Language Centre rules for Thailand

[kingstonkid]

Hi

I am presently working at a Language Center run by a Thai that is not in it for professionalism.

I have a group of students that would be enough to start my own center.

I have a few options for facilities and have Thai partners lined up so thase issues are not a problem.

Can anyone tell me where i can find out what the requirements are to set up a Language Center and not a school.

[Loaded]

A language centre is a school. It's classified as a non-formal school. Formal schools are category 15/1; language schools are category 15/2. You will need to follow the rules of the Private Schools' Act. You will need to register and eventually license your school with the MoE. Failure to do this is a criminal offence. Go to your local MoE office for guidance and support.

[kingstonkid]

Thanks for the information

[casualbiker]

A language centre is a school. It's classified as a non-formal school. Formal schools are category 15/1; language schools are category 15/2. You will need to follow the rules of the Private Schools' Act. You will need to register and eventually license your school with the MoE. Failure to do this is a criminal offence. Go to your local MoE office for guidance and support.

my understanding is that some schools are registered as businesses so they sidestep some of the criteria! Not sure how but it's down to wording (like many things here)

[Loaded]

A language centre is a school. It's classified as a non-formal school. Formal schools are category 15/1; language schools are category 15/2. You will need to follow the rules of the Private Schools' Act. You will need to register and eventually license your school with the MoE. Failure to do this is a criminal offence. Go to your local MoE office for guidance and support.

my understanding is that some schools are registered as businesses so they sidestep some of the criteria! Not sure how but it's down to wording (like many things here)

The private schools act applies to any and all education institutions that have received at least 7 students since their opening.

Language (actually all non-formal) schools need to be registered with the revenue department as businesses. However, this doesn't give them exemption from the private schools act. They still need to be registered, and later licensed, with the MoE. Intentionally avoiding the MoE will/should eventually lead to prosecution and closure. A language (actually, any type of non-formal) school can't legally employ foreign teachers/trainers without a school license.

Unlicensed schools may 'sidestep this criteria' by paying cash or by obtaining a work permit for their teachers through a licensed school or by obtaining a work permit for the foreign teacher through their company but falsely describing the job as a consultant or something else. This is illegal.

Some schools do sidestep certain criteria and they often get away with it for long periods of time. However, I know that there has been a lot of pressure over the last few years from different school associations for the government to crackdown on unlicensed non-formal schools, especially the ones owned by, or employing, foreigners as this also involves labor and immigration law.

This foreign pedophile was arrested in Chiang Mai last month after he set up an unlicensed language school and used it as a front to lure children to his home.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878921-another-pedophile-teacher-arrested-for-child-molestation-and-pornography/

Edited February 15, 2016 by Loaded

[eldragon]

I dont want to discourage you at all from pursuing this, but from what Im told the investment is pretty large and involves a bit of greasing the wheels. Make sure your Thai partners are keen on both fronts.

[lostinisaan]

Please see quite a lot of English plus places that were ran by a Thai as a very bad example.

There was one in our province and I was doing some lessons there. But there're too many problems.

And as a foreigner, you'll see that Thai do not want a foreigner taking "their money" away.

It's like losing face to them when a whitey next door starts his/ the same business.

Better buy your wife a noodle soup stand and make a merit that you win the lottery.

Or you come with a huge leg, a guitar and a few blonde kids to a 7 Eleven and sell Sauerkraut?

Please see thread from 2012: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/573577-opening-a-language-school-in-thailand/

You've been warned.

Edited February 16, 2016 by lostinisaan

[Loaded]

Please see quite a lot of English plus places that were ran by Thai as a very bad example.

Better buy your wife a noodle soup stand and make a merit that you win the lottery.

Or you come with a huge leg, a guitar and a few blonde kids to a 7 Eleven and sell Sauerkraut?

You've been warned.

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much."

[lostinisaan]

Please see quite a lot of English plus places that were ran by Thai as a very bad example.

Better buy your wife a noodle soup stand and make a merit that you win the lottery.

Or you come with a huge leg, a guitar and a few blonde kids to a 7 Eleven and sell Sauerkraut?

You've been warned.

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much."

Thanks for the flowers.

[chowny77]

I guess it depends on how far you are willing to go. If you are planning to go big time into the business expecting 100+ students, then you will need to go through all the proper hoops. If you are looking at a small scale 20 to 40 students, it becomes a matter of where you plan to teach them and who the neighbours are. I teach a few students in my free time and my neighbours are all cool with it as I actually teach their grand child. I am not treading on anyone's toes and I have been left alone for over 4 yrs. I have had police men's kids as students and no problem, plus I even have a police check box on my rented property. If I planned to go full scale I would go through all the right procedure but as I am doing a little here and there I have not bothered. I guess it all depends on where in Thailand you live and what contacts you have. The more rural the place the lass hassle as they just don't care as in highly populated touristy places, it's all about the money and who can they get it out of.