Education

Excerpts from the Guide are provided for your information. You need to refer to the Bangkok Guide 17th Edition for complete details.

This chapter in the Bangkok Guide contains detailed information on these topics:

This chapter lists international pre-schools and kindergartens, secondary schools and major regional schools as well as educational support services and tertiary institutions. New schools for international students continue to open in Bangkok, and some existing schools are planning new campuses.

Note: The information in the listings provided in this chapter is supplied by the various schools. Inclusion in the Bangkok Guide does not imply superiority over other educational establishments not listed. Unless stated otherwise, all instruction is in English.

Choosing a school can be one of the most important considerations when planning a move to Bangkok. If your children are active, stimulated and, above all, happy, then many other aspects of your new life will fall into place. For many families, it is only once the school is chosen that housing options and other matters can be decided upon.

There have been international schools in Thailand since 1957. There are now many such schools operating in Thailand, each offering their own individual curriculum and associated philosophy. Most expatriates choose to send their children to an international school rather than to a local school. This is because the curriculum is delivered in English, with ESL (English as a second language) and EFL (English as a foreign language) offered as support. Some Thai families also send their children to international schools. The Thai Ministry of Education stipulates that all international schools must teach Thai studies. Most also offer a wide range of after-school activities.

The international school year in Thailand generally runs from mid-August/early September through to June/early July. The break provides a long summer holiday, during which time many expatriate families choose to take home leave. Remember to book plane tickets early if you plan to travel outside Thailand during this period!

Home schooling is also an option in Thailand as it is anywhere; a support network of home schooling families in Bangkok meets regularly. For some, boarding school may be an option.

Choosing a school

The Bangkok Guide 17th Edition contains a list of questions that may be useful in helping you choose a school. Most schools have web sites which provide further information on facilities, curriculum etc.

Schools with campuses outside Bangkok and boarding schools are listed under Regional & boarding schools in the Bangkok Guide.

Schools

For information on the type of curriculum offered at each school, see below:

British System

International schools following the British system use the National Curriculum for England and Wales

American System

The curriculum in international schools following the American system is based on subject matter standards, recognised by an educational accreditation department in the United States.

International System

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) offers international schools three coordinated programmes of study for children ages 3-19: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), for ages 3-10; the Middle Years Programme (MYP), for ages 11-16; and the Diploma Programme (DP), for ages 17-19.

In general, international schools in Thailand share the common aim of helping students achieve their full potential, producing students who are resourceful, creative and able to operate as independent learners. The foundation of their work is an emphasis on high achievement, the need to educate the whole person and ‘learning how to learn.' Students are provided with teachers and resources of the highest quality and the teaching methods promote an interactive approach based on ‘learning by doing'.

Tertiary education

Universities and other tertiary institutions in Thailand offer more than 350 English language programmes of study in various areas of specialisation from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. The subjects taught in English and other foreign languages include computing, language, cultural studies, Thai studies, economics and business. Day and evening courses are available. A list of organisations providing distance education is also available in the Bangkok Guide.