Maha Sarakham is a very important seat of learning, having one of the oldest established Universities in Thailand. The City was known as the "Taksila of Isaans". (Taksila was an Indian city where education of all disciplines was centered).
The current Maha Sarakham University is a modern building set in beautiful grounds on the road from Maha Sarakham to Khon Kaen.
Visitors who fly into Khon Kaen Airport will see the impressive Khon Kaen University in its spacious park on their left as they approach the city from the Airport. The Convention Centre and surrounding area hosts many exhibitions and festivals, from Agricultural Shows, through high-tech computer symposiums to the monthly "Flea market. It is not just a University, but a centre for many community activities.
Khon Kaen has three Universities, including a Technical University, and several high quality Colleges.
You should try to find time to sample the excellent cakes and pastries prepared and sold by the students at Khon Kaen Vocational College - just a hundred metres from the Tourist Authority offices on Prachasamosorn Road.
Khon Kaen Vocational College actually teaches far more than baking - they have an excellent Computer Department providing training in most of the commercial office software and in e-commerce, as well as dress design department (that can match Paris for its haute couture styles). Perhaps the receptionist at your hotel trained the Tourism Department there!
Unlike most Western countries, families in Thailand must pay to educate their children since the State does not have sufficient funds to offer the same free education we see as a right in the West.
With the present complaints about student loans for fees and accommodation for university students in the UK, perhaps we should take a huge step back and look at the plight of those who merely want secondary education in the rural areas of Thailand.
Many children do not go on to Secondary education due to cost - of fees and of travel each day. In some of the larger poor families 'alternate' children get a reasonable education - eldest child - good, next child - primary, third child - good etc.
Secondary education may be a problem, but imagine the pressure of getting a child or children to University.
A labourer in Isaans may earn about 50 baht each day for some 10 or 12 hours in the rice paddy. To send his son/daughter to university will cost him about 70,000 baht each year - or about 4 years wages assuming he works only 7 days a week! It doesn't need a First Class Honours Degree in Economics to see the impossibility of the situation.
To me the massive waste of intellect - for the majority of people in the region are immensely intelligent - is unbelievably sad. Even more so when I see the youth in other, richer countries throwing away their education as a result of the futile quest for self-gratification.
A great many Thai students struggle to work full time and study full time to gain their advanced education. They don't work a couple of evenings a week to fund their hedonistic life styles, as do some students in other parts of the world.
Why not help?
It's easy enough to help for less than the cost of a couple of beers or a pack of cigarettes each week !!!
The Anglo-Thai Foundation based in England, UK raises funds to sponsor children's education in the Isaans Region. Incidentally I have no connection with this organisation, but I really do admire their hard work .... they are certainly worth your support.
Don't forget if you are in the West, (or an ex-pat), PLEASE click the link and take a look at their site.
If you are from Isaans please understand that there are many 'farang angrit' who know the need for education in your lovely region and really do try to help.
The entrance to one of the campuses of Maha Sarakham University.
The Conference Centre of Khon Kaen University seen from the main road into Khon Kaen.
A village primary school in the Loei Province