The Thai Schooling system - just how bad is it?

[Fellini]

but you dont have to look at the kids to know how the education is here ...just look at the senior, talk to them and you will realize the nivel of knowledges and clue they have...it take only a few minutes

Thailand is a newly industrialized country. Of course seniors are uneducated - my grandparents are illiterate. It's the same in China and Korea.

[thhMan]

I have 2 kids, 5 and 10 that are in school.

We tried a few and finally found one that is adequate.

What we chose had the following criteria (we learned from experience)

1. Adequate ventilation in the classrooms
2. Student numbers per class (very important as too many students and/or poor ventilation makes studying difficult)
3. Ask principal about "extra funding"... If they say Yes and will take some extra money to ensure you child gets better grades... RUN... dont look back
4. Half decent sports ground. As petty as this is, it does indicate the school cares about the kids
5. First Aid room, that was used as a first aid room (not a storage room with a sign on it)
6. English spoken by Thai teachers and a nice smattering of western teachers...
7. Lots of equipment for the younger kids to learn and play with. We where amazed at one school that had building blocks, a full art class with kids paintings hanging up to dry, a nursery theme yard for the kids to play with and even some sheep that where very well cared for by the students.
8. Their own pool
9. What the lunch consisted of and the preperation and distribution of it. One school we saw, the kids lined up and and the line was slow because the school didnt have enough people cooking and serving, so the last kids had to rush to eat so they didnt miss class. A good food menu is VERY important.

What to avoid:

1. Schools that take payment for better grades
2. Look at the state of the parents and children that go to the school. Our Headlice costs where nearly as expensive as the school fees. Parents dont give a damn and send kids anyway. Also our kids where sick a lot from what they contracted at school from the other kids. During Holiday, our kids where hardly sick... That should tell you something.
3. As expensive as those elite private schools are, we found that many of those kids we spoke to are so "hi-so" that they are rude and more interested in texting than learning. (we avoid them like the plague), however, we found one in Chiang Mai that wasnt so expensive and the teachers where very eager to teach quality ideals, manners and of course the carriculum. The kids wher well behaved, couteous and proud of their school
4. Overcrowding in classes
5. A lack of western teachers and/or lack of English knowledge from the Thai teachers....

There are many other things to look out for, like in one interview (yes we interviewed them back), I asked the computer teacher if they used SSD drives in their systems. When I was asked what they where, I knew the teacher didnt know uch about computers and the more I asked him, the less I knew he actually knew. Having a computer at home, does not qualify a person as a Computer teacher!...

The school my kids are in is great. All the younger kids have their temperature checked upon arriving to school and any of those found with highish temperatures are sent home. While they have their temperature checked, the staff do a quick look to see if their are any headlive present and the kids are again sent home.

The school also has a policy. Parents have 1 chance. Attempt to bribe a teacher and you will get warned. Do it again and your child is expelled. I had never heard of anything like this in my life, but it did make sense and is probably why the school has many trophies for academic achievements by the students...

[nithisa78]

Any school system, anywhere, . . can be no better than the parenting. Look no further. WE don't see what we see, we see what we are..

[Fellini]

Any school system, anywhere, . . can be no better than the parenting. Look no further. WE don't see what we see, we see what we are..

^ Yes.

I've spent all of my like quota for today, but this post ist zer gut.

[kurnell]

My girls were in a Thai Kindergarten and learned nothing. Once they moved to an international school the difference as night and day. Yes, we are living on bread and water to afford the school fees, but at least they won't grow up simple.

[Fellini]

My girls were in a Thai Kindergarten and learned nothing. Once they moved to an international school the difference as night and day. Yes, we are living on bread and water to afford the school fees, but at least they won't grow up simple.

Meh, my parents never sent me to an international school. I just stayed at home and studied whatever I wanted to. I was expelled from both the Western and Thai schools that I attended - yes, I was a very anti-social tween.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Fellini

[Krataiboy]

Stop worrying. I have raised five children, including four Thai stepchildren, now aged between seven and 22. My oldest three, all boys, all went through the normal state school system and on to vocational training where two gained certificates as electricians and a third is currently studying to be a computer engineer. They don't smoke, hardly ever drink, and are intelligent, sensitive, kind, loving, warm, compassionate human beings with jobs they enjoy and partners they love.

My 14-year-old stepdaughter showed a particular interest in English, which is the only compulsory subject I insisted on teaching all our children in their spare time (don't ask!), and she is now happily ensconced in an English Program at a private school. Who knows? She might even make uni.one day. Or should could end up marrying a handsome young Thai and having a couple of kids. It's her life, not mine. Whatever makes her happy.

Our youngest daughter, aged seven, is at a local junior/infants school. The curriculum is not exactly challenging, but she is learning the basics of the three R's and relationship skills she will need as she grows up. Most important of all, she is clearly having a childhood she will always remember as happy and fulfilling. As she is already fluently bi-lingual, we are hoping she will follow in her big sister's footsteps. But she says she wants to be a vet. Big deal. Tomorrow she could plump for becoming an astronaut.

If our children were not bright, gregarious and so obviously happy with their lot, I would probably worry more than I do about their future. But I tend to the view that putting them into an education straitjacket because it might get them this job or that job in the future is not only presumptive but rather pointless. Kids have a habit of rebelling, despite the conditioning to conform which are part of the ethos of an international school or university, let alone kindergarten and junior school.

Parents are more important than teachers.

If you really want to produce questioning, challenging and nonconformist human beings, you'll have to do a lot of the spadework yourself. Let the teacher clones do the routine stuff - maths, science, history, etc - while you counter all the brainwashing and concentrate on the more important bits. Like filling them in honestly on vital subjects like love, sex, marriage, death, the pleasures and perils of drink, fags, drugs etc etc while constantly drumming into them the need to always ask why, why and why again.

Especially of people like teachers.

[softail]

Welcome to the 3. World.....or 4. world.

Stay away from thai schools....all of them !

They practice the brainwashing of children from day one.

Forbidden to ask questions...the teacher can loose face.

Do NOT connect your child to any thai school or the thai

Way of living.

This is a country for sosialantrophology studies...not fore living !

If you have children....go home !

[metisdead]

Troll posts and replies have been removed, troll has been removed as well. Other off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[David48]

Could you not teach them yourself David at least for the first 3-4 years??

That's a thought, but if it's as bad as everyone suggests then maybe better we haul our asses back to the West and educate the boys there.

I really would part of their life experience is at least 1 year in a Thai school because I want them to understand the Culture and the Thai Language so that, when they are men and making their own decisions, they can choose either Thailand or the West.

No decisions made yet, my partner and I will discuss this together, I just wanted to ask the direct question and receive the answers from the Forum so that I have some basic understand of the level and ability of the Thai Schooling System.

I have to say ... not looking promising to school them here.

We just have to weigh up, Visas, work opportunities for us both in either country, what's good and what is best for the boys and then decide.

To everyone who has replied ... thanks don't stop now.

.

[Fellini]

To everyone who has replied ... thanks don't stop now..

Even me?

Edited August 1, 2014 by Fellini

[AyG]

the next time I see Japanese rivetheads

Possibly a tad racist? A touch bigoted? Just a glimmer of sectarianism? Nah! just plain ignorant.

[David48]

Students cheating or copying each other's work is tolerated, almost condoned. It's good to have something on paper even if it is false.

I have raised an eyebrow when I was asked a few questions from the partners niece (re English sentence construction) and later found out she was getting paid to do another student's homework ...

While I can appreciate when a Parent helps his or her child, but there is a difference between assisting and actually submitting someone else's work.

.

[LucidLucifer]

Early learning is a crock, as long as they know the letters of the alphabet(s) and can read a bit, they are fine for high school.

Junior/infants schools in the west are more about play and socialisation.

Without question, your statement is the most ill-informed I have ever read on TV - congratulations, that really takes some doing......

Now, please tell me you were being sarcastic and it went over my head......

[Fellini]

Early learning is a crock, as long as they know the letters of the alphabet(s) and can read a bit, they are fine for high school.

Junior/infants schools in the west are more about play and socialisation.

Without question, your statement is the most ill-informed I have ever read on TV - congratulations, that really takes some doing......

Now, please tell me you were being sarcastic and it went over my head......

Hm... I overlooked that post, but I suppose you're right. Growing up in a stimulating environment early in life... matters.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Fellini

[samjaidee]

I can only answer from a personal perspective and what I have observed throughout the province. Primary school is totally inadequate for what I consider my 18 month old dual national son will need. He will go to the local nursery at aged 2. He will join local extra curricular activities such as footy, judoand other sports, hobbies and interests. For his primary education I will home school him along with my wife (Thai English Teacher), who will cover the Thai curriculum aspects. When he is 9 yrs we will reassess. I have a hunch that 16 years from now universities will be totally different concepts to what the are today given advances in technology. Therefore his secondary education requirements (from an international perspective) at age 11 are a complete unknown. All we can do is prepare him as best as possible with as much travel and real life experience as possible supported by up to date and progressive IT online learning. Just my perspective on a difficult problem to square.

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but would welcome thoughts on my belief that in 16 yrs from now universities will probably be completely different beasts and therefore planning for that needs to be outside of the box and not what we are programmed to work towards currently.

To change any education system will take at least two generations. Twenty years to train new teachers how to teach creatively, plus another twenty years to remove all the dead wood from the system.

I think 16 years is a little optimistic.

[Fellini]

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but would welcome thoughts on my belief that in 16 yrs from now universities will probably be completely different beasts and therefore planning for that needs to be outside of the box and not what we are programmed to work towards currently.

To change any education system will take at least two generations. Twenty years to train new teachers how to teach creatively, plus another twenty years to remove all the dead wood from the system.

I think 16 years is a little optimistic.

Try within my lifetime.

[metisdead]

Off topic deflection/derailment/trolling posts have been removed.

[Seastallion]

Could you not teach them yourself David at least for the first 3-4 years??

That's a thought, but if it's as bad as everyone suggests then maybe better we haul our asses back to the West and educate the boys there.

I really would part of their life experience is at least 1 year in a Thai school because I want them to understand the Culture and the Thai Language so that, when they are men and making their own decisions, they can choose either Thailand or the West.

No decisions made yet, my partner and I will discuss this together, I just wanted to ask the direct question and receive the answers from the Forum so that I have some basic understand of the level and ability of the Thai Schooling System.

I have to say ... not looking promising to school them here.

We just have to weigh up, Visas, work opportunities for us both in either country, what's good and what is best for the boys and then decide.

To everyone who has replied ... thanks don't stop now.

.

No...there's a wealth of online resources....<deleted>! You can do it from here. Most home-schooled kids get extra education too, if their parents teach them the curriculum, because there's always so much more to learn that is not taught in schools. The trick is instilling a desire to learn at a very early age.

The way to do that is always show wonder at things...a butterfly or a train passing by, a spider web or how water makes a splash. Kids emulate. Always show curiosity and a desire to know more.

I have students (Thai) ranging in age from 4 to 18 that I teach or tutor English, science, electronics etc, and I honestly despair for the country. You don't have to head back, but you do have to take some responsibility as a parent and teach the boys to want to learn, to inquire, and to think outside the box.

Oh...and expose them to Beethoven and Mozart (Really!)

Edited August 1, 2014 by metisdead
Profane acronym removed.

[Fellini]

Oh...and expose them to Beethoven and Mozart (Really!)

Beethoven yes. But I've always been more a fan of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Germanic culture is overrated.

[wlcart]

i have 15 years teaching experience in the US, 6 years here in Thailand. I suggest to you that the parents matter more than the school.

The challenges in each place are different, but there are opportunities for both failure and success anywhere.

Not every public school in Thailand is bad. I now work in one of the top rated international universities here in Thailand, and statistically, the truth is students who come from Thai public schools do better than the students who come from international schools.

International schools are under a lot of pressure to pass students, or their parents simply move them to another school. The result is many students receive passing grades without merit.

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old, both go to a preschool that I think is rather good. But just as importantly I supplement their education at home, filling in gaps when needed.

My 4 year starts KG next year, I plan to monitor her learning, compare her skills to international standards, and adjust where needed. I hope I am teaching her the joy of learning. She loves to read, draw, and play games that require thinking. She plays piano and does ballet and speaks both English and Thai quite well. My job at the university is not 40 hours a week stuck in the office, and I am very grateful for that. I consider the quality time I can spend with my kids more valuable than any school they could attend.

Good luck with your kids, their picture is adorable.

[davidmann]

thai schools are little better than no school ,i took mine to england first then france ,but hard to get on the system ,but then end result is good ,can you image thai girl ,that acts like french girl ,never dull moment

[Fellini]

thai schools are little better than no school ,i took mine to england first then france ,but hard to get on the system ,but then end result is good ,can you image thai girl ,that acts like french girl ,never dull moment

>implying francophone culture is substantially different from ours

???

[MK1]

I think the problem is that Thai teachers are not passionate about their job or pro-actively interested in helping their students in getting higher grades due to the small monthly wage they’re paid in most circumstances between 10-12,000bht per month. We attended a parents meeting for our a child and noticed that foreign teachers, obviously paid a higher monthly salary than their Thai colleagues, were more pro-actively engaged, knew about their weaknesses and strengths and cared more about their students in achieving higher grades in comparison to Thai teachers.

Edited August 1, 2014 by MK1

[Seastallion]

Oh...and expose them to Beethoven and Mozart (Really!)

Beethoven yes. But I've always been more a fan of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Germanic culture is overrated.

Nothing wrong with Shostakovitch....or Dvorak. Tchaikovsky I'm not partial to.

Doesn't matter....the classics...the art of artists that have proven their art over decades or centuries, have a je nais se quois that does something to a young brain.

It is probably mathematical (as good music is), and probably opens neuro pathways in the brain.

Could be Led Zep or the Stones, too. Really!

[carter1882]

I worked for 20 years at two of the best international schools in Bangkok. These schools featured extremely wealthy parents who paid up to a million baht per annum to have other people, the brilliant teachers, do all the work for them and by and large this works. Do not kid yourself that it always works though even at the very best here. The very great majority of international schools here outside the proverbial premier league are very poor and you will just waste money and be frustrated. My two kids went through the great schools I worked for (incidentally enjoying the 100 per cent discount on fees most of the time) but while my daughter excelled in school subjects and is about to embark on her masters at Oxford, my son always felt it was lacking and I felt just the same. Even the very best international schools are working hard to adjust curriculums for the future requirements of the work place and the challenges in this regard are enormous. Whilst it is foolish to ignore that technology has moved the goalposts it is not the be all and end all some would believe. Children and young adults still need the basics in order to progress. But the OP' s main question relates to Thai schools but i strongly believe that school is only a small part of a child's education. The major part of it for true success is the attitude help and encouragement of parents in inspiring their children to be creative, happy, enquiring and above all else have abilities in reading and seeking answers. Now retired from international schools and with a one year old from a second marriage that will go through the Thai system these will be areas that will be as important as ever to follow through with. Holidaying in the UK right now my suitcase are full of books bought at boot fairs and charity shops for 20p a pop and these will form the basis of my little girls first couple of years. When she goes to school and comes home to stay at home dad we will discuss the days events and build on any information learnt. Never ever think that any school will look after all the needs of a child's first 18 years on the planet. They can only contribute and what you can give as a parent and in providing a good home and extended home environment is key to their success. My eldest daughter's brilliance at math and strategy is as much to do with Monopoly and Scrabble as anything. And my son's wild and amazing creativity maybe the result of the wicked dissing that we engaged in at home discussing, to him, his boring and unimaginative days at school in which his sister nonetheless thrived.

[EBlair48]

I'm having major problems with my son at a big international school in Chiang Mai. They failed him last year so when I got back here I tried to see why. Turns out he can't read or write properly yet. He is 13. All the school was interested in is that he must do his homework. I asked how he can do his homework if he can't read?

I get a phone call this morning. I cut his hair last night, short but apparently it's not short enough for them. I had to ask, I never get contacted by the school about the fact he can't read or how he is failing and what can we do about it, no. I get a call about his hair is 1mm too long. Hair police.

No one is interested in helping you help your child. I think he may be dyslexic but I'm no professional. What do I do? In the west the school would give you some help and direction about how to help a struggling child. Here, It's up to you to sort that out for yourself. No school will ever tell you your kid needs help for fear of loss of face for the parents.

I thought this rather, er completely abs...CENSORED rule had been abolished? Girls in my area are now growing their hair out, though I'd hadn't noticed the boys

[David48]

To everyone who has replied ... thanks don't stop now.

Even me?

Yes Fellini ... even you.

As long as the replies are on topic ... everyone has a right to an opinion.

.

[Deacon Bell]

Your child's main education will come from you and your wife.

Put the effort in no matter where you are, the results will likely be the same.

[Skytrain2hell]

Most public schools here are terrible, and they really do kill creativity. Do everything in your power to stay away from those schools.

If you have the money, the top tier international schools are fantastic (ISB, KIS, Patana), but they are incredibly expensive. If you do have to send them to a private bilingual school, make sure you keep the learning going when they get home from school. So much can be done at home. Read to your kids every night starting from when they are born, and involve them in every "project" you have around your home.