Government Schools

[damo]

My family and I considering a move to Thailand which will be likely. We want to move to Chiang Mai, I have had a look at some of the international schools through the net and think most are reasonable. My wife wants me to consider a government school, she said the school is hard to get into and there is a waiting list and testing to get in plus people in places etc. She calls it anubahn. I get the impression its some sort of public school but at a higher level.

Anyone familliar with this type of schooling, I have a 7 year old daughter who in Australia is in grade 2 and just wants to socialise and have fun at school more than actually learn anything.

Any advice on what the quality of this type of government school my wife is trying to tell me about will be much apprieciated.

Damo.

[Somtamnication]

Anubahn is primary 1 through 6. She would be in P1, if she is 7. A lot of playing in these schools and a lot of bamboo spanking. They discourage inquisitiveness, asking questions and everything is face-saving.

If you are only going to be here for a year, then why not. If you want an education for your little girl, avoid them like the plague. Been teaching at these schools for 8 years. But I have had both positive and negative experiences with them and each school is touch and go.

So called International schools are overpriced, at about 300,000 per year. Some good ones in Chiang Mai and very elite. I do not live in CM.

[damo]

Thanks for the reply,

My daughter is not a very academic child, I wasn't either at that age, I don't really want to pay for an inter school when she'll prolly not get the most out of it anyway. I can get out of it for just over 200K in CM for the inter or I think the missus said 30 - 50K for the gov't school. She seems to think this is pretty good. I guess as you say it may be a case by case basis. We could try it. I will have a lot more time to dedicate to the kids (other daughter is 3 years old) so with the net I can throw a bit of home schooling in as well. She has the basics and is allready fluently bilingual, can read and write English quite well.

Is the start of the school year in LOS the same for the gov't schools as it is for the inter schools?

[Somtamnication]

No. Govt. schools start in May through to Sept. Then very late October to middle to late March. International schools that offer the USA or British curriculum start at their respective school schedules in those countries. I believe QSI (American based) start in August.

You mentioned 30-50k for govt. school fees. These might be provincial govt. schools where they may have mini ep or ep classes. Never heard of a regular govt. school or temple based schools charge that kind of coin.

[BlackArtemis]

Yes, anything over 30k at a Government school in Chiang Mai would be an EP/NP/Bilingual program. I have a feeling which school she is referring to and I would not send my kid there. It's not a bad school, but no where close to the standards of a western school.

[sparebox2]

Here is a ranking list. It may be helpful, but it is in Thailand.

http://www.toptenthailand.com/display.php?id=2458&sort=asc