mayor Pian Keesin.

The upgrade includes a new school building with 48 classrooms; a three-storey building with a canteen on the first floor, an 800-seat auditorium on the second floor and a gymnasium with 1,300 spectator seats on the third floor.

Other project facilities will include a 20-room teacher accommodation block, a basement car park for 100 cars, and a football field surrounded by a running track.

Sainamyen School currently provides primary (grades one to six) education only.

Current enrollment is 396 students, but when renovations are complete the school will be able to accommodate up to 2,160 students, Mayor Pian said.

“Many high school students living in Patong have to go over the hill to attend schools in Kathu or Phuket Town – and the population of Patong is still growing. We need to provide high school education for this and coming generations,” he said.

Patong Municipality will apply to the Regional Urban Development Fund Office (RUDF) for a 320mn baht loan to finance the project.

A request will be filed with the Phuket Provincial Office to apply to the RUDF on Patong Municipality’s behalf, said Mayor Pian. “The loan should be approved within four months,” he said.

“Construction could start as early as the end of this year, if the process runs smoothly,” he added.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan