EDUCATION
Parents note Swiss role in education
KITTIPONG THAVEVONG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SWITZERLAND has become the country of choice for many parents who want a good education for their children in a safe environment with high academic standards.

"Switzerland has always had a good reputation for hotel schools. But more and more parents are looking to Switzerland for secondary-school education for their children. The schools also have become more aggressive in promoting themselves in Asia and Thailand," Aphichart Assakul, an independent educational consultant, said last week. Parents are now looking beyond favourites like Singapore, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom for boarding schools, and Switzerland stands out.

Switzerland's academic standard is acceptable throughout Europe, he said. The country is famous for the international baccalaureate (IB) programme, which originated in a Geneva international school in the late 1960s and has been adopted in more than 100 countries, including Thailand.

The benefits of studying in Switzerland are the "truly international environment" and multilingual culture in a country where French, German, Italian and English are spoken. Also, Switzerland is one of the safest places to live, work and study.

Aphichart went to a Swiss boarding school and his teenage son is now doing the same. Thai teenagers studying in Switzerland say they have learned new life skills and made friends with youths from all over the world.

Twelfth-grader Napat Suttapong, 19, said studying overseas has "opened a totally new world" for him. He now can speak six languages, including Russian, and is learning French. He is a member of a dozen clubs at the school.

The youngster is studying the IB |programme at Leysin American School in Switzerland (LAS), which is about a two-hour drive from Geneva.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Parents-note-Swiss-role-in-education-30257020.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-30

These children of elite Thais are the future leaders in Thailand.

And here's me thinking a Swiss Roll was food.

All very well for those who can afford it but the emphasis surely must be on improving education here so good education is available to all and not just rich kids.

This is actually a headline story in the Nation?

How many thai kids are studying in Switzerland? 20? 30?

Absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the King was educated in Switzerland so it's the right thing to do.

Years ago i had a student who held a degree in music and played the saxophone and her reason for choosing that instrument was because the King plays it.

I'm not criticising just pointing out how some here think.

" SWITZERLAND has become the country of choice for many parents who want a good education for their children in a safe environment with high academic standards."

Is the nation implying you don't want these things for your children if you don't send them there?

As for the poor, well they shouldn't be poor. There's just no helping some people.

Edited March 30, 201511 yr by Bluespunk

My fears would be that the kids would never want to come back to Thailand to live in the chaos, corruption and filth.

Actually I believe His Highness was born in Boston, Mass. Raised in the USA and went on for higher education in Europe before becoming King of Thailand. Correct me if I'm wrong. Because I do believe he had to give up US citizenship when he was called to be King of Thailand.

what those rich kids should learn, but never do the last 70 years

is that they , thais, can enjoy so many freedoms in another country, and give in return, so many restrictions to the farangs in this one, who are married, have family, work ...

Funny as my parents sent me to England for my education, I guess the grass is always greener

Seems that Hi Sos education does not enlighten them to assist in the creation of more fair ideals for their country.

They better understand that it is possible to fail at a European school irrespective of how much money the parents have.

My fears would be that the kids would never want to come back to Thailand to live in the chaos, corruption and filth.

I know of one who returned, and he got a very good job............................

My fears would be that the kids would never want to come back to Thailand to live in the chaos, corruption and filth.

Plenty of corruption in Switzerland - it's just well organized, on time and in a clean environment!

Funny as my parents sent me to England for my education, I guess the grass is always greener

Switzerland was the place rich British sent their daughters - to "finishing" school.

The boy in the OP is going to Switzerland - to an American school. That will be following American curriculum and standards not Swiss.

As you say, the grass is always greener.

And here's me thinking a Swiss Roll was food.

All very well for those who can afford it but the emphasis surely must be on improving education here so good education is available to all and not just rich kids.

On first reading the headline, I figured it was a metaphor.

The sponge is the kids.

The cream = teachers.

The layers = how they combine.

Yes, I was down at the local market the other day...all the parents were discussing the relative merits of Swiss private boarding schools.

Is it possible the news here gets dumber every day? I could be getting smarter, I guess. (doubtful given my drinking habits lol)_

Well as long as the Thai elite can afford to send their kids overseas for education, there is no urgency to improve Thai schools is there?

I love it how the article talks so casually about spending money the equivalent of what everybody in a whole village makes in a lifetime.

Edited March 30, 201511 yr by Kaalle

This is actually a headline story in the Nation?

How many thai kids are studying in Switzerland? 20? 30?

It does sound like a press release , not a news item.

The Nation is the paper you can trust.....

We all know why exactly Switzerland is chosen, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the education, don't we?

"SWITZERLAND has become the country of choice for many parents ....."

CORRIGENDA:

SWITZERLAND has become the country of choice for many an infinitesimally tiny percentage of parents....

Who, with so much as half a brain cell could possibly use the word 'many' in such a ridiculous context?

Many parents.......at my golf club?

Many parents.......in my HiSo enclave?

Many parents.......in my investment circle?

"But surely the people of Issan send their children to Switzerland too? After all, we built those people an airport or two, so it should be easy for them to get there!"

We all know why exactly Switzerland is chosen, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the education, don't we?

perhaps you would like to share your point of view..................

Well as long as the Thai elite can afford to send their kids overseas for education, there is no urgency to improve Thai schools is there?

And any improvements and raising of standards here in Thailand would meet resistance, first from the student unions.

These children of elite Thais are the future leaders in Thailand.

That fat little Bully Boy in North Korea was a product of a good SWISS Education. The world needs more like him eh?

We all know why exactly Switzerland is chosen, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the education, don't we?

perhaps you would like to share your point of view..................

Learn about the history of Thailand and you will have your answer.

I was educated at the International School of Geneva from the age 0f 10 until 17.

And i've turned out to be quite a normal person!!! In some ways.

My dad worked for the UN and they paid part of the fees. Nowadays the fees are OTT. In fact, most of my old school friends opt to send their kids to local, free schools.

It does have a beautiful campus. Last Summer they had a big party to celebrate their 90th year. I met up with people i hadn't seen in 35 years who had made the effort to travel from all corners of the world. And we got drunk and disordely just like in the good old days!!

Edited March 30, 201511 yr by Patsycat

We all know why exactly Switzerland is chosen, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the education, don't we?

perhaps you would like to share your point of view..................

Learn about the history of Thailand and you will have your answer.

It would have been just as quick to answer my question rather than being vague and condescending

Kim Jong Un wad also educated in Switzerland. The elite here have his mentality in diet forn so (no) hope for the future.