Pawnshops crowded as Thai school semester opens on Monday

[madmitch]

Not just Isaan but all over the kingdom that parents are borrowing money to buy the kids clothes and equipment for the new term.

It's not just the clothes (three different sets including the totally needless scout/guide uniform) and equipment but the cost of buying their way into the schools.

There's just so much wrong with the system and it's sad to read articles like this.

Yet most parents genuinely believe that their kids are being properly educated, hence the clamour for cash to pay for this.

[thesetat2013]

RogueExpat, they will vote for the party that benefits them. I would do the same too. Do you know why they are loyal to a particular party? If you think it's vote buying, you are wrong. People will be loyal to the party that keeps their promises. Don't just make empty promises to get their votes. They will remember.

I doubt you are correct. With tje misinformation the PTP feeds to them daily these people will vote for them again simply because they are told the blame lies with everyone else except the PTP.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[lee b]

This is terrible that parents have to do this. Would i be crazy to ask just where all this money is going??? (as the teachers i know don't earn alot.)

Shame for the kids as well, as some of the teachers here are really below standard.

[dukeandduke]

Anyway keep voting for us and we will keep promising to promise.

Then help us understand why their opponents never want an election.

[lostinisaan]

In Si Sa Ket's Muang district, where schools reopen tomorrow, the municipal pawnshop said it had Bt127 million to support parents and, if that was not enough, it had another Bt62 million in reserve.

​Time for the Lear Jet monk to jump in.....

[hidavey]

It's time for the new goverment look out for it's own people and not for themselves. Doubt it will happen but hey you never know.

[lostinisaan]

Not just Isaan but all over the kingdom that parents are borrowing money to buy the kids clothes and equipment for the new term.

It's not just the clothes (three different sets including the totally needless scout/guide uniform) and equipment but the cost of buying their way into the schools.

There's just so much wrong with the system and it's sad to read articles like this.

Yet most parents genuinely believe that their kids are being properly educated, hence the clamour for cash to pay for this.

To get your kid into a "well- known" high school in Sisaket, which is using an agency to teach English, you'll have to put 20-40 K on the, or under the table.

Even to get a child into the superficial Anuban, you'll have to come up with 20 K, EP around 40 K. Ordinary program occupied by another agency.

Nobody gives a flying buffalo about the kids' education. It's all about money.

Edited May 13, 2014 by lostinisaan

[MaxLee]

Just make sure kids do not remove any cones, if you know what I mean.

[Bakseeda]

Schadenfreude.........

[xminator]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

[losworld]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

Taxes are not the answer and Thaksin is not he answer either. The solution is to clean up the corruption. Like someone mentioned all the heads of the schools (even govt run) are driving around in Mercedes Benz. All budgets start with a number and after all the greedy hands at the top have grabbed it is a pittance of what it should be.

[Metisa]

And the education is atrociously poor. This is genuinely so sad.

People in Sisakhet and Buriram have such a tough go of it.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king...

And in some countries, the eyesight is even poorer... Haiti is a good example...

Thought that was the one-eyed tiger in Korean woods.... oops.... wrong proverb.

[Metisa]

One of the issues with these so-called pawn shops is that they are allegedly STATE owned, and government run. A governement running pawn shops, to aid its populus?

The reality is that the hands in the money of the grabbers actually comes from the local Governors and associated BIB henchmen. They are the ones coming up with the back up figures portrayed (in hundreds of millions of baht), and they are the beneficiaries of land and assets when people cannot pay back. It's sick and disgusting.

Pawning of goods to survive has existed as long as prostitution has, and hand in hand they are same trades. It is the pawn pimp who wins, same as the lottery organiser or the casino owner, despite their risks.

What is very sad is that in this day and age, families are so desperate to improve current status via educating their children resorts to having have to sell assets simply to get child to school dressed appropriately. If PTP had paid its dues, and not robbed the rice farmers blind, those poor persons would not be in the predicament they are now. Go forth Thaksin, and multiply. You sure served them well.

Not.

[rubl]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

Education till age 15 is mandatory and free on state provided schools.

The budget of the MoE 2013/2014 was 424++ billion if I remember correctly. That is about 17% of the National Budget.

[winstonc]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

Taxes are not the answer and Thaksin is not he answer either. The solution is to clean up the corruption. Like someone mentioned all the heads of the schools (even govt run) are driving around in Mercedes Benz. All budgets start with a number and after all the greedy hands at the top have grabbed it is a pittance of what it should be.

this is the correct answer...

[Metisa]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

Do you really believe successful venturists who have become successful don't pay tax?

Don't you think it wiser to investigate where the tax asset revenues go to, in reality, rather than blaming those who have taken risks and become successsful through taking risks? Many/most of the successful business owners in Bangkok are not originally from Bangkok... yet ventured to the capital to give it a go. Believe you me, Thailand could have afforded to offer free education to all its children, if it weren't for the rape and pillaging of the recent governments!

[Strangebrew]

You would think that a government that cared would at least offer free education for it's citizens. But were talking about a government that puts it's hands in the till first and throws scraps to the people.

[ryro88]

Pawn shops are opening up on every street corner in the UK too, this ain't a problem in Thailand times are changing...

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Edited May 13, 2014 by ryro88

[icare999]

One very simple thing would save the Thai people a lot of money and that would be to take the student's

individual names off the uniforms. Why can't they hand down uniforms to their siblings and also not have to

deal with the extra cost of personalized shirts?

Who is making the most money off of the uniform business and why?

It's so unnecessary in my opinion.

the last Dem government gave money to poor for school uniforms and Taksins lot scrapped it. Our maid at time complained it was not enough but even though Taksins lot look it away still worships ground he stands on - pathetic and IMO they all deserve what they get and got. Im not saying Dems are fab but they did have a try and sheep just went for promises promises

NO sympathy anymore whatever and I've even given up paying them over odds since sadly they just think your stupid to pay more than rest. Well not true we still pay double what others pay but only if they work and strictly no red shirt radio at our house (were in a red village and area).

Over years a few but very few have got message and worked well and when we have no work or they leave for personal reasons we give them a bonus but most just want to take take take and no give.

ACtually Burmese work much much better but we do know some very decent poor Thais who are honest, work hard and understand that Taksin and his regime could not give a toss for them

[belg]

at least a few billionaires in that area, the pawn shop owners

how much % do they charge again ?

but i guess, still better than a loanshark

[belg]

And the education is atrociously poor. This is genuinely so sad.

People in Sisakhet and Buriram have such a tough go of it.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king...

And in some countries, the eyesight is even poorer... Haiti is a good example...

you have to be carefull with your remark ..

in case you dont know the medical condition of the person you decribed ...

[AleG]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

xminator, can I get your opinion on two facts?

First that the Abhisit government subsidized school uniforms and learning materials for school children, a program that was scraped when PTP came to power.

the Abhisit government approved a huge subsidy covering 15 years of free schooling. It applies to free textbooks, uniforms and other learning materials.

About Bt6 billion is to be spent on free textbooks; Bt4.5 billion on school uniforms; Bt2 billion on learning materials and Bt4 billion on special activities. Private schools will get Bt1.5-billion worth of state subsidies.

The 2010 budget for free schooling is Bt73 billion.

Second, one of the first things PTP did when coming to power was to reduce corporate taxes by 30%:

The department will implement the tax policies promised by the Pheu Thai Party, which will lead the new coalition government, he said.

The party plans to cut corporate income tax from 30 per cent to 23 per cent immediately when it takes office. It later plans to cut the rate to 20 per cent.

So the PTP government stopped school subsidies and decreased taxes for the rich, how does that mesh with your post?

[bigbamboo]

This is why the rich bangkokians currently camping in tents for their rights to not share SHOULD be taxed harder so Thailand can afford to give free education to all its children.

A PTP supporter complaining about people not paying their fair share of taxes....!

[kurnell]

Are there porn shops in Bangkok? I've never seen one.

If its pawn shops you want then there are loads in BKK, if its "porn shops" then I suggest a trip to Cloggieland or Singapore has quite a few.

The shame. One of my favorite TV shows is Pawn Stars.

[kurnell]

Are there porn shops in Bangkok? I've never seen one.

The question seems to lack relevance to the topic, but then again I don't drink.

Sounds like you should

[marstons]

One very simple thing would save the Thai people a lot of money and that would be to take the student's

individual names off the uniforms. Why can't they hand down uniforms to their siblings and also not have to

deal with the extra cost of personalized shirts?

Who is making the most money off of the uniform business and why?

It's so unnecessary in my opinion.

the last Dem government gave money to poor for school uniforms and Taksins lot scrapped it. Our maid at time complained it was not enough but even though Taksins lot look it away still worships ground he stands on - pathetic and IMO they all deserve what they get and got. Im not saying Dems are fab but they did have a try and sheep just went for promises promises

NO sympathy anymore whatever and I've even given up paying them over odds since sadly they just think your stupid to pay more than rest. Well not true we still pay double what others pay but only if they work and strictly no red shirt radio at our house (were in a red village and area).

Over years a few but very few have got message and worked well and when we have no work or they leave for personal reasons we give them a bonus but most just want to take take take and no give.

ACtually Burmese work much much better but we do know some very decent poor Thais who are honest, work hard and understand that Taksin and his regime could not give a toss for them

So if they listen to a political radio channel of their choice you cut there wages because you don't like it, is that what you are saying surly not. If so must make you very proud of yourself.

[ableguy]

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Funny that. alt=laugh.png>

I thought everyone in Issan was supposed to be debt free, living the highlife on (exclusive to Red shirt supporters ) above market rice prices, have Samsung tablets for all school age children, with every family member over the age of 18 owning a new car, double previous salary with no inflation costs eating into their new massive spending power, because that is what they voted for.

Wonder if they will vote for that again?

The loan sharks are making a killing too. We know one woman loan shark in Khon Kaen that told us she now has more than 30 cars that people left with her as collateral and have now defaulted on. Many are brand new but the owners had no way to pay for them.

So she will make the monthly installment right ???? Your joking she sounds dumber than her customers.k

[Mentors]

Lending money to send kids with a stupid haircut to schools were they learn nearly nothing and get brainwashed.

[focus27]

Thailand is supposed to spend more on any education than any other country in the world - more proof that corruption is everywhere in Thailand not just within the elected government.

The problem is that only a few measly baht from every hundred ever reaches the classrooms.

Look at the car parks at the "education" department and the reason for that is easy to see.

The problem with propaganda is that it sounds good even when it is false.

The true statement is that Thailand has the highest spending on education as a percentage of total government spending than any other country. That's true, but a big difference from the chant that it has the 'highest spending'.

Low taxes and hence low spending means that the actual spending per student is not so high - that's even before we enter into any mismanagement.

[lostinisaan]

Schadenfreude.........

Thought it's an English speaking forum. Malicious joy's on my side.

Edited May 15, 2014 by lostinisaan