Northern Thailand Hosts 'Open House' for Buddhist Sunday Schools

The Department of Religious Affairs, under the Ministry of Culture, recently hosted an 'Open House' event for Buddhist Sunday Schools (ศพอ.) in Northern Thailand. Held at Wat Lattivan (Phra Non Khon Tan) in the Mae Rim District of Chiang Mai, the event also featured the 'Moral Assembly and Goodness Fair' for the 2026 fiscal year.

The ceremony was presided over by Phra Thep Mangkalacharn, the Ecclesiastical Provincial Governor of Chiang Mai, and Chaiyapol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs. Representatives from Buddhist Sunday Schools across eight northern provinces, along with local government officials and community partners, attended the gathering.

For residents and visitors, this event highlights the ongoing efforts to integrate religious and cultural education into community development. The initiative aligns with the Ministry of Culture’s '5C+1' policy, which aims to promote moral values, improve quality of life, and leverage cultural capital for the creative economy. By developing soft power and promoting Thai cultural awareness, these centers serve as hubs for both spiritual and social growth.

While the event successfully showcased current achievements, it remains to be seen how these specific regional initiatives will be scaled or integrated into broader national tourism and cultural outreach programs in the coming months. Those interested in local cultural heritage may find these centers to be significant points of interest for understanding the intersection of traditional Buddhist education and modern social development in Northern Thailand.