Expats Schooling Preferences in Thailand 2018 – Thaivisa Survey 2018

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Expats Schooling Preferences in Thailand 2018 – Thaivisa Survey 2018

 

 

Based on the Thaivisa Expat reader, 87% of expats have at least one dependent child living with them in Thailand and 36% have two or more. It is quite likely this is a typical reflection on all expats living in Thailand given Thaivisa is used for multiple reasons by a wide range of demographics.

 

It is a big choice and financial consideration for an expat when deciding where best to send their children. 56% of the sample says they will choose an International School.

 

Over 1 in 5 plan to spend over 400k baht per year per child; this increases to over 1 in 3 in Bangkok.

 

Bangkok has higher percentage of expats with children

 

Bangkok is an interesting region. It represented the largest share of the sample, with 29% from the survey coming from the capital. 68% of expats in Bangkok are working expats (against national average of 44%).

 

90% of expats in Bangkok have at least one child, which is the highest amount across all regions. 67% of expats in Bangkok plan on sending or already send their children to an international school.

 

Who will be looking for a new school over the next three years?

 

A huge 42% of the sample says they will need to find a school for their children to attend over the next 3 years, that increases slightly in Bangkok to 46%.

 

Notes: The survey was taken in May 2018 and has 333 respondents. If you would like to know any more about this survey please

 

email [email protected]

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-06-11

[manchega]

yes nice one dan, you need to ask questions such as given the choice of educating your child in thai system or anywhere else in the world what would you choose?

[quandow]

51 minutes ago, manchega said:

yes nice one dan, you need to ask questions such as given the choice of educating your child in thai system or anywhere else in the world what would you choose?

I've worked in both Thai schools and International schools in Thailand. NEVER would I send anyone I loved to a Thai school.

[HHTel]

Quote

Over 1 in 5 plan to spend over 400k baht per year per child; this increases to over 1 in 3 in Bangkok.

68% of expats in Bangkok are working expats

In this case, a lot of working expats have their children's school fees paid for by their company.  I wonder what the result would be if they were separated from the expat who has to foot the bill!

[lazygourmet]

<deleted>?!?

90% of expats in Bangkok have at least one child... Source please!! 

Because all of the new breed of executives, on full expat packages, that I've met during these last few years are all single.

You must be living in a Krung Thep parallel world... Down Klong Toey sewers, maybe ?!? 

[mok199]

in my opinion ,its all about income,i truly doubt anyone given a choice, would choose Thailand ,and if living in the west  is not an option, I doubt anyone with the income would choose a govt or a private scool..in the end its all about money...

[jayboy]

The expatriates who have the ability to send their children to an elite international school (say the top ten in Bangkok) are on the whole unlikely to be members of Thai Visa which - with obviously many exceptions - is primarily a middle aged/elderly forum.Most in social class terms will be C1, C2, D and E.A and B will not be heavily represented.The results will also be skewed by the huge population of resident former tourists in places like Pattaya.

[Jeremy50]

That's strange, most of the ex-pat's I've met and known in Bangkok over the years have no children, and absolutely no intentions of having any, and many have had a vasectomy, I don't know where this 90% comes from. As for Pattaya, at least 90% have NO children living with them. In the North East, perhaps 50% have children living with them, but many are unlikely to be able to afford an International school.

[samsensam]

Based on the Thaivisa Expat reader, 87% of expats have at least one dependent child living with them in Thailand and 36% have two or more. It is quite likely this is a typical reflection on all expats living in Thailand given Thaivisa is used for multiple reasons by a wide range of demographics.

 

OP; could you give the source for these statistics because many expats living in thailand are surely retired, sure some have younger partners with children, but '87% of expats have at least one child living with them' - i'd suggest is complete nonsense, but i'm happy to be proved wrong; OP please provide supporting evidence.

[greenchair]

4 hours ago, quandow said:

I've worked in both Thai schools and International schools in Thailand. NEVER would I send anyone I loved to a Thai school.

The top thai schools wouldn't even look at your application. You wouldn't be qualified enough. My son goes to a top thai school and I can tell you that they do a pretty good job. 

[HHTel]

1 hour ago, lazygourmet said:

<deleted>?!?

90% of expats in Bangkok have at least one child... Source please!! 

Because all of the new breed of executives, on full expat packages, that I've met during these last few years are all single.

You must be living in a Krung Thep parallel world... Down Klong Toey sewers, maybe ?!? 

It's quite clearly pointed out that this is the result of a survey, so stats are taken from the sample....

 

"The survey was taken in May 2018 and has 333 respondents." 

 

[quandow]

1 hour ago, greenchair said:

The top thai schools wouldn't even look at your application. You wouldn't be qualified enough. My son goes to a top thai school and I can tell you that they do a pretty good job. 

You've never been a teacher. You've never spent more than a few scant hours at your son's school during spectacular events when they show their best face. I've spent years at both top Thai schools and International schools. Your son will pass regardless of his efforts at a Thai school. Students quickly learn this fact and stop trying. International schools WILL fail a student if not up to par. Sorry to pop your bubble.

[djayz]

12 hours ago, greenchair said:

The top thai schools wouldn't even look at your application. You wouldn't be qualified enough. My son goes to a top thai school and I can tell you that they do a pretty good job. 

All that glitters is not gold

[BobbyL]

10 hours ago, quandow said:

You've never been a teacher. You've never spent more than a few scant hours at your son's school during spectacular events when they show their best face. I've spent years at both top Thai schools and International schools. Your son will pass regardless of his efforts at a Thai school. Students quickly learn this fact and stop trying. International schools WILL fail a student if not up to par. Sorry to pop your bubble.

Absolutely correct. 

 

[BobbyL]

12 hours ago, greenchair said:

The top thai schools wouldn't even look at your application. You wouldn't be qualified enough. My son goes to a top thai school and I can tell you that they do a pretty good job. 

?

[phetpeter]

10 hours ago, quandow said:

Your son will pass regardless of his efforts at a Thai school. Students quickly learn this fact and stop trying. International schools WILL fail a student if not up to par. Sorry to pop your bubble.

Sorry to pop your bubble, Int schools will not fail your child. In fact some are not as good as you think, You pay your money for the extras, Name , status, and the student don't try hard enough, 'cause daddy pays! plus one a few months ago,  had the residences raided and found illegal substances in quantity. and in the past, ping pong bombs, knives and attitude problems. Students under age clubbing, drinking. because daddy supplied the car, and sometimes a driver and cash.Watch them going to events out of uniform, Gals dressed as 'hoes and the boys dressed like pimps. Try that at the better government Thai schools. I cannot assure Thai student don't always get away with not trying. But that isn't the case at Int schools, which are sometimes are just dumping grounds to get your kids away from home. So you don't have to put up with them and their daily needs. Forgot to mention also Teachers scared to fail, or comment or are told not to , due to student phoning Daddy who phones the school, teacher sacked etc. Thats why the turnover is so high, or the teachers are young with no wish to remain too long or the school is overrun with butt kissing Philippino's.

Edited June 12, 2018 by phetpeter

[BobbyL]

14 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Sorry to pop your bubble, Int schools will not fail your child. In fact some are not as good as you think, You pay your money for the extras, Name , status, and the student don't try hard enough, 'cause daddy pays! plus one a few months ago, At one, they had the residences raided and found illegal substances in quantity. and in the past, ping pong bombs, knives and attitude problems. Student under age clubbing, drinking. because daddy supplied the merc's and cash.Watch them going to events out of uniform, Gals dressed 'hoes and the boys dressed like pimps. Try that at the better government Thai schools. I cannot assure Thai student don't always get away with not trying. But that isn't the case at Int schools, which are sometimes are just dumping grounds to get your kids away from home. So you don't have to put up with them and their daily needs. Forgot to mention also Teachers scared to fail, or comment or are told not to , due to student phoning Daddy who phones the school, teacher sacked etc. Thats why the turnover is so high, or the teachers are young with no wish to remain too long or the school is overrun with butt kissing Philippino's.

Wow.

 

So far from reality it is untrue.

 

[phetpeter]

2 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

So far from reality it is untrue.

Really? I could list the schools , but, Na! Believe what you want! Splash your  cash enjoy what you want, and true not all int schools but, we don't slander specific's we generalize on here. You research and gain the knowledge on your desires, or try before you buy!

[BobbyL]

4 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Really? I could list the schools , but, Na! Believe what you want! Splash your  cash enjoy what you want, and true not all int schools but, we don't slander specific's we generalize on here. You research and gain the knowledge on your desires, or try before you buy!

With regards to illegal substances being found, or pimps and hoes parties, I have no idea whether true or not. 

 

This however is utter gonads - 

 

Try that at the better government Thai schools. I cannot assure Thai student don't always get away with not trying. But that isn't the case at Int schools, which are sometimes are just dumping grounds to get your kids away from home. So you don't have to put up with them and their daily needs. Forgot to mention also Teachers scared to fail, or comment or are told not to , due to student phoning Daddy who phones the school, teacher sacked etc. Thats why the turnover is so high, or the teachers are young with no wish to remain too long or the school is overrun with butt kissing Philippino's.

[phetpeter]

Oh! Bobby, bobby, bobby, Sit down and finish your assignment research. I have spend  15 years teaching (still do) at a wide range of educational places both private and government. Sure there are good and bad across the board. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SACKED! And I wouldn't kiss and tell! But My own daughter is in a government school, I pay for MEP extra. I monitor her progress and can assure you it is the mentally of the 'guest' teachers who assume they mustn't fail students. ( I have invited them to my department, to see how we encourage students to develop)  Her school keeps me in the loop if there is a problem, They come to visit us twice a year to tell us about progress and find out our concerns. The rest is soo true I was there 5yrs and saw it all!

[greenchair]

11 hours ago, quandow said:

You've never been a teacher. You've never spent more than a few scant hours at your son's school during spectacular events when they show their best face. I've spent years at both top Thai schools and International schools. Your son will pass regardless of his efforts at a Thai school. Students quickly learn this fact and stop trying. International schools WILL fail a student if not up to par. Sorry to pop your bubble.

I have been a teacher for 25 years. But I have learned the system as a mother. 

At each of the top schools there are only 70 seats for gifted math science and 120 seats for ep. There is one top class for smp and 1 for ep .all the rest are not worth going to.In some schools there are more than 3000 applicants. Ep studies the Cambridge igcse programme physics, chemy, English, math , history. With a repeat in thai language on Saturday. Opposite for smp. In ep the teachers are subject teachers and specialist in their field. Almost all have doctorate degrees and come from the university part time. The children can attend extra math science programme and study for international olympiads.

There are only 5 schools like this in bkk. My son studied all day Saturday and Sunday and every night after school.    The normal programme is what you are talking about, however all failed students names are posted at the front of the school. All students that did not pass have to do extra classes during holidays. I have known several students that got a o and did not pass. There is a big red stamp on their end year grade that says, not finished. Unfortunately, the 120 seats, 70 seats are filled by poor and middle class that have studied hard. But the rich can't accept this. They pay for their seats. So there should be 30 kids per class but most have close to 40. Bringing down the grades. But even they can't get in the top class. My son studies really hard as do many thai children. They don't deserve to be branded with the same brush. 

[BobbyL]

15 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Oh! Bobby, bobby, bobby, Sit down and finish your assignment research. I have spend  15 years teaching (still do) at a wide range of educational places both private and government. Sure there are good and bad across the board. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SACKED! And I wouldn't kiss and tell! But My own daughter is in a government school, I pay for MEP extra. I monitor her progress and can assure you it is the mentally of the 'guest' teachers who assume they mustn't fail students. ( I have invited them to my department, to see how we encourage students to develop)  Her school keeps me in the loop if there is a problem, They come to visit us twice a year to tell us about progress and find out our concerns. The rest is soo true I was there 5yrs and saw it all!

Judging by your spelling and grammar I hope you weren't teaching English.

 

If you're happy with a Thai education then that is fine. I have no issues with that. The fact that it does rank very low globally and has major faults across all aspects of it would certainly concern me. I have also spent time here as a TEFL teacher before returning home and believe me, it is a different world to how a proper school should be ran. 

 

As I said before, a lot of what you wrote previously is simply not true, unless you're referring to some of the cowboy international outfits which cannot be judged properly. 

 

These things below simply would not take place in any decent level UK / American curriculum school which employ only fully qualified and experienced teachers. I am not talking about your average TEFL teacher. 

 

school is overrun with butt kissing Philippino's 

 

Unless they are teaching assistants, no international school employs Filipino teachers, unlike MANY Thai schools. 

 

Forgot to mention also Teachers scared to fail, or comment or are told not to , due to student phoning Daddy who phones the school, teacher sacked etc 

 

If an international school sacked a teacher for something like this they would be in gross breach of contract and word would get around very quickly. Contracts are detailed and people cannot be pushed out easily. 

 

Thats why the turnover is so high, or the teachers are young 

 

International schools naturally have a high turnover. Some retain better than others, but it is part and parcel of the industry. Any management team at an international school knows this and their recruitment is usually very professionally done. It also has no bearing on age. A good, young qualified teacher would be absolutely ideal. 

 

Try that at the better government Thai schools.

 

I would dread to think of what goes on in a government high school here. 

 

 

[phetpeter]

3 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

 

 

3 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

Judging by your spelling and grammar I hope you weren't teaching English.

Oh! dear, personal attack, because I decided to write lazily on TV. The fact you returned home, show your knowledge is limited. Thailand is 3rd world and is progressing. slowly but, surely it has many hurdles to complete. But, it is not good that you try to match them with your ideal schools in your home country, and certainly don't think that they should fall in line with US or UK ways which are failing to give a rounded education, unlike when I was at school in the 60's and 70's. School should provide a good knowledge about many things. Not just maths, science and American history related to colour. It should include the basic's, cooking, cleaning, changing a plug, basic repairs, geography, wood, and metal skills. health, discovery, research. Plus many more. Here communication skills are very important, many Thai student are capable of understanding English, but, lack the opportunities to pracite speech. Grammar is a system that is fluid, and certainly not an American skill, set in stone, nor to be equal is it a UK one too. Old forms are not important in the fast moving world we live in today. You must move with the times and except that English language skills are like the seas, moving and changing, If you wallow in the shallows, you will not be able to feel the changes in the deeper sea,. I change and move with my students abilities, to help them progress and become more confident, I worry less about your view on my grammar than knowing my students have a bit more knowledge, than they did when they entered my lectures.

[BobbyL]

1 minute ago, phetpeter said:

 

Oh! dear, personal attack, because I decided to write lazily on TV. The fact you returned home, show your knowledge is limited. Thailand is 3rd world and is progressing. slowly but, surely it has many hurdles to complete. But, it is not good that you try to match them with your ideal schools in your home country, and certainly don't think that they should fall in line with US or UK ways which are failing to give a rounded education, unlike when I was at school in the 60's and 70's. School should provide a good knowledge about many things. Not just maths, science and American history related to colour. It should include the basic's, cooking, cleaning, changing a plug, basic repairs, geography, wood, and metal skills. health, discovery, research. Plus many more. Here communication skills are very important, many Thai student are capable of understanding English, but, lack the opportunities to pracite speech. Grammar is a system that is fluid, and certainly not an American skill, set in stone, nor to be equal is it a UK one too. Old forms are not important in the fast moving world we live in today. You must move with the times and except that English language skills are like the seas, moving and changing, If you wallow in the shallows, you will not be able to feel the changes in the deeper sea,. I change and move with my students abilities, to help them progress and become more confident, I worry less about your view on my grammar than knowing my students have a bit more knowledge, than they did when they entered my lectures.

Not sure I can continue this conversation because of your delusion so this shall be my last post.

 

I moved back to the UK to become fully qualified and teach there for a number of years before returning here.

 

Believe me, a well rounded education is not found in a Thai school. 

 

[quandow]

Here's the bottom line smell test - if you had to have your gall bladder removed, would you allow a doctor with ONLY a Thai university degree to cut you open and trust you would wake back up in this world?

Edited June 12, 2018 by quandow
Change tense

[phetpeter]

3 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

Not sure I can continue this conversation because of your delusion so this shall be my last post.

Of course a blinkered view, Thank goodness we are not in a bar, I think you would try to attack me, 'cause you are soo right and I don't think you could ever see past your own view. I too, must go as I have to cause confusion with some students who I help in a small Thai school by the mountains who cannot afford your skills. But, are so happy to try their hardest with the one hour a day I give them between lectures.

[phetpeter]

8 minutes ago, quandow said:

Here's the bottom line smell test - if you have to have your gall bladder removed, would you allow a doctor with ONLY a Thai university degree to cut you open and trust you would wake back up in this world?

Yes! Had heart attack 6years ago, Had stent put in, All at government hospital, 3 monthly check ups, plus twice a year cancer tag checks, scans and xrays and epg's. Average cost 13,000 baht includes all med's. every 3 months. Receive good, kind treatment, and knowledgeable doctors and nurses and there is always a follow-up by a senior doctor, on those occasions I wanted further reassurance. Plus althro the average is cost I don't pay anything as I joined the Social security scheme, which anyone living in Thailand can join and thats just over 400 baht per month

Edited June 12, 2018 by phetpeter

[KiwiKiwi]

19 hours ago, quandow said:

I've worked in both Thai schools and International schools in Thailand. NEVER would I send anyone I loved to a Thai school.

 

Is that a 'Thai school' or "a school in Thailand'?

 

[KiwiKiwi]

 

It's very hard to take seriously if the compliments to Thai anything ony number less than 3. Lots of people have experience with doctors in Thailand. Lots of people choose not to comment, though if they had good reports, one assumes they would do so.

 

I have experience with using Thai doctors and 'good' Thai hospitals, and have worked at a Thai school (English Language Program).

 

Never again, not ever.

Edited June 12, 2018 by KiwiKiwi

[KiwiKiwi]

50 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Of course a blinkered view, Thank goodness we are not in a bar, I think you would try to attack me, 'cause you are soo right and I don't think you could ever see past your own view. I too, must go as I have to cause confusion with some students who I help in a small Thai school by the mountains who cannot afford your skills. But, are so happy to try their hardest with the one hour a day I give them between lectures.

 

 

Good luck dude, especially with the "are so happy to try their hardest with the one hour a day I give them between lectures" thing.

 

I wish my experience of Thais and things Thai had your rosy appearance, but reality bites too hard.