12 February 2026 – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the official opening ceremony of the “Phorn Panya Library” at Sawankhalok District Prison, Sukhothai Province. During the visit, Her Royal Highness also presented commemorative pins to representatives of organizations supporting the initiative, including Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU).
At 3:20 PM, Her Royal Highness arrived at Sawankhalok District Prison and was received by Mr. Somluck Yoknoiwong, Vice Governor of Sukhothai; Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat, Minister of Justice; Mrs. Pongsawat Neelayothin, Permanent Secretary for Justice; Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinin, Director-General of the Department of Corrections; and Mr. Decha Klakhaeng, Commander of Sawankhalok District Prison.
During the ceremony, the Director-General of the Department of Corrections presented the list of executives and benefactors to receive commemorative pins. Representing STOU, Asst Professor Dr. Karn Boonsiri, Vice-President for Academic Services, Networking, and Special Affairs, was appointed by the University President to receive the royal honor in recognition of the university’s steadfast support for the prison library.
Her Royal Highness officially inaugurated the “Phorn Panya Library” and inspected its operations, which include the “Opportunity Vehicle”—a mobile library designed to deliver knowledge directly to inmates. Her Royal Highness also signed the commemorative stone plaque, granted royal gift bags to representatives of male and female inmates, planted a Magnolia sirindhorniae tree to mark the occasion, and toured exhibitions on inmate rehabilitation and vocational training programs organized by partner networks.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University plays a pivotal role in the “Phorn Panya Library” project by providing comprehensive educational resources to inmates, breaking down barriers to learning within the correctional system. STOU’s contributions include:
- Learning Resources: Providing textbooks, workbooks, and instructional media across various disciplines.
- Audiovisual Support: Enabling inmates to access supplementary distance learning sessions despite spatial constraints.
- Examination Systems: Coordinating with the prison to establish special on-site examination centers, managed by STOU faculty and correctional officers to maintain academic standards.
- Reading Promotion: Collaborative activities with the School of Liberal Arts (Information and Library Science) to teach reading and summarization techniques.
- Bibliotherapy: Using literature as a tool to reduce stress and improve the mental well-being of inmates.
By integrating these services, STOU successfully transforms the prison environment into a “Distance Learning Center,” embodying the university’s core philosophy: “Lifelong Education for All.”