Back to school for Thailand's elderly

Back to school for Thailand's elderly

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Wearing crisp red-and-white uniforms, a group of 60-year-olds pile into a bus, smiling broadly as they make their way to a school in Ayutthaya, a province in Thailand.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Students travel on the school bus.

For this group, and others across the country, going back to school offers a way to fight loneliness at a time when changing demographics mean more elderly people are living alone.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Somjit attends a class.

"I've been looking forward to every Wednesday, when I go to school, dress up as a school student and meet friends. We get to talk and laugh together," said Somjit Teeraroj, a 77-year-old widow who is a student at the school for the elderly in Ayutthaya's Chiang Rak Noi subdistrict.

After the death of her husband of 40 years, with her children visiting occasionally, Somjit said it was the school that helped her recover from her loss.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Somjit (centre), offers alms to a Buddhist monk.

Somjit's story is emblematic of a larger problem in Thailand - a rapidly ageing population.

Thailand, together with China, is ageing faster than its regional neighbours. By 2040, it is expected to have the highest share of elderly people of any developing country in East Asia, according to the World Bank.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Somkid, 70, talks with a neighbour's child at her house.

Thailand has 7.5 million people aged 65 and over, a figure projected to swell to 17 million by 2040 - more than a quarter of the expected population.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Somkid, 70, walks across a bridge after visiting her cousin.

Traditionally, ageing Thais lived at home with their families and were cared for by their children. But with many leaving the countryside to work in the cities, parents and grandparents are increasingly being left alone.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Students attend a traditional dance class.

Schools like the one in Ayuthaya, 80 km (49.71 miles) north of Bangkok, that offer weekly classes over three months are the government's way of offering older people relief from the stresses of living alone.

. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Choochart Supkerd looks out of his window.

"It's stressful just living day by day," 63-year-old Choochart Supkerd said.

"I will probably go back to feeling lonely sometimes but I'm also proud of this, of gaining some knowledge in class," said Choochart, after posing for a picture with the class of 2018 in his gold-trimmed red graduation gown and a flower crown.

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A school skirt belonging to Poonsri Seangnual hangs from a wardrobe.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

A school skirt belonging to Poonsri Seangnual hangs from a wardrobe.

Poonsri Seangnual, 63, gets dressed at her home before attending a class. "I really like going to school. I gained knowledge and it's really fun. I have a lot of friends, know a lot more people," said Seangnual. "I feel lonely whenever I don't go to school, I want to go back and meet my friends. I miss the classroom."
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Poonsri Seangnual, 63, gets dressed at her home before attending a class. "I really like going to school. I gained knowledge and it's really fun. I have a lot of friends, know a lot more people," said Seangnual. "I feel lonely whenever I don't go to school, I want to go back and meet my friends. I miss the classroom."

Kanyarat Khonkrit (right) helps her mother Phoem Khonkrit, 91, get dressed. They both study at the school. "The school is really good. From someone who doesn't really get to socialise or meet anybody, it opened up our world, got us socialising and doesn't make us feel lonely. My mum is also getting better, she was too attached to the house before and refused to go out anywhere," said Khonkrit. "After finishing school, we had more friends and still keep in contact with them."
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Kanyarat Khonkrit (right) helps her mother Phoem Khonkrit, 91, get dressed. They both study at the school. "The school is really good. From someone who doesn't really get to socialise or meet anybody, it opened up our world, got us socialising and doesn't make us feel lonely. My mum is also getting better, she was too attached to the house before and refused to go out anywhere," said Khonkrit. "After finishing school, we had more friends and still keep in contact with them."

Poonsri Seangnual, 63, has her hair tied back before attending a class.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Poonsri Seangnual, 63, has her hair tied back before attending a class.

Students take part in a class.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Students take part in a class.

Somjit walks to a school bus stop.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Somjit walks to a school bus stop.

Students sing the national anthem.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Students sing the national anthem.

Students attend an English class.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Students attend an English class.

Students laugh whilst at school.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Students laugh whilst at school.

Somjit takes a nap at her house.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Somjit takes a nap at her house.

Chaluay Suriyon (right), 84, is visited by her cousins.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Chaluay Suriyon (right), 84, is visited by her cousins.

Somjit holds a box containing medicines.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Somjit holds a box containing medicines.

Somjit looks on as she waits for morning alms near her house.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Somjit looks on as she waits for morning alms near her house.

Choochart Supkerd cleans his house.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Choochart Supkerd cleans his house.

Poonsri Seangnual spends time with her grandchildren.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Poonsri Seangnual spends time with her grandchildren.

Somjit (left) and Poonsri Seangnual, 63, spend time together at a shop.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Somjit (left) and Poonsri Seangnual, 63, spend time together at a shop.

Choochart Supkerd walks with his dog near his house.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Choochart Supkerd walks with his dog near his house.

Choochart Supkerd smokes at his hut.
. Ayutthaya, Thailand. Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

Choochart Supkerd smokes at his hut.