My wife wants to open an English-language playschool for children 3- to 5 or 2 to 5 year olds. Does anyone know of the requirements for starting such a venture?

Neither of us are Thai, but I do have a work permit and my own company.

Edited October 5, 200718 yr by Sing_Sling

My wife wants to open an English-language playschool for children 3- to 5 or 2 to 5 year olds. Does anyone know of the requirements for starting such a venture?

Neither of us are Thai, but I do have a work permit and my own company.

From first hand experience it is a nightmare!! There are endless hoops to jump through and you cannot set up a school (even an international one) as a foreigner (even with a company).

I tried 2 years ago to go down that route for 3-6 year olds and I was told (by my lawyers) that I would need a Thai head with a relevant degree or masters in Education - even for a pre-school.

I understand rules are slightly different for a "nursery" environment, but once a curriculum kicks in the bar is raised considerably. All foreign staff must have degrees and earn the requirement for tax etc, and the degrees are now independently verified by the Thai authorities.

My result was I gave up and simply home schooled a small group of kids along with my child.

Exasperating Thailand! hahahaha

1. requirements : lots of well to do parents with kids

2. might consider to look around and buy an existing pre/school, might be easier than to set up one, and obtail all the papers. Then shouldnt be a problem to move the school.

1. requirements : lots of well to do parents with kids

2. might consider to look around and buy an existing pre/school, might be easier than to set up one, and obtail all the papers. Then shouldnt be a problem to move the school.

Thanks for that. We moved to Chantanburi and there are lots of wealthy people here from the gem, fruit and rubber industries and one bilingual school - but nothing for the little ones. We have had quite a bit of encouragement from both expats and locals for this.