International Schools In Samui - Quality Education?

[thehelmsman]

I'm considering making Samui my steady home when I retire. Want a good education for my baby girl - my lady is Thai.

Just interested in some of your thoughts if you have kids going to school here......Also what is the cost??

Thanks

[Gulfsailor]

I'm considering making Samui my steady home when I retire. Want a good education for my baby girl - my lady is Thai.

Just interested in some of your thoughts if you have kids going to school here......Also what is the cost??

Thanks

Choices;

International school of samui

Samui centre for learning

Panyadee

Google for their websites. Have admission terms and fees online.

[Tropicalevo]

I thought that we had done this one before. Anyway - a few more around now

http://iss.ac.th/

http://www.panyadee.ac.th/

http://www.ciss-samu...ram_&_Fees.html

http://www.sclinternationalschool.com/

and not quite international

http://www.oonraksam...m/Eng_index.php

[AlfGarnett]

From personal experience, Oonrak School by a country mile. My children do not require an International School as they are British and if we returned to England they would attend the local school, and be placed by age rather than certificates.

Oonrak was recently awarded an approval of ASEAN Education, meaning the standard meets the criteria for my children to attend any other approved school in South East Asia, less than Two thousand schools meet this standard. So quite an achievement.

Fees for the year are around 100,000 baht, school bus is a little extra and very reasonable. After school clubs are free too, great atmosphere there too. Just google and have a look. I would not look anywhere else personally, but other people will have other opinions. Mine is from experience and talking to other parents.

[robsamui]

I know little about local Thai government schools. The post by AlfGarnett I bow to - he appears to be aware and erudite. (Not JonBoy - is it!?)

However I have experience of the local international schools, in several ways - although none of them as a parent.

In the same way as any system of schooling (and I used to be an educator in a senior capacity, before in England) it all depends on what you want and how old your children are.

There are three schools on Samui. One is exam geared, in the same way as a 'grammar' school. The other is essentially child-centered, The third is recent and as yet for very young children.

I have to say that the atmosphere in all three is lovely.

There is none of the competitiveness of the typical grammar school in school A near Chaweng. The majority of the expats here have their kids there and are a happy and well-knit community, involved with sports, sailing and other out of school activities.

School B in Lamai has much the same feel to it. The mission statement is different though, stressing more the individual development and much less about exams and national curricula.

The third is new to the island - I can say it as it's not in competition (I hope!) - Montessori school. It is directed at young children and their early development and, as with all the Montessori schools, seems faultlessly inclined towards stimulating and developing the 3-7 year-olds.

I have spent time at each of the schools and the quality of the staff and their dedication is exemplary, with nothing to chose between them in this respect - keen, enthusiastic, dedicated. All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'.

As yet there is not so much to extol regarding the teenage years and the varying exam/curriculum options - none of the schools here are able to offer much yet - although they are building in this area - as 90% of the island's expat children are still young. Several that I know of who have reached Key Stage 4 have been sent to Bangkok for this. The parents of others at this point have been happy to let those few remain in situ.

From your post I would be inclined to say that socialisation is more important to you than an exam-driven approach? Your child is young? You'd like her to emerge bi-lingual? Well for any very young child I've already given the clue. When she's reached five, and you've been here a while, then you can make further decisions based on your gleaned knowledge. I have little respect for the few expats here who are happy to send their kids to a government school - the propaganda approach, the low standards of education/awareness in the teachers themselves, the demand that teachers must not be questioned and the utter lack of regard for international awareness makes me shudder.

Costs you have to check - others have posted links to this.

Good luck in your choice . . .

R

Edited December 24, 2012 by robsamui

[churchill]

From personal experience, Oonrak School by a country mile. My children do not require an International School as they are British and if we returned to England they would attend the local school, and be placed by age rather than certificates.

Oonrak was recently awarded an approval of ASEAN Education, meaning the standard meets the criteria for my children to attend any other approved school in South East Asia, less than Two thousand schools meet this standard. So quite an achievement.

Fees for the year are around 100,000 baht, school bus is a little extra and very reasonable. After school clubs are free too, great atmosphere there too. Just google and have a look. I would not look anywhere else personally, but other people will have other opinions. Mine is from experience and talking to other parents.

Agree .. my daughter goes there and very happy . Very happy atmosphere...

[maccaroni man]

I know little about local Thai government schools. The post by AlfGarnett I bow to - he appears to be aware and erudite. (Not JonBoy - is it!?)

However I have experience of the local international schools, in several ways - although none of them as a parent.

In the same way as any system of schooling (and I used to be an educator in a senior capacity, before in England) it all depends on what you want and how old your children are.

There are three schools on Samui. One is exam geared, in the same way as a 'grammar' school. The other is essentially child-centered, The third is recent and as yet for very young children.

I have to say that the atmosphere in all three is lovely.

There is none of the competitiveness of the typical grammar school in school A near Chaweng. The majority of the expats here have their kids there and are a happy and well-knit community, involved with sports, sailing and other out of school activities.

School B in Lamai has much the same feel to it. The mission statement is different though, stressing more the individual development and much less about exams and national curricula.

The third is new to the island - I can say it as it's not in competition (I hope!) - Montessori school. It is directed at young children and their early development and, as with all the Montessori schools, seems faultlessly inclined towards stimulating and developing the 3-7 year-olds.

I have spent time at each of the schools and the quality of the staff and their dedication is exemplary, with nothing to chose between them in this respect - keen, enthusiastic, dedicated. All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'.

As yet there is not so much to extol regarding the teenage years and the varying exam/curriculum options - none of the schools here are able to offer much yet - although they are building in this area - as 90% of the island's expat children are still young. Several that I know of who have reached Key Stage 4 have been sent to Bangkok for this. The parents of others at this point have been happy to let those few remain in situ.

From your post I would be inclined to say that socialisation is more important to you than an exam-driven approach? Your child is young? You'd like her to emerge bi-lingual? Well for any very young child I've already given the clue. When she's reached five, and you've been here a while, then you can make further decisions based on your gleaned knowledge. I have little respect for the few expats here who are happy to send their kids to a government school - the propaganda approach, the low standards of education/awareness in the teachers themselves, the demand that teachers must not be questioned and the utter lack of regard for international awareness makes me shudder.

Costs you have to check - others have posted links to this.

Good luck in your choice . . .

R

i lived in Ban rak and chose "B" for a few reasons; time in business on the island; this is the oldest school of this type by many years. cost; i had 2 children enrolled and with bus it was less than one child in "A", Class size; my oldest was in the upper classes and had under 10 students the youngest had 20 children. Both children are now in the USA the oldest is 14 and at the top of his class in the advanced placement classes and the youngest age 8 is doing quite well too.

it was always our plan to move our children state side where the IB program is free in the state school and we are happy with our choice. we have good friends with children who are very happy with the Thai style international school in maenam the price is afforadable and the education is good. Overall Samui has plenty to offer and it will come down to what you want from the school. good luck.

[sjohnson1234]

So Oonrak (thats a nice name too) looks like a winner. I dont want to blow silly money on schools for a couple of years and I am not sure a privaledged international schools sets up a Thai kiddy for a Brit comprehensive.

I'll check it out.

[thehelmsman]

First to Robsamui-

The language corruption of American 'teachers' ??????????

I fear my baby girl will speak like a Brit hahahaaaa

In all seriousness - How does St. Joseph's stack up against the International Schools.

My baby will be attending St. Joseph's in Isaan soon. But, I would like to make the move to Samui for selfish reasons.

Up north St. Joseph's is a top notch school. I'll be checking out St. Joseph's on Samui myself in the near future - But for the sake of discussion ...........What do you think?????

[candypants]

I have spent time at each of the schools and the quality of the staff and their dedication is exemplary, with nothing to chose between them in this respect - keen, enthusiastic, dedicated. All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'.

way to blow what appeared to be a reasoned argument with irrational bias.

so am i to take it that international means British?

[Tropicalevo]

I have spent time at each of the schools and the quality of the staff and their dedication is exemplary, with nothing to chose between them in this respect - keen, enthusiastic, dedicated. All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'.

way to blow what appeared to be a reasoned argument with irrational bias.

so am i to take it that international means British?

Not as I understand it.

The three main schools on Samui have all been accredited by the Thai Education department and have been awarded licenses to teach in the country. This accreditation means that the schools are allowed to call themselves International Schools.

They just happen to prefer to teach the British Curriculum and on the whole they use native English speakers.

There were/are other schools on the island that followed other criteria (http://montessori-assothai.org/TAMS_act.htm and baccalauréat) but it is my understanding that these schools do not have the appropriate accreditation to be allowed to be called International Schools.

Of course, things are always changing, and I could be out of date by now.

By the way - I believe that all of the International Schools offer quality education. It is just a matter of cost/location/age of child and personal preference.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Tropicalevo

[riverchapel]

how much are the fees in st.josephs school in Nathon?

[romain22]

Not sure about the tuitions but you can see the different philosophies of each school on http://www.sataban.com (and of course the addreses and contact info)

[islandguy]

Quote: "All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'."

Thanks for giving me one more reason to celebrate the 4th of July this year.

[Higgins]

Be prepared for waiting lists they are very popular. Get in early when you make yer choice

Consider what age each school runs to cos once your kids are in a school they get mates and dont want to change

Only one i heard bad things about is Bluewater (its now called summink else now)

Hear good things about the Lamai one and the Panyadee one. The Oonrak one doeasnt go to age 15 ? Is that correct?