Thailand's private education sector is facing a critical challenge, with up to 80 schools anticipated to close this year due to financial pressures. Supaset Khanakul, president of the Association Board of Coordination and Promotion of Private Education, noted that closures have increased significantly from previous years. In Bangkok alone, several institutions have already been forced to cease operations.

Get today's headlines by email

The rising costs of operations, particularly with increasing fuel prices affecting student transportation, and a decline in enrollment numbers, are key factors driving these closures. State schools, expanding class sizes and maintaining open admissions, have intensified competition by drawing more students away from private education. Supaset pointed out that high land values and regulatory constraints have further exacerbated the situation, making alternative business uses for school properties more appealing.

Supaset has called on the government to address the disparity in funding between public and private institutions. He emphasized that true educational equality requires reform in budget allocations, especially concerning school meals, rather than permitting institutions to charge additional fees.

The growing presence of international schools is also reshaping Thailand's educational landscape. With state schools now offering special programs at considerable fees, many families prefer international schools for slightly higher costs, contributing to the challenges faced by traditional private schools.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 16 Apr 2026

View full article

call private education what it is: a business, plain and simple. Nothing more, nothing less.

There's no denying that private schools operate as businesses.

But, they also provide an alternative to the public system. And many offer specialised activities that don’t exist in public schools.

With the added financial strain on parents in the current economic climate, I'm not surprised that private schools are closing.

However, I suggest that their closure must also affect more than just those families who can afford them. Fewer private schools must also mean a greater burden on the public system!

The Anutin government has said that it considers education the backbone of the country's economic success and social cohesion. It also says it sees private schools as part of the broader education ecosystem, effectively supplementing the public system.

If this be true, then perhaps it needs to walk the talk and provide some form of targeted support. Otherwise, mass closures could push more students into already stretched public schools, creating a different set of problems for the country.

Ya let's blame this debacle on higher fuel prices.