Foreign Child in a Thai School

[allane]

I've had a conversation with a foreigner who is considering whether to come to Thailand to work as a teacher.  I am not talking about someone who would be working at an international school.  In all likelihood, she would be working at a normal Thai government or private K - 12 school.

Here is the issue:  She has a 4 1/2 yr. old daughter who will turn 6 in Aug. 2023, so ready to start Grade 1 in May 2024.

Here are my questions on her behalf:

  1. Can a foreign child attend an ordinary Thai government school, if beginning in Grade 1 ?

  2.  Might the answer be different if the school is a private one ?  I'm asking about the sort of private schools that are operated by the Christian churches in various places around Thailand.  I am not asking about international schools, which I am sure she can't afford.

  3.  If a foreign child is admissable at all, is there an applicable admission test at the public schools ?  I am aware that the private schools, even the relatively inexpensive ones, have admission tests.

      Their projected arrival date is October 2022.  With 15 - 17 months before starting Grade 1, I think a child of that age could become quite fluent in spoken and even basic written Thai; probably on a par with her native born peers.

I would also appreciate discussion of any aspect of this that I might be overlooking.

[ChaiyaTH]

That's like the worst idea, not only will it be garbage education quality, it also will all be in Thai only + even worse as being half Thai. Unless your friend is going to become a very well paid International school teacher + get his kids on that school, his plan failed already before it started.

 

It is almost like punishing your children if doing that, when you aren't even Thai at all.

[ChaiyaTH]

You previously replied elsewhere on this forum: 'I have been involved in education in Thailand for over two decades' So not sure why you not know this yourself actually.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, allane said:

1. Can a foreign child attend an ordinary Thai government school, if beginning in Grade 1 ?

Yes they can, although they have to pay.

That's if the schools are open, my kid's been at home the past two years.