richard_smith237

Precisely this - students are assessed not only on an individual basis, but also through mid-year testing (typically around February) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching within each subject. The aggregate results are analysed to identify any potential educational shortcomings or weaknesses in the curriculum. Furthermore, as you rightly pointed out, if a student is underperforming, parents are informed, and the school takes targeted steps to support the pupil and help them reach the expected standards. Thai government schools are, regrettably, shockingly poor from an educational standpoint. It’s a real shame that so little seems to be done, suggesting a broader societal indifference to the issue. Teachers are deeply revered here, which makes it all the more perplexing given the persistently low standards within the system. That said, there are still opportunities for the occasional 'diamond in the rough' to shine. I’ve known colleagues in my professional field who, despite having very limited opportunities and attending local government schools, managed to succeed against the odds - earning degrees from top Thai universities like Chulalongkorn or Thammasat, going on to complete MSc programmes, and eventually securing positions with international companies. These individuals are genuinely impressive, but one can’t help but wonder how many more slip through the cracks. Of course, not everyone needs to pursue a university education - Thailand still needs its market vendors, 7-Eleven staff, drivers, builders, labourers, and waste collectors. But the education system ought to be one in which merit is not only more easily recognised, but where students have a genuine educational opportunity in the first place such that educational mobility is possible. Cases like the one presented by the original poster only serve to highlight the deep-rooted, systemic flaws in a system that, quite frankly, appears to care very little.

Have you considered a Moka pot ??? I think it brews a better coffee than pour over (drip), or French Press.

One wonders how you'd know ?

There is no way for a foreigner to make a booking to Apply for an IDP There are three queues (at the entry / information desk on the ground floor). 1) Thai's who have made a booking (left lane) 2) Non-Thai's (i.e. You - middle lane) 3) Thai's without a Booking (this queue will likely be huge, don't join the back of this !) Document requirements: 1) Passport 2) Current Full Thai Driving Licence (5 year License) [not a 2 year Temp License] 3) Residence cert (and copy) 4) Passport Photos Thus: OP - the simple answer is 'just rock up'... and make sure you can communicate that you want an IDP. Also ensure you get the correct IDP for the country you are visiting (i.e. 1949 version or 1968 version).

I find them easy, you just have to get used to them I think it just comes down to individual preference - Its not 'harder' to use the Apps... It's just a lot easier to read everything on laptop sized screen... its easier to see the images, zoom in, check the specks etc on a larger laptop screen... The Apps also have pop-ups which the websites don't have.

The problems with the Apps - is that they are just too noisy to be comfortably navigable. I only ever use Apps when I'm away from home, otherwise everything is carried out on the laptop - its just easier to use. The issue of course is that so many vendors and business in Thailand have become almost purely App orientated. So... For Lazada, Shopee and most others, Amazon etc - I prefer to use the Computer, I too end up having to go through a verification process from time to time... i.e. OTP, but there is also an E-mail verification option - so its not a major hassle.

Yep... thats was my thought, hence my reason to clarify the distinction. I don't think there is any harm in naming such schools when these observations are made - the clarification removes any ambiguity and as the information does serve the greater good of the public this cannot be classified as 'defamatory'...

No they don't... Depends on the school of course... but at the Top Tier International Schools (if thats what the Op means by top private school) - the standards of teaching are exceptionally high, and what the Op describes is far from anything I would accept as a parent, or have encountered as a parent. But.. what school is this ?... because is not NiST, ISB, Patana, Harrow, Shewsbury, St Andrews, Prep etc.. ... and no... There is no need at all of any extra curricular schooling for children at a Top Tier International School... The only time that would be necessary is for dedicated 11+ or 13+ prep for entrance exams to others schools (such as UK Private Schools etc)... It could be just a case of the Ops child has a very poor teacher - but usually the oversight in schools is strong enough for such examples to be extremely rare... IMO of course, as a parent with a child at an International School, who's looked at a lot of International Schools here, with friends whose children are at International Schools here... OR... Does the OP mean something else by 'Private School' ???? (such as Bangkok Christian College and Assumption College etc)...

Its been repeated and repeated... so many times.. announcement after announcement, report after report... crack down after crackdown... Nothing is 'ever' done to manage the illegal rental of motorcycles to unlicensed individuals - even when there is a crack-down !!! https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattayas-renewed-motorbike-rental-crackdown-faces-skepticism-as-residents-question-lasting-impact-506794 https://www.pattayamail.com/news/mafia-face-off-pattaya-battles-rogue-motorcycle-rentals-taking-over-public-parking-wins-local-support-503201 https://www.pattayamail.com/news/officials-inspect-bike-rentals-along-congested-pattaya-beach-road-as-locals-say-public-space-is-not-for-private-profit-506209 https://www.pattayamail.com/news/frustration-mounts-pattaya-residents-doubt-police-can-tackle-motorbike-rental-mafia-492078

So it wasn’t his mistake in choosing the wrong boots ??? … anyway, off-point… all players slip… part of the sport…

You missed the point - deliberately & facetiously I suspect… … there are 100’s of videos highlighting stuff-ups in sports, a lot of them covering men’s football… … to post such a clip in the manner proton did simply highlights bigoted idiocy… The women footballers are not as good as the men.. big deal… until we get into the silliness of the woke commentary suggesting equality…

Why aren't you switched on to the fact that even the dullest AI unearths such results in under 30 seconds ?? Good grief indeed... better stick with the dancing 'chippendale' !!!!

England's men won the Football World Cup 59 years ago... (thats two full generations ago !).... The reality - both the English Men's and the Women's football teams have done really well in the past decade... The Women have been more successful in achieving silverware. Neither the Women's team success detracts from the Men's achievements, and neither does the additional power and speed of the Men's game detract from the Women's achievements. Comments to the contrary are just idiotic IMO.

Idiots... stick to YOUR lane...

Wrong... These 'girlies' have retained their European title against the World Champions, and reached a World Cup Final a couple of years.... outstanding achievements... But, with the septic world series of this that and the other which involves a 3 nations at best... hmm... any comments from an US American render into insignificance when they don't really know what a 'World Cup' or 'European Cup' really means... ... though I do agree with the Bobby Moore comment, he did receive an OBE in 1967 but passed away too early at the age of 51 before a knighthood could be bestowed (and current UK honours system does not allow posthumous knighthoods, so the petition efforts were formally rejected).

I kind of agree... Thumbs down to the political coverage.... and hats off to the English Female Football Team.... Anyone trying to equate any physical women's sport to a mans is a fool - but, that does not mean the female achievements are not great... Look at the greats of the past in all the sports - swimming, gymnastics, tennis etc.. (and many I mentioned earlier) - we can recognise that the women are not as strong or as fast as the men yet still appreciate their brilliance.... So why not with football (for some)... ??? ... Is it in team-sports where the physical difference of speed and strength is amplified ? and we can see that more clearly ? ... Or, is it the politicisation that forces some to push-back with such a response they become bigoted ? Many are suggesting the women do not get paid enough compared to the men... we can of course understand why. But no one has suggested the Mens footballers get paid way too much - the amounts are astronomically insane... How is it that someone who kicks a ball around gets paid so much more than someone researching a cure for cancer ? - surely this is were a lot of the imbalance exists.

100% - Threads such as this are Catnip for the bigotted misogynists... That said - there have been some rather amusing meme's rolling around the net... But thats just humour - some of the comments on this thread are simply nasty and flawed. One does wonder how you'd have fared against these women - even back in your twenties or thirties. Something tells me it wouldn't have gone quite how you imagine. Why shouldn't they play football? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with women competing in their own version of the game - just as they do in tennis, golf, gymnastics, athletics, hockey, swimming, and so on. Yes, women are naturally slower and less physically explosive across all sports. So what? That’s biology, not a moral failing. The comparison isn't meant to be direct with the men's game. It's about women competing against other women at the highest level available to them. Judging them by male standards completely misses the point - and frankly, says more about your own need to feel superior than it does about the sport itself. Some valid points - but none of them diminish the achievements of a female sports team (or individual) doing well, and becoming number one in their region, country, continent or the world.... I believe much of the public discontent arises when calls for equal pay between men’s and women’s football are made without proper context. It’s not about dismissing the women’s game, but recognising the economic realities that underpin professional sport. Consider rugby: the England men’s rugby team has struggled in recent years and doesn’t attract anywhere near the income, sponsorship, or global reach that football does. And even then, elite rugby players earn significantly less. Louis Rees-Zammit, a world-class rugby international, transitioned to the NFL and didn’t even make the final roster - yet still earns more on the NFL practice squad than he did playing top-tier rugby. That alone illustrates the market-driven nature of sporting salaries. Where things get particularly absurd is in the commentary space. I’ve seen pundits completely lose the plot, claiming that certain female footballers could “compete” in the men’s game. This is pure fantasy and intellectually dishonest. It’s been proven time and again - even at youth or lower men's levels, that the physical demands and technical pace are simply on different planes. Statements like these, often driven by a desire to be seen as progressive or "woke", do more harm than good. There needs to be accountability when such nonsense is aired, and some basic common sense needs to return to the discussion. None of this, of course, takes away from what the Lionesses have achieved. They've inspired a generation, won hearts, and raised the bar for women's sport in this country. Well done to the England Women’s Football Team - their success is rightly celebrated. But let’s keep the discussion still has to grounded and without the misogynistic bigotry.

Some points, just to shut down the Labour Lefties and their potential DE & I comments: - The photo above not this years England Squad. - England Woman's football team has had a Black Captain (previously) - Approximately 10% of the England Female football team has been black (or mixed heritage) since 2000

Arguably yes... Safer than area's of most cities in the UK and Europe too... But that does not equate to it being risk free. Walk around with big gold chains... expect that someone might snatch it... Walk around with a handbag or a clutch 'exposed' (i.e. carrying it in your hand) etc easy for theives to snatch, and that might just happen... Pattaya is not an 'unsafe location' if you are careful - but when careless, drunk etc... the risk profile increases, that can be said of thievery or personal / physical safety if someone is more inclined to get mouthy when drunk etc...

I think thats a fair comment... I'd imagine and guess that it 'could' be backed up with police reports (if we could get hold of them) that most Bag Snatches in Thailand occur in the Walking-street to Beach Road area of Pattaya and in Soi Bangla area in Phuket.... for much the same reasons I'd expect to see more bag snatches in the Leicester Square and Covent Gardens and Oxford Street area's of London.... . .. ultimately, wherever there are lots of tourists who may be more inclined to let down their guard, there are thieving scum who will 'target' them...

no… that’s a random sampling of some which were reported… … you want every single reported bag snatch in Thailand? (many aren’t) … expecting such would be as dim as your ‘great collection’ comment… misses the point & lacks intelligent thought - great combo !

Don’t… you have the convicts moaning about ruck cleanouts… & shoulder on shoulder tackles (cleanouts) being head on neck !!

Any comment positive is fine…. Any comment other that wholly positive will always be accused by some of ‘expat is looking for another excuse to have a moan’…. ….. that’s if someone wants to oversimplify & dumb down every thread to a binary positive or negative…. IMO - there’s nothing wrong with questioning the logic of a process, particularly visa related - isn’t such discussion exactly what the forum is about ?

I assume ..... means "and the rest of the world" well done !!!! 👏

Sample size too small. Moreover, it's purely anecdotal evidence. Plus: claiming that "well, this happens in any city around Thailand" is pure whataboutery. .... 'whataboutery' you say... Well done on learning a new word - work out when you use it correctly next time. Hua Hin (2015) – Gang caught snatching foreign tourists’ bags during Songkran. Chiang Rai (2017) – New Zealand tourist’s bag snatched at traffic junction. Chiang Mai (2019) – Bracelet vendor snatched tourist’s wallet at Night Bazaar. Chiang Mai (2025) – Swedish tourist’s phone snatched near Muay Thai gym. Chiang Mai (recent) – Tourist’s bag snatcher chased and caught by local. Chiang Rai (date unknown) – Myanmar worker’s bag snatched while cycling. Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Woman dragged 40m during bag snatch. Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Juice vendor robbed at night by motorbike thief. Rawai, Phuket (2025) – Australians arrested for snatching foreign tourists’ bags. Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Purse stolen roadside, thief groped victim. Cha-am (2015) – Hua Hin gang caught with stolen tourist goods from bag snatches. Nonthaburi (2025) – Myanmar woman’s bag taken from bicycle basket. Samut Prakan (2020) – Woman’s bag snatched in crowd at local fair. Samut Prakan (2025) – Construction worker caught snatching vendor’s purse. Nongprue, Chon Buri (2025) – Teen gang snatched Russian tourist’s bag. Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Thief caught charging phone after snatching bag. Udon Thani (2018) – Elderly woman’s handbag snatched at bus stop. Hat Yai, Songkhla (2020) – Malaysian tourist’s bag snatched outside mall. Surin (2019) – Teen gang caught after series of motorbike snatches. Roi Et (2021) – Market vendor’s handbag stolen, suspect arrested. Thats just the first few that pop up - many more.... As I wrote, it happens all over Thailand, not just Pattaya, thus solely condemning Pattaya based upon this one event is dumb. That said, I'd hazard a guess and suggest that this happens more in area's of higher tourist footfall such as Pattaya and Patong, simply because of the 'Thais' those area's attract who want to take advantage of tourists in those area's..... The same happens in central London, Paris and Barcelona - Thailand to a far lesser degree I think.