If you want to learn about the education system of Thailand but you don’t know where to begin, this is the perfect article for you. You will find this article useful if you are:
- a Thai parent who is preparing for your child’s education
- an expat in Thailand who is planning your child’s education
- researching different education systems in Thailand
You need not overwhelm yourself with confusing information. To make things easier for you, you simply need to know that there are four kinds of schools that your child will have to consider if you wish to pursue an education in Thailand. This article will discuss all four kinds of schools in Thailand. Knowing them will make it easier for you to plan for your child’s education.
Table of Contents
Four Different Kinds of Schools in Thailand
1. Private Schools
There are many private schools in Thailand. Private schools can be divided into two, regular private schools and international schools. Regular private schools are ones that are not operated by the government and use a curriculum that is still highly influenced by the country’s Ministry of Education. Matriculation here is not free and you can expect a lower population and a better student-to-teacher ratio. Regular private schools in Thailand are mostly owned by private educational institutions and religious organizations. Some private schools in Thailand still fully follow the country’s mandated national curriculum. However, some subjects and more extra-curricular activities are added to student programmes. The following are particular kinds of regular private schools in Thailand:
- Charity schools – private schools dedicated to disadvantaged students that do not require tuition fees
- Private assisted schools – regular private schools that are privately owned but receive government subsidies
- Private general education schools – private schools that particularly follow the country’s national curriculum. These schools also receive government funding.
2. International Schools
Thailand is home to millions of expats that come from different parts of the world. However, most are from the US, the UK, and Australia. This is why the country is uniquely outstanding when it comes to the number of international schools. So much so that the country has over 100 international schools. Most of it is in Bangkok.
International schools in Thailand are not cheap. A parent can expect to spend around USD 6,000 – 20,000 annually. The following are the main thing that differentiates an international school from a regular private school:
- Curriculum – international schools in Thailand follow the American or British curriculum. This is why children of expats prefer enrolling their kids in international schools. International schools make it possible for their kids to receive the same kind of education that a regular private Western school offers.
- Language of instruction – international schools in Thailand use English as a mode of instruction. This makes it easy for local Thai students to be eloquent and fluent in English and for children of expats to easily adjust to their new environment.
- World-class facilities – international schools follow international standards when it comes to teaching tools and spaces. The student-to-teacher ratio is commendable.
3. Public Schools
Public schools in Thailand are entirely free. Students enrolled in public schools don’t have to worry about tuition fees until they reach secondary schooling. As they are fully government-funded, public schools follow the national curriculum. The national curriculum is taught in Thai. It is focused on teaching Thai-centric values and knowledge. Parents are legally mandated to have their child at least undergo public schooling from the age of six to fifteen. Thai public schools are only free to Thai nationals. Students with at least one Thai parent can also enjoy free education. The following are subjects that the Thai national curriculum mainly focuses on:
- Basic skills in mathematics and the Thai language
- Subjects that deal with life experiences that include natural science, citizenship, conservation, social studies, and health education
- Character development that has the following subjects: art education, music and performing arts, moral education, and physical education
- Special experience subjects that involve the teaching of the English language and vocational schools
- Thai studies
4. Institutions for Higher Education
Thai institutions for higher education can be classified into the following:
- Universities – universities are tertiary education institutions that are composed of different colleges. They can only be entered by students who successfully finish primary and secondary schooling. Most offer bachelor’s degrees that can be finished in four to five years.
- Technical institutes – technical institutes teach particular industrial skills to students that finish primary and secondary schooling.
- Vocational colleges – students can enroll in vocational colleges after finishing lower levels of secondary schools. Vocational courses can be finished in two to three years.
- Colleges – colleges specialize in different courses for a specific profession or specialty.
- Teacher colleges – teaching is a highly respected profession in Thailand. This is why universities that instruct on teaching are of a different and uniquely separated kind. Thai teachers are regarded with much respect and adoration because the country sees them as symbols of knowledge and authority.
If you wish to enroll your child in an international exchange study programme in Thailand, you should reach out to the Divisions of International Cooperation under the Ministry of University Affairs. They can be contacted via phone (02 245 8269) and fax (02 246 4030). They have their office at 328 Si Ayutthaya Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand.
