Two Illegal Schools Teaching 900 Migrant Children Shut Down

Crime

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October 10, 2025Oct 10

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

Authorities in Samut Sakhon have shut down two unauthorised schools that were secretly teaching around 900 migrant children, discovering that 27 teachers held only labourer work permits. Officials confirmed the institutions had no legal permission to operate and would now face prosecution.

The raid, conducted on 9 October 2025, was led by Deputy Governor RTA Khetrat Chansilp, acting Governor of Samut Sakhon, alongside senior provincial and district officials, police, immigration officers and education authorities. The operation followed complaints from local residents to the Damrongtham Centre that a large number of foreign children were being taught illegally in the Tha Mai Subdistrict, Krathum Baen District.

The schools, once licensed for Thai students, had long since had their permissions revoked. When officials entered the premises, they found about 900 migrant children in classrooms across a three-storey building. Twenty-seven foreign nationals, both men and women, were teaching at the site. All were ordered to stop lessons immediately while authorities verified their identities and work documents.

A Thai national claimed to be the manager of the facilities, stating that the buildings were rented for use as youth camps for ethnic minority children. He said engineers had inspected the structures for safety and the local administration had been informed, but insisted it was not a formal school. Officials, however, confirmed that no educational licence had been granted by the provincial education office.

Deputy Governor Khetrat stated that even if the premises passed safety checks, they could not legally conduct teaching or training activities without specific authorisation. He added that all teachers must hold valid work permits corresponding to their occupation, yet every instructor held a permit for general labour. This constitutes a violation of Thailand’s employment laws for foreign nationals.

Authorities have ordered further investigations to determine other legal breaches, including improper operation of an educational institution and possible immigration offences. The provincial administration reaffirmed its policy that migrant children must receive education through government-approved schools, ensuring access to the national curriculum under Thai law.

All 900 affected children will now be transferred to state-run schools. Officials also warned that anyone wishing to establish private education centres or language programmes must first obtain formal approval from the provincial education authorities. Operating without a licence will result in prosecution of owners, administrators, and instructors involved.