For the first time, Marist Education Centre (MEC) students were invited to perform a pantomime at the Department of Education Festival in Ranong on 24 October 2011. Each year the Education Festival showcases the best of the education provided by local schools and it is a great compliment that MEC students were able to show the wider community what they were capable of.
Nine MEC students, aged between 12 and 16, developed and performed a pantomime which centred on a young king in search of a suitable wife, with the help of his two assistants. The drama highlighted one of the major barriers that persons with disabilities face – lack of understanding by the wider community. The drama also illustrated the importance of accepting and celebrating people who have disabilities and reminded the audience of not judging people harshly. The combination of intelligence and humour in the drama meant it was very well received at the Education Festival.
This is not the first success for this creative group of MEC students. They have previously been invited to Bangkok to perform a drama which highlighted the dangers of violence in the home. Last week the Assistant Director of Education for Ranong, Mr. Prarom Narkbomrong also visited the MEC and was impressed with the standard of secondary education it provided and stated that the MEC was a good option for the education of Burmese migrants. The Education Festival was a good opportunity for those in the education sector and the wider community to become aware of Marist Mission Ranong and the standard of education that it provides to Burmese migrants.