Thanadech’s mother revealed that after entrusting her son's savings to the school, they received a substantial sum of over 70,000 baht at the end of the term, and she is aiming to surpass 100,000 baht next year.
A Facebook user posted photos showing student savings ranging from tens to tens of thousands of baht, with student names on the money bags. Thanadech had the highest savings at 72,720 baht, alongside the message: "Nong Lum Puk Ya Ma School Savings Project: Real saving, serious saving. #ComeSaveWithUs #Kindergarten2 Tomorrow, savings will be returned to parents," which attracted significant attention on social media.
On 21 March 2026 GMT+7, reporters visited Nong Lum Puk Ya Ma School in Nam Muang Subdistrict, Prajak Silpakorn District, Udon Thani Province, a school with expanded opportunities. They found all school gates closed and learned from a notice at the school that students were on break. Teachers’ break lasts until 31 March, today being a public holiday, and teachers were traveling for training out of town, so no staff were present.
Reporters then went to Nong Ya Ma Village in Nam Muang Subdistrict and met Paweena Kongpetch, 48, and her son Thanadech, or Nong Best, aged 5, a Kindergarten 2 student at Nong Lum Puk Ya Ma School with the highest savings of 72,720 baht. Their home also operates a made-to-order food shop serving noodles and curry. Paweena was preparing rad na (stir-fried noodles) for customers before riding her motorcycle to deliver food within the village.
Paweena explained that she sells made-to-order food while her husband works at a rice mill in Kumphawapi District. They have two children, with Nong Best being the youngest in Kindergarten 2 and not yet fully aware of financial matters. Previously, her husband raised buffaloes and helped deliver food to customers, but because income was insufficient for life insurance payments, he stopped raising buffaloes and worked at the rice mill. This left Paweena to run the food business alone, sometimes struggling to keep up with orders.
She started saving money at school after learning about the school savings project. Older students in grades 7-9 deposit money themselves from what their parents give them, while younger children in kindergarten have their parents deposit on their behalf. Hearing that some parents had significant savings by the end of the school year inspired her to start saving too.
Paweena added that last year she began saving 100 baht daily by giving the money to Nong Best to deposit with his homeroom teacher at school. By the end of the year, the savings totaled 17,895 baht, which made her happy. Knowing that there was no limit on how much could be saved, she decided to increase the amount this year to 400 baht daily, giving Nong Best 420 baht for school—400 baht to save with the teacher and 20 baht for snacks.
On days when school was closed for multiple days, she would save the combined amount, such as 1,200 baht for three days, and kept records. At the end of the school year before the break, the teacher announced the return of savings. She eagerly awaited the total and received 72,720 baht this year.
She feels very happy and proud of this achievement. The 72,720 baht will be used to pay life insurance premiums, prepare for Nong Best’s next school year, stock supplies for the food business, and cover household expenses. She believes saving at school is better than depositing in a bank, despite no interest, because traveling to the bank is inconvenient. School savings cannot be withdrawn early, which enforces discipline, whereas bank accounts allow easy withdrawals and transfers that often leave no savings.
Although school savings do not earn interest, she said that if interest were given, she would donate it to the school. The school savings program teaches Nong Best and other students the value of saving. Last year, saving 100 baht daily accumulated 17,895 baht; this year, saving 400 baht daily reached 72,720 baht. Next year, she plans to save 500 baht daily with a goal to exceed 100,000 baht, which she is determined to achieve.