Wichit Srisa-an
Former Minister of Education, Thailand
In the past, Thai society was a patriarchal society leading to the limited role of Thai women under the traditional status of wives and mothers. Although there have been numerous women who performed outstanding work with significant impact on society, the number has been rather small when compared to that of men. Most often, such work was undertaken by high status women who were given more opportunities. Under such social conditions and constraints, Professor Thanphuying Poonsapaya Navawongs na Ayudhaya was an exceptional Thai woman who played a pivotal role in the development of Thai society, especially in Thai Teacher education. Although she was the daughter of a German merchant and a royal maid, she reached the pinnacle of both a personal life and a career. She was bestowed the honorable title of “Thanphuying” and received the position of “Professor”, both of which reflected her lifelong dedication and commitment to working for the nation and society. Some people may argue that such excellence was the result of her being given more exclusive opportunities than other ordinary women since she grew up inside the palace walls and received quality education, meaning “opportunity” and “space” were readily available for her to build up her work and reputation. This presentation, however, will focus on the fact that, even though her upbringing played an important part, it was indeed more owing to her own unique characteristics, including her purposefulness, perseverance, leadership, modern-mindedness and moral and ethical character. These characteristics can be seen through the way she carried herself, the way she treated others and the way she performed her duties, all of which have made her a female role model worthy of respect and admiration.
Professor Thanphuying Poonsapaya Navawongs na Ayudhaya contributed to the development of Thai teacher education, including the formation of the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, where she was the first female dean in Thai education history. This was also the starting point of Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School and other faculties of the university, namely, communication arts, psychology, nursing and sports science. Moreover, she challenged and transformed the mindset regarding Thai education in various ways by pioneering ideas, theories and new educational processes. Lastly, she constantly promoted and supported the role of women in social development by founding the Thai Association of University Women (T.A.U.W.) and Zonta International Club Thailand. She also established other organizations both inside and outside educational areas for promoting education and social development and was the president of many organizations making great contributions to Thai society.
In light of her notable work throughout the 105 years of her life (1910-2015), Professor Thanphuying Poonsapaya Navawongs na Ayudhaya was given the honored of the First Senior Professor of Chulalongkorn University and named Exceptional Contributor to National Higher Education and National Senior Citizen of 2009. On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of her birth in 2020, the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University would like to nominate Professor Thanphuying Poonsapaya Navawongs na Ayudhaya to be a UNESCO eminent personality to promote her as a woman who was the intellectual jewel of Thai teacher education so she can be recognized and commended at the international level.
(Presented in the international conference – Prominent Women in the ASEAN Community, 13 July 2018, Le Meridien Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies and Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University)