Cost Of International School

[MrSquigle]

Are you going to teach your children the difference between 'there' and 'their' ??

[WOOHOO]

Well done mate, got me on a typo. I guess it's a life of squaller for my kids then. They will however know the importance of not being facetious!!

[MrSquigle]

Bet you looked that word up in the dictionary before you pressed go right ?? I would have.

[garro]

Bet you looked that word up in the dictionary before you pressed go right ?? I would have.

I think picking on other poster's spelling/grammar is a bit spineless on a web forum.

An open forum is not to be a place for formal writing.

In my opinion a child can get a great education without needing to attend a private international school.

These schools can certainly help the process along but, at the end of the day, a lot depends on the child's innate ability - and of course their parent's attittude.

I will likely not be able to send my child to an international school but this does not worry me as I didn't attend one either.

Best of luck Woohoo

[Prakanong]

Bet you looked that word up in the dictionary before you pressed go right ?? I would have.

I think picking on other poster's spelling/grammar is a bit spineless on a web forum.

An open forum is not to be a place for formal writing.

In my opinion a child can get a great education without needing to attend a private international school.

These schools can certainly help the process along but, at the end of the day, a lot depends on the child's innate ability - and of course their parent's attittude.

I will likely not be able to send my child to an international school but this does not worry me as I didn't attend one either.

Best of luck Woohoo

There is a debate in psychology about innate ability and a growing mindset who likes challenges and learning - something that can be developed.

I do agree with you about not needing an international school though in all cases - I never went to one either and seem to be doing OK

My best pal did send his kids to them though and for two reasons - he is a Diplomat and move around so his kids could continue in the same curriculum where ever they were.

He does get it paid for of course by the British govt. but I do not think its all down to money - he would not send them away to boarding school in the UK like many others do.

He went to the local grammar school in the UK as did his sisters even though the family could afford private education his parents are against it ideologically. All 4 children are high achivers in their fields ie Dr's, advertising, Diplomat and media producer - as yousay the parents attitude and the learning environment counts for a great deal.

[fletchsmile]

... Anyway I'm wondering if finances are a problem isn't a compromise possible. Couldn't you send your child to a cheaper bi-lingual school as someone suggested earlier, and then make sure you put the time & effort in yourself at home to make sure your child is just as smart as he would have been at a very expensive international affair. Might not be possible in the later years but surely up to the age of 10 or so. I guess the point I'm making is that, is it not a possibility that some people ship there kids off to the nearest expensive, international school, so they can chill out and spend more time on the golf course. The same kind of people who have nannies/maids doing all the nappy changing etc.

I have a nanny and I have a maid. I send my son to what I believe to be a good International school as I believe that is best for him NOT me.

I am not a teacher therefore I do not believe I can do as good a job educating my son as a qualified teacher can...

JacknDanny - My thoughts exactly. Our 4 year old child goes to an international school because it is a place I feel that she will receive the best possible foundation to her education.... .

I did say SOME people, not everybody. I wasn't judging every parent of every child at an international school, so please don't take it so personally. I just disagree whole heartedly, with the people on this thread (most of them it would seem) that are implying, if you aren't wealthy, you can write you child's entire future off already. There's a chance, when the time comes, I won't be able to afford a top of the range international school, but I can guarantee you, one way or another my child's education WILL NOT suffer....

In my opinion a child can get a great education without needing to attend a private international school.

These schools can certainly help the process along but, at the end of the day, a lot depends on the child's innate ability - and of course their parent's attittude.

I will likely not be able to send my child to an international school but this does not worry me as I didn't attend one either.

...

FWIW:

I've been doing a fair bit of research on this, and would agree with elements of all the posts above.

My take is I'll give my daughter one of the best educations we can reasonably afford.

I think Woohoo has a point that there are compromises can be made if needed. Unfortunately the examples given of golf etc, are not good ones. Golf is obviously something can be given up if needed (if it's only a lesiure activity, and not part of work/business development). The minority described as passing the buck in these examples have no need to compromise anyway. I wouldn't mix real compromise with passing the buck.

I'd agree with Garro if we were living in the UK. But we're not. As much as I dislike it, elitism is a part of Thai life. The middle class here is very small. Reality is say <1% doing well, 10% middle class, 90% poor, and little chance internationally. I got a great free education. It was a good one, and has been an important factor in the options I've had in later life. I've still worked hard, but it gave me the chance to make it.

Unfortunately, quality free education is extremely difficult to come by in Thailand. Particularly if you want your child to have international options, eg live/work overseas or overseas degree later. Having an international school certificate is important. I don't particularly like the fact, but that's the way it seems here. Thailand implies a need to finish at an international school if you want the best options for your child. The UK doesn't need this, as the overall standards/ "normal schools" are good enough to give people opportunities.

Overseas education establishments will naturally look for established schools with good papers from each country they deal with. Unfortunately they can't check out the local "nakorn nowhere's" in every country in the world, so need benchmarks.

Hence if you need to compromise on money you probably need to do it in the early years, so they finish in the right place. Unfortunately, in many ways the early years are more important and key formative years. So neither option is desireable: starting in international and finishing cheap or starting cheap and finishing in international. However, if I had to: I'd go for the latter, and forego much of my own personal "wants".

Ideally I'd like my children to have the education I did. I thought it was a great balance, and done by the majority in the UK. Reality is it's not possible in Thailand. Hence back to: "I'll give my daughter one of the best educations we can reasonably afford"

Edited January 15, 2008 by fletchsmile

[MsFigure]

Bet you looked that word up in the dictionary before you pressed go right ?? I would have.

I think picking on other poster's spelling/grammar is a bit spineless on a web forum.

An open forum is not to be a place for formal writing.

In my opinion a child can get a great education without needing to attend a private international school.

These schools can certainly help the process along but, at the end of the day, a lot depends on the child's innate ability - and of course their parent's attittude.

I will likely not be able to send my child to an international school but this does not worry me as I didn't attend one either.

Best of luck Woohoo

It is possible to get a great education at a government/state school say for example in Australia, UK and US - but since this is Thailand, the only choice particularly for children who have non-thai parents is a top international school. Anyone (non thai) with children in schools here are kidding themselves if they think their children will receive the best education possible anywhere else. I know it sucks, but it's the reality in Thailand.

And it's not just the standard of education that parents look for in a school, but the learning conditions (clean facilities and safe environment) and extracurricular activities and opportunities the school provides. To us they matter just as much as the standard of education (highly qualified teachers), and I don't think any schools other than a few of the top international schools here provide them.

[spot]

Bet you looked that word up in the dictionary before you pressed go right ?? I would have.

I think picking on other poster's spelling/grammar is a bit spineless on a web forum.

An open forum is not to be a place for formal writing.

In my opinion a child can get a great education without needing to attend a private international school.

These schools can certainly help the process along but, at the end of the day, a lot depends on the child's innate ability - and of course their parent's attittude.

I will likely not be able to send my child to an international school but this does not worry me as I didn't attend one either.

Best of luck Woohoo

It is possible to get a great education at a government/state school say for example in Australia, UK and US - but since this is Thailand, the only choice particularly for children who have non-thai parents is a top international school. Anyone (non thai) with children in schools here are kidding themselves if they think their children will receive the best education possible anywhere else. I know it sucks, but it's the reality in Thailand.

And it's not just the standard of education that parents look for in a school, but the learning conditions (clean facilities and safe environment) and extracurricular activities and opportunities the school provides. To us they matter just as much as the standard of education (highly qualified teachers), and I don't think any schools other than a few of the top international schools here provide them.

I don't agree you have to send kids to a top international school. We haven't yet decided as my son is only 5 months old, but if we don't return to the UK for his education we probably send him to a private bilingual school (including Chinese language). He will always get extra attention and help from me with his development.

State schools in the UK are of a higher teaching standard than Thailand, but anyone who has spent any time there recently will know how peer pressure now churns out classes of disrespectful idiots. One worry about exposing my son to the Thai education system is that he will be brainwashed by those two powerful and backward institutions....

Free thinking isn't really condoned in Thailand.

[thaiclan]

I did say SOME people, not everybody. I wasn't judging every parent of every child at an international school, so please don't take it so personally. I just disagree whole heartedly, with the people on this thread (most of them it would seem) that are implying, if you aren't wealthy, you can write you child's entire future off already. There's a chance, when the time comes, I won't be able to afford a top of the range international school, but I can guarantee you, one way or another my child's education WILL NOT suffer. It's very easy to sit there and preach when you have the finances, but some people have to make do in other ways. I can assure you jackndanny there are no sour grapes on my part. I wish decent people all the luck in the world, the richer you are the happier I'll be for you, and I wasn't suggesting there's anything wrong with having maids or nannies, if you're still being an attentive parent, but please don't tell me there isn't wealthy people out there who pass the buck of raising there children simply because they can afford to.

Intention of the parent is everything, and here you are online trying to get the best advise or information you can. Thats the exact intention that will help your child no matter what school you choose. Ignore the negative posts as their intention is obviously different to yours (not towards their children but towards helping ALL TYPES of fellow parents).

You are not alone. I had to think very hard about schools as my daughter has been enrolled in 3 of the top schools in Pattaya and none of them were adequate for her needs (she tested gifted at 3yrs). When she was 4 I enrolled her into Satit for 1 year but only for a 3 day week (a customised request). On our days together I would homeschool and give her the challenges she needed, but on her school days she could play and socialise and be part of someone else's routine. So compromise is always possible and should always be an option when dealing with kids. I found the international schools very frustrating at their failures to incorporate a Gifted child, and this policy runs throughout the school. Granted Satit too doesn't have a Gifted program but for socialisation and extra curricula skills it was a better choice for a gifted kid.

My daughter is 6 now and I now home school full time. We both love it. I purchase the UK curriculum online and everything gets sent to me including assessment sheets.

Its not always a question of money why people do not choose the international schools. And your brilliant child will be brilliant regardless of the $ you spend on the education.

[Theyreallrubbish]

super crazy expensive those prices

a thai earn about 15.000 baht per month ...

why pay so extremely much ?

i'm also a farang who made a Thai girl (and married) pregnant and the children are going to a Thai school, no need for international crapp !!!!

the school earn disguestengly much money for a normal education in English

its not the 25OOO baht per month they pay their English teachers that will cost them so much !!!

I was involved in the financial restructuring of an international school several years ago and having seen their accounts and worked with the owners and head staff I can tell you that although the fees seem high the schools aren't making money. In fact I found it frustrating approaching it with a business head on because the people running it had no concept of making a profit. Any money that came in they immediately earmarked for upgrading the facilities and equipment and hiring better teachers.

It was admirable actually. I'm sure some schools are run by owners who are trying to take the money out of schools as a profit, but the one I saw in depth was committed to the point of making sure he never got a return on his own shareholding to improving the education of the kids.

[wanderer9020]

im wondering if these international school are the only one offering English teaching medium in Thailand. Because, back in Singapore, you dont need international school for ur kids to enter Oxford or MIT, the free Singapore education in an English medium is enough to enter these ivy league schools. You dont need to pay these rediculous fees. Is there something like schools in Thailand esp in CHiangmai who uses English as Thai medium? I dont dare to ask my Thai wife now (, we still doesnt have kids)and aside from that, because shes even teaching Microbiology at a university in CHiangmai in pure Thai, I cant imagine...A friend who finished his Bachelors and MAsters both in UK is now teaching in Thailand in Thai medium..(he cant go anywhere, Thai govt paid for him)....so he need to teach Thai probably forever untill he can repaid Thaksin, forget about his acquired Brit accent

[wanderer9020]

in retrospect, I may really need to work double now, to save for these rediculous prices....Thanks for the infos anyway

[thaiclan]

im wondering if these international school are the only one offering English teaching medium in Thailand. Because, back in Singapore, you dont need international school for ur kids to enter Oxford or MIT, the free Singapore education in an English medium is enough to enter these ivy league schools. You dont need to pay these rediculous fees. Is there something like schools in Thailand esp in CHiangmai who uses English as Thai medium? I dont dare to ask my Thai wife now (, we still doesnt have kids)and aside from that, because shes even teaching Microbiology at a university in CHiangmai in pure Thai, I cant imagine...A friend who finished his Bachelors and MAsters both in UK is now teaching in Thailand in Thai medium..(he cant go anywhere, Thai govt paid for him)....so he need to teach Thai probably forever untill he can repaid Thaksin, forget about his acquired Brit accent

Yes foreigners can enrol their kids into the state schools but most wouldn't want to! They are a world apart in respect to the methods they use. Singapore (and most Eastern countries) are still based on rote learning despite using the English language. The pressure is on from an early age to achieve, achieve and achieve (in a capitalistic, economic turnover of worker bees sense), and although exam marks are attained at what cost......?

[fletchsmile]

I think bi-lingual schools may be an option. The main concern I have is with their acceptability to universities/ other further education establishments outside Thailand, and any limits it may have in future options.

I've read a few websites on this, and found the following links interesting for what would be required to get into say a UK university later.

http://www.slooy.com/html/slooy17/20060925/11805.html

http://www.educationuk.org/pls/hot_bc/bc_p...7&p_lang=31

It seems good quality international programmes done to say a UK curriculum may be directly elgibile for UK further education evaluation. Bi-lingual schools seems less certain.

A bridging year/international foundation year is also an option. However, the cost of this year per Essex university is: GBP 8,700. After that you'd need accomodation/living costs etc, so you can probably double that at least. So you'd be looking say THB 1mio at least, which would be the equivalent cost of an extra 2-4 years of international school here in Thailand (given living costs here would be normally low if with parents).

Hence for me: to keep the overseas university option open, international school seems preferable. I wouldn't want my daughter to have to do an extra year of study just for the sake of it to make up the gap, and financially pay the equivalent of 3 years international school in Thailand. Might as well pay for international school finish in the first place.

Edited January 16, 2008 by fletchsmile

[torrenova]

Seems like WOOHOO is getting a lot of stick for being honest enough to say that he may not be able to afford the fees of a top international school. I just wonder how many here actually pay it themselves rather than have it paid for them as part of their company remuneration ?

Not all folks plan for kids or abort them just because their finances are not 100% when nature comes along. At least he realises the problem and he has some time to think about what to do before the bills need to be paid. I admire his honesty.

[MrSquigle]

It is not that he cannot afford it at all.

If anyone cannot afford what is considered the best education for their kids in whatever coutry they exist in, then naturally they go for the best they can afford.

It was his tune of comment that we waste our money, we dump kids at high priced schools, we do not do any research or assessment as to the qualityu of the school, then we run off to play golf and leave the nannies and maids to do all the work of taking care of our kids.

It is also that he thinks that a thai public school could do just as good a job.

[thaiclan]

It is not that he cannot afford it at all.

If anyone cannot afford what is considered the best education for their kids in whatever coutry they exist in, then naturally they go for the best they can afford.

It was his tune of comment that we waste our money, we dump kids at high priced schools, we do not do any research or assessment as to the qualityu of the school, then we run off to play golf and leave the nannies and maids to do all the work of taking care of our kids.

It is also that he thinks that a thai public school could do just as good a job.

Did you read the beginning of Woohoo's post about "please don't jump down my throat"?

Unless you suffer from Aspergers or something similar (in which case sorry, I totally understand), it is plain to see the spirit in which Woohoo was asking for advice and NOT condemning or generalising other parents behaviour. Give him a break..remember if you can't say something nice..........

[boogie]

It is not that he cannot afford it at all.

If anyone cannot afford what is considered the best education for their kids in whatever coutry they exist in, then naturally they go for the best they can afford.

It was his tune of comment that we waste our money, we dump kids at high priced schools, we do not do any research or assessment as to the qualityu of the school, then we run off to play golf and leave the nannies and maids to do all the work of taking care of our kids.

It is also that he thinks that a thai public school could do just as good a job.

Did you read the beginning of Woohoo's post about "please don't jump down my throat"?

Unless you suffer from Aspergers or something similar (in which case sorry, I totally understand), it is plain to see the spirit in which Woohoo was asking for advice and NOT condemning or generalising other parents behaviour. Give him a break..remember if you can't say something nice..........

Agree 100% thaiclan and nowhere has Woohoo said that he believes a Thai public school could do just a good job. All he is asking is if there is a viable alternative to the high cost of international schools.

By the way Mr Squigle are you going to teach your children the difference between "tune" and "tone" ?

[MrSquigle]

yeah if I can find it on my keyboard to show him.....and my thesaurus is up to date.

[MrSquigle]

Oh and when he states that people ship their kids off to international school so they can spend more time playing golf and the same 'type' of people that have nannies and maids doing all the work.

Up to you, but I kinda think that it is generalizations and belittling and condemning.

[WOOHOO]

I would like to add one last comment, to try and clarify the point I was trying to make. Firstly I would like to apologies for the 'playing golf' comment. Not because I don't believe it happens because it does, but because for some reason people felt it was aimed at them, when quite clearly it wasn't. People like that do exist and I was using them as an example, that it is more important to be a good parent than a wealthy one, when everybody was implying you couldn't be one without the other. Obviously in an ideal world you would be both, but if it came down to a choice, I know which I would choose. I'm not sure whose post you read Mr squigle but it doesn't appear to have been mine. At what point did I say ' you waist your money, don't do any research or assessment in to the quality of the school and that a Thai public school could do just as good a job' It would appear my 'playing golf' comment bugged you so much, (understandable if you thought it was aimed at you) that you failed to understand the point I was making. If the time comes and my finances were adequate enough, then I would do exactly as you said, do some research and find the best school possible for my child, which would undoubtedly be one of the expensive, private, international schools that we are discussing and not a Thai public school or a cheaper Bi-lingual school. I am simply saying that life isn't so black and white that you can say it's either expensive private school or badly educated, prospect less child. There is a huge amount of middle ground if the parent is dedicated and devoted enough to the child.

P.S Thanks to the few people who could see where I was coming from, for the supportive comments.

[torrenova]

To put it into perspective, the choice to have our daughter (and I had never planned nor wanted kids before but wouldn't change a thing now) means about Bt20,000,000 as a conservative estimate. It has meant a move from my condo to a house, purchase of a new vehicle, the costs of pregnancy and birth together with the ongoing first year costs to date.

The Bt20m I refer to is a very rough approximation of a million baht each year for 20 years, being less in the early years and more in the latter ones. Overseas education could easily add another Bt10m to that at least. So I'm in for about USD 1,000,000 if I have it

Bring in a company paying the fees and other bills and I'm almost free of that burden. Not an insignificant sum.

For me personally, the real bite comes from the amount I can reinvest from my businesses each year. On the one hand I have to be more prudent but on the other hand I have to generate income over and above that which I planned would be necessary.

[PeaceBlondie]

I talked recently with my mate who replaced me at the provincial school. His wife's preggers, they bought a house that's not where he can find work, he's very unhappy with his job that earns him 25K eleven months per year (with degree and work permit), and he was dreaming of sending the nipper to an international school in six more years. I politely told him that intern'al schools cost more than his entire salary, even the second tier schools! His only hope is to return to the motherland from which he sprang, or smooth-talk his career into a decent bilingual school where the kid gets maybe half price tuition.

I apologize if my prior remark about your luk khrung kid ending up as a sex worker touched a raw nerve. I have seen that happen.

[PattayaParent]

Torrenova, have you figured into your calculation the costs of extras?? Ballet lessons, school trips, increased costs of holidays (airtickets especially), music lessons, sports equipment and musical intruments (piano!!) etc. should your kid show an aptitude, their first car / motorbike??

You'll be lucky to get away with ONLY $1 million!!

[torrenova]

Torrenova, have you figured into your calculation the costs of extras?? Ballet lessons, school trips, increased costs of holidays (airtickets especially), music lessons, sports equipment and musical intruments (piano!!) etc. should your kid show an aptitude, their first car / motorbike??

You'll be lucky to get away with ONLY $1 million!!

Yeah, I know !

I was just hoping she doesn't want ponies, will travel economy, learn to love Bt20 noodle soup (or Mama noodles) and the like. Even the thought of 4 years foreign education with tuition fees and living expenses blows that $1m way out of the water. Looks like papa will be working 24/7/365/25 (years) then !