Amid a constantly changing world, education stands as the strongest foundation for building a sustainable future for the nation. With this conviction, the Thairath Foundation organized the 43rd Thairath Wittaya School Administrators Seminar to celebrate the 56th year of Thairath Wittaya Schools, known as the "Living Monument" of Kamphon Watcharaphon, founder of Thairath newspaper.
Under the timely and challenging theme “Active Learning for Lifelong Learners,” the event reaffirmed the commitment to drive quality Thai education forward and continue the legacy of Kamphon Watcharaphon, a key figure in education and mass communication.
On 24 September 2025 GMT+7 during the event, a seminar titled "Deep Learning for Lifelong Development" was held, featuring insights and knowledge from several distinguished speakers, all valuable for developing the youth who are the nation's future strength.
The following is a crucial moment to delve into the core ideas and future educational direction through the perspectives and vision of two important individuals. Jitsupa Watcharaphon, Co-CEO of Thairath TV and Thairath Online and board member of the Thairath Foundation, along with Dr. Suwit Mesinthree, former Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. They illustrated how Thai education can advance with the concept of "active learning" to cultivate quality personnel ready for deep learning and lifelong development.
Decoding the vision of "Thairath Wittaya" advancing towards deep learning for lifelong development.
From the 43rd Thairath Wittaya School Administrators Seminar, Jitsupa Watcharaphon and Dr. Suwit Mesinthree presented an engaging vision and developmental direction for the foundation and schools to keep pace with the modern world, with a shared goal of producing deep learners capable of lifelong growth and responsible citizens through the school's mechanisms.
Jitsupa Watcharaphon summarized the future vision and direction of the Thairath Wittaya Foundation. She emphasized the main goal of nurturing new generations to be good citizens with life skills and ready for deep learning, enabling them to adapt and survive amid modern challenges such as AI, trade wars, and disasters, as strong citizens are the foundation of a stable nation.
“For the foundation and Thairath Wittaya Schools, they are not merely educational institutions but mechanisms to elevate quality of life and create equal opportunities for children, even in remote areas. Their key approach prioritizes personnel development, recognizing that teachers and administrators are the heart, focusing on continuous training and workshops to enhance capabilities at various levels.”
"This includes fully supporting resources such as scholarships, lunch funds, infrastructure improvements, and providing necessary electronic learning devices for the digital era, alongside supplementary curricula beyond the core Basic Education Curriculum (OBEC). Additional curricula are designed to build future skills, including Global Citizen courses fostering morality, ethics, and an open global perspective; media studies teaching critical thinking and information discernment in an age where everyone can be a media outlet; and sustainability courses to develop understanding and adaptability to a rapidly changing world."
. The ultimate goal is to nurture students as 'learners capable of lifelong development.' This means not rote memorization of fixed curricula but cultivating a mindset eager to learn, creative thinking, and independent analysis. The foundation is committed to supporting all parties to sustainably pass on quality education across generations,” Jitsupa Watcharaphon concluded.
Shifting the educational paradigm towards creating complete individuals who grow into lifelong learners and developers.
This theme was notably addressed by Dr. Suwit Mesinthree. He elaborated on the concept of 'deep learning for lifelong development,' stating, “As the world changes, education must adapt to create individuals who can build the nation and drive the world forward. Future education must be radically different to accommodate a non-linear world, shifting from passive to active learning where students engage actively, viewing the whole world as their classroom by breaking down classroom walls and encouraging learning anywhere. It also involves balancing human intelligence with artificial intelligence (AI) by using AI wisely and balanced to achieve society’s ultimate well-being. Education should not only create smart children but ‘happy children’ who can contribute to the common good, emphasizing balance, moderation, and sufficiency.”
Dr. Suwit proposed the concept of creating complete individuals (Growth for People) who can fully unleash their potential through four key complementary elements: Heart Set—building consciousness, beliefs, and a sense of social belonging; Mindset—developing a resilient and goal-oriented mindset; Skill Set—enhancing necessary skills once the right heart and mind are established; and Tool Set—teaching the use of modern tools such as AI and digital technology.
He further stated, “Ultimately, this entire ecosystem will nurture children who love learning, dare to lead with vision and morality, and truly grow into lifelong learners.”
