It has been one of the fastest growth areas in Asia – International Schools in Thailand.
Go back to the 1990s and there were just a handful of options for parents looking for a broader and better than government education for their children, both expats and Thai nationals.
These days there are well over 100 private options nationwide but the standards vary enormously. This brief blog looks at a few of the factors to look out for and especially two considerations at the top of a list compiled by a teacher who taught at two of the best in Bangkok for 20 years.
Go onto the website of any international school in Thailand and they all list similar reasons why they should be chosen. They all seem to provide that holistic education for the leaders of tomorrow.
They all guarantee that your child will be taken care of by the finest teaching professionals sourced from abroad who employ the latest teaching techniques.
Your child will be nurtured in a caring and safe environment where their specific needs are catered for by dedicated professionals.
And of course, there is no doubt that given your child’s hard work, they will go onto the very best universities and colleges around the world following their inevitable graduation come 18 years of age.
Yes, your important offspring will always fondly remember their time at their fine establishment that from Kindergarten to Year 13, or final grade, will ensure that they will be the best they possibly can be.
All are accredited by the finest international agencies and have facilities – sporting, educational, artistic, you name it – to die for!
Reading the myriad blogs of franchised schools such as Rugby, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Wellington to name but four or ones that started in Thailand and metamorphosed into international schools like Bangkok Patana – can be a headache for parents. They all follow the rules and regulations and ensure success.
So you’re sure that an international school education is what you want for your child and you have the necessary funds to be able to afford it (remember that the top schools will give you little change out of $500,000 per child over the years).
Which one to choose and why?
I’d simplify the issue into two areas.
Location and language.
Where are you planning to live as an expat or where is your home base as a Thai? Choose a school that is near to you as travelling in cars and buses is bad for your child, bad for your state of mind and bad for the environment.
What are the language needs of your child? Do they need to learn Thai, what is the language of the corridors of the schools – Thai or English?
Amid the claims of all international schools focus on these two factors and you won’t go far wrong.
Simplify it, and avoid the headaches.