Report Desperate for School Funds, Thai Families Turn to Pawn Shops

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Post Today

 

Parents across Thailand are scrambling to convert belongings into cash, as they face mounting pressures to meet school term expenses. With the onset of the new school year on May 16, there’s a rush to pawn shops for funds to cover the cost of uniforms and other essentials.

 

In anticipation, pawn shops nationwide have boosted their cash reserves. The Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality has readied a whopping 300 million baht among its branches, while offering low interest rate promotions to assist cash-strapped families.

 

Siriphan Kuanha, manager of one of these branches, assures customers that their needs can be fully met.

 

Other regions are following suit, with Yala's main municipal pawn shop stocking up 100 million baht, informed by Charoonrat Lamrassamee, the assistant manager. As the school year looms, an influx of visitors is anticipated by the Public Relations Department.

 

The storage facilities in Nakhon Ratchasima, already brim with various pawned goods from household appliances to personal valuables.

 

However, not everyone finds a solution in these establishments. A man in Pak Kret district faced rejection from several shops when attempting to pawn a 40-inch TV, illustrating a gap in available storage for larger items. This left him with no option but to resort to a loan shark to secure the necessary 1,000 baht for his nephew's schooling fees.

 

The scene underscores the desperate measures families are being driven to, highlighting the societal reliance on short-term financial solutions. The incident also raises concerns about communication, prompting calls for clearer signage at pawnshops regarding what items they accept.

 

As the countdown to the school year begins, pawn shops remain a critical lifeline for many, despite these challenges. The swift cash turnover aims to aid parents striving to fund their children's education in increasingly difficult economic circumstances.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-06

 

 

[ozz1]

What about their 10k handout probably been spent on other stuff meanwhile the government spend billions on military equipment the loan sharks will be happy

[watchcat]

18 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

What about their 10k handout probably been spent on other stuff meanwhile the government spend billions on military equipment the loan sharks will be happy

 

We will never see those money, why would we they already won the fake election.

[Andytheburiramman]

The bigger scandal is not being addressed, and that is school directors are demanding money to educate children in state run schools.  The education in the schools is free, but the corruption is so endemic that it has become accepted as the norm.

[baansgr]

What exactly are these school expenses? Government schools pay each childs parent approximately 2,500 baht , this is enough for uniforms, pencils etc...or are we on about those with the latest pick up trucks on drip that send their kids to private schools..I'd just like to know

[steven100]

1 hour ago, ozz1 said:

What about their 10k handout probably been spent on other stuff meanwhile the government spend billions on military equipment the loan sharks will be happy

the 10k hand-out was spent on Lao Khao the same day ...  and cigarettes' 

[JimHuaHin]

This is nothing new, it has been happening for decades.

[SABloke]

2 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

This is nothing new, it has been happening for decades.

 

It's been happening for decades, and these articles have been written almost as long. Put this article's title into Google and you'll see variations on a theme going back to 2015 - nothing changes 🙄

[FlorC]

Gold near all time high , easy to pawn or sell.

[Chonnikarn]

It’s heartbreaking to see how far families have to go just to afford basic education costs. Pawn shops may help short term, but this really shows how urgent it is to address deeper economic issues. Education shouldn't come with this much financial stress.

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, Chonnikarn said:

It’s heartbreaking to see how far families have to go just to afford basic education costs. Pawn shops may help short term, but this really shows how urgent it is to address deeper economic issues. Education shouldn't come with this much financial stress.

Education is free for every Thai child, infact the government helps parents to buy uniforms etc by providing 2,500 per child

[steven100]

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Education is free for every Thai child, infact the government helps parents to buy uniforms etc by providing 2,500 per child

that 2,500 goes to the nearest mom & pop shop for the next months Lao Khao

[SOTIRIOS]

Disgraceful....Hundreds Of Billions 'Allocated' By This Government...

And Yet...(?)

 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, ozz1 said:

What about their 10k handout probably been spent on other stuff meanwhile the government spend billions on military equipment the loan sharks will be happy

Not everyone got the 10K... that was promised during the campaign

[factual monk]

They are more keen on opening casinos than to provide funds for education. 

[jcmj]

Maybe the casinos can fund the kids uniforms and books. The government should considering how badly the education system is going. My daughter has a Thai English teacher who teaches them English in Thai and the English that they do teach is a joke and almost always has 2 possible answers. If they want to improve their education they must improve the quality of the teachers and their materials. 

[JimHuaHin]

5 hours ago, baansgr said:

Education is free for every Thai child, infact the government helps parents to buy uniforms etc by providing 2,500 per child

If my memory serves me correct (it may not) until last month, Thai school children were required to have 3 uniforms - school, sports and scouts.  Did your kids, or grand kids, or when you were a kid, was there only one set of school uniforms; or was there 2-3+ sets, just in case the trousers/shorts/skirts, shirts, shoes, sox, etc. got dirty and could not be washed for the next day's school?  I remember I had a clean shirt  and sox every day I went to school; my mother did 2 clothes washings a week.

 

And do not forget the school bag!!

 

Then there are the school extras - educational trips to exciting places (shopping malls), historical sites, temples, etc.; all of which are not free.

 

Then there is - "Mum, my teacher says I need an iPad, ......"

 

Enough from me.

[baansgr]

5 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

If my memory serves me correct (it may not) until last month, Thai school children were required to have 3 uniforms - school, sports and scouts.  Did your kids, or grand kids, or when you were a kid, was there only one set of school uniforms; or was there 2-3+ sets, just in case the trousers/shorts/skirts, shirts, shoes, sox, etc. got dirty and could not be washed for the next day's school?  I remember I had a clean shirt  and sox every day I went to school; my mother did 2 clothes washings a week.

 

And do not forget the school bag!!

 

Then there are the school extras - educational trips to exciting places (shopping malls), historical sites, temples, etc.; all of which are not free.

 

Then there is - "Mum, my teacher says I need an iPad, ......"

 

Enough from me.

You are correct, shoes, shorts, shirts and bag can all be bought for 2,500 baht, not forgetting the free lunch they get. 

[NoDisplayName]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

A man in Pak Kret district faced rejection from several shops when attempting to pawn a 40-inch TV, illustrating a gap in available storage for larger items. This left him with no option but to resort to a loan shark to secure the necessary 1,000 baht for his nephew's schooling fees.

 

Of course, he COULD have done the unthinkable..........bought a 20-inch TV and put money aside for school fees.

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, baansgr said:

What exactly are these school expenses? Government schools pay each childs parent approximately 2,500 baht , this is enough for uniforms, pencils etc...or are we on about those with the latest pick up trucks on drip that send their kids to private schools..I'd just like to know

My kids government school fees due next week, 8,000bht.

The misses is out buying his uniforms right now, about 5,000bht for 2 pairs of shoes, 2x school uniform, 1x scout outfit, 1x gym outfit, 1x traditional Lanna outfit, bag, books, pencils, embroidery his name on each shirt. Most sold by the school shop at inflated prices, if you don't buy from them, your kid doesn't attend!

 

And my kids pal, I just paid his government school fees, 5,000 and he gets my kids shoes and uniforms s/h from last year. His mom is broke, trying to earn 200bht a day on market stalls, selling whatever she can find.

[Will B Good]

Thai Families Turn to Pawn Shops

I've been spelling it wrong all these years.

[baansgr]

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My kids government school fees due next week, 8,000bht.

The misses is out buying his uniforms right now, about 5,000bht for 2 pairs of shoes, 2x school uniform, 1x scout outfit, 1x gym outfit, 1x traditional Lanna outfit, bag, books, pencils, embroidery his name on each shirt. Most sold by the school shop at inflated prices, if you don't buy from them, your kid doesn't attend!

 

And my kids pal, I just paid his government school fees, 5,000 and he gets my kids shoes and uniforms s/h from last year. His mom is broke, trying to earn 200bht a day on market stalls, selling whatever she can find.

Is it an EP program your kid does, 

[Nick Carter icp]

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

about 5,000bht for 2 pairs of shoes, 2x school uniform, 1x scout outfit, 1x gym outfit, 1x traditional Lanna outfit, bag, books, pencils, embroidery his name on each shirt.

 

   That is good value , cannot complain about that price