Shock – Could Thailand be better to school my kids than the UK?

[catman20]

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

Interesting comment. Yes there are things that need to be sorted in the higher education area in terms of overall policy and more and there are things that need to be sorted within universities.

 

However IMHO one of the biggest problems ultimately connects to the students:

 

- In many cases, go to uni to find new friends and laugh and play all day. 

 

- In many cases, never listen or participate, just make sure the professor doesn't catch you playing games / checking shopping sites etc., on your smartphone.

 

- Come back from lunch an hour late then complain when you can't do the assignment etc. (Just one similar example: during a final exam with 4 situational questions, all worth a possible 25 marks, one of the boys puts his hand up, I go to his desk, he points to one of the questions and he says 'Professor I wasn't here for this class so please change my total questions to 3 questions, 33 possible marks per question and can I have A please'.)

 

- Plus start university thinking it's the same as primary school and high school, not allowed to ask questions, just remember the key words but don't even try to understand.

 

 

?

[i claudius]

Our lad is Thai ,when he was 5 we brought him to the UK and he went to a superb junior school ,at 12 the school he was going to was ,full of shall we say immegrant children , it was terrible ,police on the gates morning and night to stop the fights between gangs . so he came here with us ,went to Assumption ,the English classes  ,as he speaks both fluently , then on to university ,he is now 25 and managing a company . did we do the right thing ,you bet your arse we did .

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, catman20 said:

read what i write and not what you think ! its nothing to do with culture these thais are stupid.

We will have to agree to disagree what you write is just your opinion and misunderstood one at that.

[Number 6]

I teach at arguably the best public high school in Thailand. There is definitely some high level math and science going in there, but we're a bit short on 21c century skills. I do what I can, where I can.

 

Almost all my kids end up at Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Mahidol professional programs. Medicine, Engineering, Business, Economics. Some go abroad.

 

In HS luk krung kids often get shunted into EP programs but these are often full of substandard Filipino teachers (as others). Imo students are far better off with top Thai teachers, learning math and science in their native language.

 

I am aware of Assumption, I almost took a job there. I think Amnuay Silpa also solid despite not hiring Americans.

 

Mater Dei is a great school for girls. Wattana Wittayalai, the top end of St Joe's Convent  is OK. All girls.

 

Pathumwan Demonstration, Samsen, Sattriwittaya and Triam Pattanakarn, Bodindecha 1 (/1 to /5

 

I taught at another very popular feeder to my school now. I taught EP, Intensive and two low level regular classes. I was surprised so many of my EP kids got in (tutoring) especially Math Science track. But my Intensive kids really nailed it and nearly a dozen made it. I was so happy and proud of them ?

 

Your kid can go on to professional school in Thailand, why not?

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Number 6

[bearpolar]

years of violence and narcissistic culture for a good degree to work at starbucks

 

or years of good life in a country that people dream about moving to, with a shitty degree but possibilities of high-up local jobs and tons of entrepreneurship possibilities.

 

 

Easy to tell which parents can't afford to live in Thailand anymore.  Everyone that i know that has left for schools regret it and are making plans to come back.

[nontabury]

4 hours ago, bearpolar said:

years of violence and narcissistic culture for a good degree to work at starbucks

 

or years of good life in a country that people dream about moving to, with a shitty degree but possibilities of high-up local jobs and tons of entrepreneurship possibilities.

 

 

Easy to tell which parents can't afford to live in Thailand anymore.  Everyone that i know that has left for schools regret it and are making plans to come back.

And which country have you moved to, and what type of school have you enrolled your children into. A bit more detail from you would be helpful,rather than just general criticism.

[bearpolar]

38 minutes ago, nontabury said:

And which country have you moved to, and what type of school have you enrolled your children into. A bit more detail from you would be helpful,rather than just general criticism.

Canadian school in a decently expensive suburb, all my neighbors are 400k+$ houses.

 

Half the school are ghetto kids with step siblings from 3+ different parents. Barely any activities. School has unqualified specialist. (my friend's kids got d's in kindergarten while he reads and write 2nd grade level). Weakest kid determines what is learned.

 

Their last school in thailand: 0 bullying, kids from ghetto schools were fixed after a few month, tons of extra curricular stuff included in the curriculum, every kid goes at their own pace without affecting the rest, principal is only looking to break even, no profit, off the chart quality facilities.

 

Even the thai private english program school i visited a few years ago was 20x better than what Canada has to offer nowadays. 

Edited July 16, 2018 by bearpolar

[TravelerEastWest]

On 7/15/2018 at 3:16 PM, BEVUP said:

Agree

As I mentioned prior

You could spend a fortune on top schools, but it's up to the child in the end 

It surely is up to a mix of school teachers, parents and the child but if the child has the best environment he or she will tend to do better.

 

Are there exceptions - yes.

[TravelerEastWest]

Another thought I don't know much about the English school system but in America the public schools are normally locally funded so there is huge range in the quality of schools.

 

I went to a public high school in Marin county just outside of SF in California and the school had zero bullying and lots of extra AP classes and many extra activities golf, sailing plus normal sports... The teachers were very smart and taught you how to think in addition to the classics.

 

From what I see in Thailand only the top most expensive International schools are similar.

 

 

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, catman20 said:

ive lived here 18 years i assume you dont live here or not lived here very long. having lived here so long, i have come into contact with many Thai people, they have very poor communication skills with there own people they often talk to each other and miss understand as there language is a very difficult one. 

 

 they also lack in common scene. but you would know that if you stayed here any length of time wouldn't you !

 

i can think of someone else that seems to know nothing about what hes talking about or he is lacking in common scene also.

So laughable, where I live I am in contact with Thai people all the time 6 of who I speak English with and I'm also thankful I don't have farangies like you around or near me, I will repeat :-

We will have to agree to disagree what you write is just your opinion and is a very misunderstood one at that IMO.

[nontabury]

Is education any different in the U.K, Thailand or the USA ?

 

 

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, nontabury said:

Is education any different in the U.K, Thailand or the USA ?

I would say no different in real terms of what he says quoting the " 1%  " I guess or the grey coat members around the world theory.

All my kids over the years 4 UK 2 Thai were all different the UK grand kids have been no different when it came to learning, as I said before not mega rich but happy. 

[BobbyL]

Quite a misleading article. 

 

If you are sending them to a 'real' international school here then I would say their education and overall experience will be far better than going to a school in the UK. The education system back home is a joke. I wouldn't teach there again if they doubled or tripled my salary. 

[nontabury]

1 hour ago, BobbyL said:

Quite a misleading article. 

 

If you are sending them to a 'real' international school here then I would say their education and overall experience will be far better than going to a school in the UK. The education system back home is a joke. I wouldn't teach there again if they doubled or tripled my salary. 

I’m taking it that your a fully qualified teacher, with teaching experience in both international schools and in the U.K state sector. If so I’m bound to agree with you. 

Just two points I would raise.

1/ In a first class international school here in Thailand, the class size is usually around 15, while in the U.K most classes consist of 30pupils. This of course is more advantages to the children, as well as providing a superior teaching environment for the teacher.

2/ International school are run as a business,if they don’t make their customers (parents) happy, those customers will soon move elsewhere. While in the U.K. state sector,many aspects of education have been politicised. With some school run by the state,others by faith organizations, and now with a very large number run as a so called government funded, but semi independent academy.

 

I understand your reluctancy to return to teach in the U.K. with all the Bureaucratic resprictiond,that would be imposed on you along with the teaching environment,however to tarnish all U.K schools with the same criticism is wrong.

There are still some good school here, you just have to be very careful, and try and do your homework before you choose.

[Happyman58]

My lovely step-daughter is in final year and she loves it But before all of you get excited here is why she loves it. She only does 4 days a week school, one day devoted to army day cadets so she stays home She never does any homework, mum gives her lots of money she has a b/f don't come home till all hours of the night and she is having a ball. School is great To be quiet honest if she went to farang school they put her in her grade 7 that how far she is behind. But mum assured me she is going to university next year. Most amazing education system i have ever seen 

[Hans Rayong]

On 7/15/2018 at 3:40 PM, nontabury said:

You’ve got to be joking. This school was recently set up by a very rich Thai family,in order to make even more money. The school opened last September, and so far has only attracted, mostly Thais,  who unjustifiable think because it’s fees are very high,that it must be a good school. Plus these higher fees are also an added attraction to some Thais, who want people to think they must have a great deal of money, if they can afford to send their children there. Allthough I now hear that due to only a small take up, that they are offering large discounts on fees. Will this make a big difference,I don’t know.

 

Up to 50% of the students may come from Thai families. Almost all students have moved from other international schools in the area such as Regents International School Pattaya. The school fee is not higher than other international schools. Most classes have waiting list. They don't offer any discounts on term fees except for siblings discount.

[Kwasaki]

On 7/15/2018 at 8:40 PM, nontabury said:

You’ve got to be joking. This school was recently set up by a very rich Thai family,in order to make even more money. The school opened last September, and so far has only attracted, mostly Thais,  who unjustifiable think because it’s fees are very high,that it must be a good school. Plus these higher fees are also an added attraction to some Thais, who want people to think they must have a great deal of money, if they can afford to send their children there. Allthough I now hear that due to only a small take up, that they are offering large discounts on fees. Will this make a big difference,I don’t know.

 

What you say "Fee's"  it is very true of schools around our area and way Thais talk about schools.

I'm a family friend of whose daughter goes to a school that charges high fee's the English language course or whatever they call it, they think her English very good now and she is doing very well, I think it best they find out themselves if ever as their daughter only acknowledges me with a " Hi ya " to me. 

[BEVUP]

21 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

What you say "Fee's"  it is very true of schools around our area and way Thais talk about schools.

I'm a family friend of whose daughter goes to a school that charges high fee's the English language course or whatever they call it, they think her English very good now and she is doing very well, I think it best they find out themselves if ever as their daughter only acknowledges me with a " Hi ya " to me. 

The only thing I can see about these fees is that the kids aren't sitting in a classroom all day with 40 other kids.

At a typical school it's 30,000 a yr with the English side of it

I pay 47 K a term at a private Thai school, which also has introduced International for 2 grades ( I think that's stupid ) as you would go for gr 3 then have to wait till gr 6 

Also where do they get theses Teachers from for Int. schools (out of the same Thai Uni Grads )

 

Lad likes it a lot better as he gets to do more & eats better 

[Kwasaki]

37 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

Lad likes it a lot better as he gets to do more & eats better 

Well all would is if your happy with how you boy's doing and your boy is happy OK.

 

My step son was at Uni with costs of 34K per 2 terms and 7k a month for accommodation.

His 1st school was in village then college was a songthaew down the road some which were small costs, he learnt what he wanted and was happy.

[Odysseus123]

Responding to the OP....

 

NO.

[nontabury]

3 hours ago, Hans Rayong said:

Up to 50% of the students may come from Thai families. Almost all students have moved from other international schools in the area such as Regents International School Pattaya. The school fee is not higher than other international schools. Most classes have waiting list. They don't offer any discounts on term fees except for siblings discount.

While I know for a fact that certainly some parents, have been granted large discounts to move from other International schools to Rugby.And I am not talking just siblings. What parents should be aware of, will the school up their fees, when and if they achieve full capacity. Also some of the children who have moved, have done so because they were underachievers at their previouse schools.

 The most important  factor in establishing a good school, is the quality of the teaching staff, some teachers are very good at inspiring their pupils, while others just go through the motions. How successful Rugby has been in attracting and employing such teachers,  I ‘ve no idea, I suspect the same as the other international schools.

Edited July 20, 2018 by nontabury

[Hans Rayong]

6 hours ago, nontabury said:

While I know for a fact that certainly some parents, have been granted large discounts to move from other International schools to Rugby.And I am not talking just siblings. What parents should be aware of, will the school up their fees, when and if they achieve full capacity. Also some of the children who have moved, have done so because they were underachievers at their previouse schools.

 The most important  factor in establishing a good school, is the quality of the teaching staff, some teachers are very good at inspiring their pupils, while others just go through the motions. How successful Rugby has been in attracting and employing such teachers,  I ‘ve no idea, I suspect the same as the other international schools.

My two sons go to Rugby School, they have previously attended another international school in the area. The other school was slightly more expensive than Rugby. The truth is that they do not charge entry fee 150,000 for those students starting in grades 7-13 now in September. My children who started the Reception and grade 3 in September last year also escaped the entrance fee 150,000 baht. All parents I talked to love the school, they have the best teachers, best schoolrooms, and free activities for all children until 6 p.m. every day. Rugby School Thailand is under the supervision of Rugby School England, which has been in business for over 450 years. It is the only school that has entrance examinations. I know several students with both parents from England who have not shown sufficient academic level to be admitted to school.

[nontabury]

1 hour ago, Hans Rayong said:

My two sons go to Rugby School, they have previously attended another international school in the area. The other school was slightly more expensive than Rugby. The truth is that they do not charge entry fee 150,000 for those students starting in grades 7-13 now in September. My children who started the Reception and grade 3 in September last year also escaped the entrance fee 150,000 baht. All parents I talked to love the school, they have the best teachers, best schoolrooms, and free activities for all children until 6 p.m. every day. Rugby School Thailand is under the supervision of Rugby School England, which has been in business for over 450 years. It is the only school that has entrance examinations. I know several students with both parents from England who have not shown sufficient academic level to be admitted to school.

Look mate, I don’t want to get into a petty argument with you. 

I will just finish with these points, which you can accept or Not.

I also know of children who have enrolled in this school, and I am not aware of them taking any entrance exam. A couple of these children were know to be struggling at their previouse schools, So if in fact they did pass an entrance exam, I wonder at the level of the exam.

How can you state that they have the best teachers? That’s quite a broad stroke to make.

How much supervision does this franchise school receive from Rugby school,England? I ask this question,because the family who own this school are one of the richest in Thailand, and to them it’s just another business,watch the fees go up in the coming years.$£€$€£$€£

 

Edited July 20, 2018 by nontabury

[Hans Rayong]

On 7/20/2018 at 5:28 PM, nontabury said:

Look mate, I don’t want to get into a petty argument with you. 

I will just finish with these points, which you can accept or Not.

I also know of children who have enrolled in this school, and I am not aware of them taking any entrance exam. A couple of these children were know to be struggling at their previouse schools, So if in fact they did pass an entrance exam, I wonder at the level of the exam.

How can you state that they have the best teachers? That’s quite a broad stroke to make.

How much supervision does this franchise school receive from Rugby school,England? I ask this question,because the family who own this school are one of the richest in Thailand, and to them it’s just another business,watch the fees go up in the coming years.$£€$€£$€£

 

Your arguments are exactly the same as school management and teachers at Regents International School Pattaya use when talking about Rugby School Thailand. I have made my choice and am pleased with it. If you do not like wealthy Thai people, I think you should send your children to a Thai temple school.

[Rc2702]

I visited a pharmacists round by us. Her english was excellent so I asked her about schooling choices she had made for her daughter and if she knew of a specific school round there and what she thought of the school. Her decisive answers were refreshing and her recommendation for a school I'd never heard of looks a great choice. 

 

She's 37 she went to a Thai school a normal one and worked hard to get to university.

 

 

[BEVUP]

1 hour ago, Rc2702 said:

I visited a pharmacists round by us. Her english was excellent so I asked her about schooling choices she had made for her daughter and if she knew of a specific school round there and what she thought of the school. Her decisive answers were refreshing and her recommendation for a school I'd never heard of looks a great choice. 

 

She's 37 she went to a Thai school a normal one and worked hard to get to university.

 

 

So it goes to show you don't need to spend huge amounts of money 

Hopefully she can make enough to survive

But that being said I wonder if she would have to past a test if she went for an overseas job (since her English is good )

 

I had a choice Assumption 30,000 p/t due to English portion ( but 45 per class ), in room all day. 2500 in the school

                         Plookapunya 47,000, 20% increase from last yr. has English combined & learns in & out of room. At the                             moment 16 in the class - 600 in the school

 

Both schools same distance but better parking at Plook. They say it's Hi So but in reality there's a more expensive one but 10 km + out of town 

 

PS: The couple next door actually sent their 2 1/2 yr old to Bangkok 

Sai d schools to expensive in Korat

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by BEVUP