I have seen the Bangkok Post's adverts asking for help to sponsor a Thai student through school. While I have been thinking about this I have met a family whose daughter lives in Issan, while the family works in BKK. They are unable to pay for her education here in BKK.

While having no desire to read about how Issan folks ride farangs for their money, I do want to know about the Thai education system. The family involved know nothing about my idea.

How much does it cost to school a child? What part, if any, is free? If i explained that i am able to fund her education until university, what are the possible outcomes?

I am by no means a soft soak. If she were to fail to attend or fail to perform i could still get involved with the Bangkok Post. As far as i know She enjoys school and does OK.

Any thoughts?

I sponser three kids in Africa for their education, they write to give me an update on how they are doing etc. one point is their familly's are from rural areas and have pretty much got no income, farming for subsidence, I've looked at this in Thailand and the way I look at it is if someones familly members from a rural area can work in BKK they should be able to school their childen, goverment eductaion is cheap, my point of view, worth thinking about.

I have seen the Bangkok Post's adverts asking for help to sponsor a Thai student through school. While I have been thinking about this I have met a family whose daughter lives in Issan, while the family works in BKK. They are unable to pay for her education here in BKK.

While having no desire to read about how Issan folks ride farangs for their money, I do want to know about the Thai education system. The family involved know nothing about my idea.

How much does it cost to school a child? What part, if any, is free? If i explained that i am able to fund her education until university, what are the possible outcomes?

I am by no means a soft soak. If she were to fail to attend or fail to perform i could still get involved with the Bangkok Post. As far as i know She enjoys school and does OK.

Any thoughts?

I sponser three kids in Africa for their education, they write to give me an update on how they are doing etc. one point is their familly's are from rural areas and have pretty much got no income, farming for subsidence, I've looked at this in Thailand and the way I look at it is if someones familly members from a rural area can work in BKK they should be able to school their childen, goverment eductaion is cheap, my point of view, worth thinking about.

I have seen the Bangkok Post's adverts asking for help to sponsor a Thai student through school. While I have been thinking about this I have met a family whose daughter lives in Issan, while the family works in BKK. They are unable to pay for her education here in BKK.

While having no desire to read about how Issan folks ride farangs for their money, I do want to know about the Thai education system. The family involved know nothing about my idea.

How much does it cost to school a child? What part, if any, is free? If i explained that i am able to fund her education until university, what are the possible outcomes?

I am by no means a soft soak. If she were to fail to attend or fail to perform i could still get involved with the Bangkok Post. As far as i know She enjoys school and does OK.

Any thoughts?

I'm going to disagree that if they work in BKK they should be able to pay for school, even it were free. Sure they probably make more money than back home, but living expenses are much higher as well. The big expense might not be the school cost, but the living expenses associated with having the child in Bangkok versus back home.

Even at 10baht per bus trip, getting to and from school would be over 400 baht per month, and that's if they're on the right street. It's more likely twice that amount to make the full trip. Add a bigger apartment for one extra body, extra food, clothes, etc., and it gets to thousands extra per month without including tuition, books and supplies. This might be somewhat offset by any money they send back home for similar expenses, but it's still a significant amount of money for many people in BKK. The older the child, the higher these expenses are going to be.

Thanks for your input Kev and Carmine, but that leaves me where i started.

I know the girl in question does attend school and as far as i know the family intend to continue with this arrangemnt. However, the fact remains i would like to offer help. After all, the more you learn the more you earn.

How cheap is government school? It appears that it is quite low in quality, so am i able to provide for a better standard? It seems that most things in Thailand have 2 teirs depending on money.

I would be surprised if kids of farang fathers would be allowed to attend ramshakle issan schools.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your input Kev and Carmine, but that leaves me where i started.

I know the girl in question does attend school and as far as i know the family intend to continue with this arrangemnt. However, the fact remains i would like to offer help. After all, the more you learn the more you earn.

How cheap is government school? It appears that it is quite low in quality, so am i able to provide for a better standard? It seems that most things in Thailand have 2 teirs depending on money.

I would be surprised if kids of farang fathers would be allowed to attend ramshakle issan schools.

Any ideas?

i send my daughter to the asumption school in ubon she is 5 years old and it costs 8000bhat a term there are two terms in a year, as the child gets older the price goes down , my stepson is 11 and we pay 3500, for the older kids they do need books and things from time to time and the od camping trip, so ad in another 5000 per year

Things to consider:

Transport to and from the school, sometimes the school is not close.

Uniforms, shoes and sport equipment

Lunches and other meals / drinks

Text Books, Note Books pens and pencils, and a caculator.

School Fees.

About 500 a month averaged out over the year will cover it for a government school with a bit to spare.