Nist New International School Of Thailand

[bannork]

The daughter of a Thai friend of mine has passed the entrance exam to NIST and he very quickly received a letter telling him to pay up the school fees mighty sharply or she'll lose her place.

Does anyone have any experience regarding NIST, either as a parent or a teacher?

Thanking you in advance.

[Sumgmt]

Yes, stay clear of this place--they charge big money for very poor quality "teaching". You can do much better at many international schools that charge one-quarter the fees. Very high absentee rate among teaching staff and no real alternatives to the expensive and much over-rated Swiss IB program. Just a place to charge lots of money for less than 150 "real" school days per year. happy to provide details just PM with questions specific to needs.

[heyj]

Sounds like the previous respondents children were not accepted at NIST. You're friend is very lucky to have been offered a place at NIST, the school is very full and has very few vacancies. It is the best IB school in Thailand and possibly in the region with excellent teachers and improving facilities. It provides outstanding opportunities for its students BUT they are expected to work hard to which there is no real alternative....but that's the reality of life! It has location on its side and is the least expensive of the big three schools in BKK. Yes there are cheaper schools but at many the education and administration is second rate with large amounts of the fees disappearing as profits to the owner (s). NIST is a non profit school and finances are administered by a strong Board that ensures all money goes back to education and improving facilities. NIST is a real international school with a wide range of nationalities in its community. In the end, as with most things in Thailand you get what you pay for.

Finally fyi the IB is not a Swiss programme, although it has an office in Geneva, it is an international educational programme that is accepted in over 120 countries world wide as a standard for entry to university.

[Scott]

Please take care in posting information. We do not allow 'naming and shaming' schools.

[Phatcharanan]

I don't understand Sumgmt's comments at all.

NIST has an excellent rep and is quite rightly highly regarded within the IB community.

[siampolee]

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Sumgmt

Yes, stay clear of this place--they charge big money for very poor quality "teaching". You can do much better at many international schools that charge one-quarter the fees. Very high absentee rate among teaching staff and no real alternatives to the expensive and much over-rated Swiss IB program. Just a place to charge lots of money for less than 150 "real" school days per year. happy to provide details just PM with questions specific to needs.

I don't understand the above comment at all, and I can only presume that the poster either has confused the school with another school with a poor educational and staff retention record, or has had some problems with the school, either as an employee, or the parent of a failed applicant..

Nist has a fine academic record

I assure you all that within the teaching profession here in Thailand Nist is indeed well respected by we properly trained and qualified teachers. (Yes we do exist contrary to popular misconceptions and beliefs)

I have no connection with the school apart from occasional contact with its teaching staff in both a social setting and professional development style settings and as a delegate to I.S.A.T. meetings

[aussiebebe]

I've no information about NIST but IB was founded in Switzerland as one poster stated and in all honesty I see nothing wrong with a school writing to prospective customers about timely enrollment.

Edited June 18, 2010 by aussiebebe