Patai Udom Suksa School to Close After 50 Years

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Patai Udom Suksa School in Bangkok has announced it will cease operations after the 2025 academic year, ending over 50 years of educational service. The school cited longstanding financial difficulties exacerbated by structural issues, such as Thailand’s declining birth rate and economic challenges, as reasons for the closure. Despite efforts to overcome these hurdles, including downsizing, the board decided the financial strain was unsustainable.

Founded in 1971 by Khunying Udomlak Siyanon, the school has endured significant pressures in recent years. A nationwide crisis among private schools has seen over 40 closures last year due to economic instability and demographic changes. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified these challenges, impacting all sectors, including education.

Rising operational costs, such as increased teacher salaries and expenses related to student health and safety, added to the financial burden. The school also faced issues with delayed or unpaid tuition fees. In response, they reduced staff and size in 2023 but found these measures insufficient to sustain long-term operations.

The decision to close was made to lessen the impact on students and parents. Patai Udom Suksa will provide academic documents needed for transfers and has arranged for nearby schools to accept their students. Parents are invited to a meeting on December 3 to discuss further details.

Looking ahead, the school will continue teaching through the second semester while completing necessary closure formalities with the Ministry of Education. This planned transition aims to ensure students are supported as they move to other institutions, reported The Nation.

Key Takeaways

• Patai Udom Suksa School will close after more than 50 years due to financial pressures.
• Efforts to sustain operations through downsizing have proven inadequate.
• The school is coordinating student transfers to nearby educational institutions.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-12-02