Dottern är medlem i asiatiska föreningen i Cambridge. De bestämde att varje lands studenter skulle kontakt ”sitt” utbildningsdepartement och erbjuda att de besökte dem för att prata om vad som förväntas av studenter på ett toppuniversitet i väst. Alla länder utom ett tackade gladeligen ja; även Singapore, Korea, Japan och Taiwan som redan har världens bästa skolor. Bara Thailand tackade nej…..Antar att de inte anser sig ha något att lära.
Så är det ibland och om det vore fallet här så skulle man kunna skratta bort det. Även om det vore ren arrogans eller ignorans så skulle man kunna skratta bort det, om än med viss olust. I Thailands fall tror jag dock, dessvärre, att det är en toxisk blandning av stolthet och ren ondska.
Det finns helt enkelt ingen önskan att förbättra skolan för vanliga ungar och topparnas barn går ju ändå inte i thailändska skolor så varför bry sig?
PanPan
Forumveteran
Då har sonen hoppat på bussen till skolan och han verkar trivas och har fått nya vänner i klassen.
I klassen är det alla möjliga nationaliteter från USA, Ryssland, Ukraina, Pakistan, Sverige och en Thai som inte visade sig vara thai, hennes föräldrar var svenskar/finnar, inget thai påbrå men hon är uppväxt på Phuket hon fick gå på nybörjar svenska med sonen, hon pratade thai och eng.
Och fler nationaliteter men dom jag kommer ihåg han sa, är ju nationaliteter som utmärker sig i dagsläget.
28st i klassen, utlänningarna verkar vara här pga deras föräldrar är i Sverige på jobbuppdrag.
Alla i klassen fick en laptop att ha under skolåren både hemma och på skolan, kanske är svensk standard idag?
I klassen är det alla möjliga nationaliteter från USA, Ryssland, Ukraina, Pakistan, Sverige och en Thai som inte visade sig vara thai, hennes föräldrar var svenskar/finnar, inget thai påbrå men hon är uppväxt på Phuket hon fick gå på nybörjar svenska med sonen, hon pratade thai och eng.
Och fler nationaliteter men dom jag kommer ihåg han sa, är ju nationaliteter som utmärker sig i dagsläget.
28st i klassen, utlänningarna verkar vara här pga deras föräldrar är i Sverige på jobbuppdrag.
Alla i klassen fick en laptop att ha under skolåren både hemma och på skolan, kanske är svensk standard idag?
Acke
Forumveteran
Tror det. Flickan fick låna både på kommunalt högstadium och nu på friskolegymnasium. De brukar få köpa ut den (billigt?) efter avslutad utbildning.
Karl Olsson
Nykomling
Socialdemokraterna personifierat. Hög skatt(avgift) i kombination med roffa åt sig av allt man kan få om man tillhör toppskiktet.
Isan Lover
Forumveteran
Hej
Ska du göra politik av den här tråden också nu ?
Stör det dig att den här tråden fortfarande ligger i den öppna delen av forumet och inte under Politiskt Innehåll ?
Mvh isan lover
Ja det var ju rätt person att komma med den kritiken. Men det var fel av mig. Jag avstår från att kommentera mer. Tyvärr kan jag inte själv radera min kommentar.
Isan Lover
Forumveteran
PanPan
Forumveteran
Sonen vill läsa det här högskoleprogrammet efter gymnasiet säger han, får se, kan ändra sig många gånger under gymnasiegång men ett program jag tror kan passa han.
www.hb.se
IT-ingenjör - digital infrastruktur och cybersäkerhet
Vill du vara med och skapa framtidens IT-lösningar? Som IT-ingenjör inom digital infrastruktur och cybersäkerhet arbetar du tillsammans med andra ...
www.hb.se
Broder Tuk Tuk
Forumveteran
Sonen vill läsa det här högskoleprogrammet efter gymnasiet säger han, får se, kan ändra sig många gånger under gymnasiegång men ett program jag tror kan passa han.
IT-ingenjör - digital infrastruktur och cybersäkerhet
Vill du vara med och skapa framtidens IT-lösningar? Som IT-ingenjör inom digital infrastruktur och cybersäkerhet arbetar du tillsammans med andra ...
Varför inte göra som Atom och låta grabben läsa på Cambridge?
BTT
PanPan
Forumveteran
Han kanske inte vill läsa på Cambridge.
Atoms dotter kom in med sina betyg på Cambridge, är väl inget man låter sina barn göra utan något dom läser sig till för att komma in.
Hans dotter är väl myndig, pappa behöver inte tillåta ett skit.
Hade inte du jobbat som lärare?
Isan Lover
Forumveteran
Hej
Policy vs reality: The true cost of Thailand’s ‘free’ education
16 May 2026 by Thai PBS World
Flaws in Thailand’s “free education” policy are back under the spotlight as schools reopen for the new term. Hidden fees remain a problem for low-income families already struggling with rising living costs, placing millions of children at risk of dropping out.
For many parents, the promise of “15 years of free education” is merely a slogan, not a reality.
“I have already spent more than 6,000 baht on my son’s schooling this term,” said one mother, a construction worker. The school had presented her with a bill of 5,050 baht for an “academic foundation adjustment” course. She also had to pay for books and uniforms.
Just days before the semester began, the young mother took her son to a donation stall to pick up second-hand uniforms. Set up by the Mirror Foundation in a fresh market in Nonthaburi, the stall aims to help parents cope with rising education burdens.
The construction worker said she faced a daily struggle to make ends meet on her minimum daily wage of barely 300 baht.
“My budget is stretched to the limit. I toil under the scorching sun all day, so skipping meals is not an option,” she said.
The rising cost of learning
According to a recent survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), back-to-school spending rose 6% this year to an estimated 66.37 billion baht – a record high.
The average family sets aside nearly 30,000 baht to cover expenses during the school-opening period, the survey of 1,250 households found.
Parents of children in regular state education reported average added expenses of roughly 11,000 baht. However, costs for children in state-funded special schools were significantly higher.
Nearly half of the respondents cited higher transportation and school-supply costs as the main source of this year’s surge in expenses. Meanwhile, one in four parents (27%) said they were forced to turn to relatives, pawnshops or loan sharks for funds to keep their children in school.
Children at risk
Roughly 3 million children in Thailand live below the poverty line, according to data from the Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
For these families, the average cost of “free” schooling – covering uniforms, transport and meals – is roughly 9,420 baht per term. This amount is equivalent to around two months of earnings for the poorest 15% of households.
Pavarin Bhandtivej, head of data analysis and inequality monitoring at the EEF’s Equitable Education Research Institute, noted that the cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased the financial burden on poor families.
“Their expenses have risen by an average of more than 1,000 baht a month,” he said.
Pavarin expressed concern that financial constraints are taking a toll on children’s future prospects.
EEF data shows that only 12.5% of children from the poorest families go on to higher education – a rate far lower than the national average.
“Overall, our survey found that 22% of children could not afford to enter higher education,” he said.
However, the impacts of education inequality are most visible at school.
In 2024, Thailand recorded a staggering figure of over 1 million school dropouts. That number dropped but remained significant in 2025, with 603,065 children quitting education early.
“This inequality can only be effectively tackled with concrete policies or measures,” Pavarin said. Failure to bridge this education gap will jeopardise not only children’s futures but also Thailand’s long-term economic health, he added.
The ‘hidden fee’ loophole
Thailand has mandated 15 years of free education since 2009, covering the time from kindergarten through Grade 12 (Mathayom 6). To protect this policy, the Education Ministry has banned 22 specific charges – including fees for tuition, libraries or internet use. However, parents frequently complain of “hidden fees” for everything from air-conditioning and native-speaking foreign-language teachers to “mandatory” extra classes.
Asst Prof Athapol Anunthavorasakul, who teaches at Chulalongkorn University and also chairs a Thailand Consumer Council subcommittee, attributes these extra costs to lax law enforcement and legal loopholes.
“Even though the government claims it covers all 22 basic education expenses, many parents are still paying hefty sums,” he said.
In one example, the current uniform subsidy is roughly 400 baht per primary school student, but the actual cost to kit out students is much higher. Meanwhile, the government’s annual subsidy for learning equipment is just 440 baht per head, meaning schools often call on parents to cover the shortfall. For learning activities, the government just pays 547 baht per students, leaving parents to cover costs for activities like school trips.
Emergency measures for 2026
To ease the pressure on parents, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has introduced seven measures for the 2026 academic year. These include cutting school maintenance fees, relaxing uniform requirements, removing unnecessary learning materials and limiting expensive extracurricular activities.
“There’s no need to buy full scout uniforms; students can wear just the scarf and hat,” Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said.
Schools have also been instructed to relax rules on shoe and bag brands for students.
Critics say these steps are merely superficial, arguing that structural reform is required to solve the problem.
Former MP Surawat Thongbu urged the government to redirect the massive budget of 29 billion baht for student tablets and laptops towards essential learning materials and books.
“Such a shift would boost the overall quality of schooling,” he said.
Policy vs practice
Asst Prof Athapol called on the Education Ministry to provide more support to cash-strapped schools and identify students who are at risk of dropping out. These steps should be taken at the start of every academic year, he said.
“Every child should be allowed to complete their education without discrimination. Schools should also be barred from withholding transcripts and certificates just because the parents can’t settle bills,” he said, adding that this practice blocks students from furthering their studies or applying for jobs.
Mvh isan lover
Policy vs reality: The true cost of Thailand’s ‘free’ education
16 May 2026 by Thai PBS World
Flaws in Thailand’s “free education” policy are back under the spotlight as schools reopen for the new term. Hidden fees remain a problem for low-income families already struggling with rising living costs, placing millions of children at risk of dropping out.
For many parents, the promise of “15 years of free education” is merely a slogan, not a reality.
“I have already spent more than 6,000 baht on my son’s schooling this term,” said one mother, a construction worker. The school had presented her with a bill of 5,050 baht for an “academic foundation adjustment” course. She also had to pay for books and uniforms.
Just days before the semester began, the young mother took her son to a donation stall to pick up second-hand uniforms. Set up by the Mirror Foundation in a fresh market in Nonthaburi, the stall aims to help parents cope with rising education burdens.
The construction worker said she faced a daily struggle to make ends meet on her minimum daily wage of barely 300 baht.
“My budget is stretched to the limit. I toil under the scorching sun all day, so skipping meals is not an option,” she said.
The rising cost of learning
According to a recent survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), back-to-school spending rose 6% this year to an estimated 66.37 billion baht – a record high.
The average family sets aside nearly 30,000 baht to cover expenses during the school-opening period, the survey of 1,250 households found.
Parents of children in regular state education reported average added expenses of roughly 11,000 baht. However, costs for children in state-funded special schools were significantly higher.
Nearly half of the respondents cited higher transportation and school-supply costs as the main source of this year’s surge in expenses. Meanwhile, one in four parents (27%) said they were forced to turn to relatives, pawnshops or loan sharks for funds to keep their children in school.
Children at risk
Roughly 3 million children in Thailand live below the poverty line, according to data from the Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
For these families, the average cost of “free” schooling – covering uniforms, transport and meals – is roughly 9,420 baht per term. This amount is equivalent to around two months of earnings for the poorest 15% of households.
Pavarin Bhandtivej, head of data analysis and inequality monitoring at the EEF’s Equitable Education Research Institute, noted that the cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased the financial burden on poor families.
“Their expenses have risen by an average of more than 1,000 baht a month,” he said.
Pavarin expressed concern that financial constraints are taking a toll on children’s future prospects.
EEF data shows that only 12.5% of children from the poorest families go on to higher education – a rate far lower than the national average.
“Overall, our survey found that 22% of children could not afford to enter higher education,” he said.
However, the impacts of education inequality are most visible at school.
In 2024, Thailand recorded a staggering figure of over 1 million school dropouts. That number dropped but remained significant in 2025, with 603,065 children quitting education early.
“This inequality can only be effectively tackled with concrete policies or measures,” Pavarin said. Failure to bridge this education gap will jeopardise not only children’s futures but also Thailand’s long-term economic health, he added.
The ‘hidden fee’ loophole
Thailand has mandated 15 years of free education since 2009, covering the time from kindergarten through Grade 12 (Mathayom 6). To protect this policy, the Education Ministry has banned 22 specific charges – including fees for tuition, libraries or internet use. However, parents frequently complain of “hidden fees” for everything from air-conditioning and native-speaking foreign-language teachers to “mandatory” extra classes.
Asst Prof Athapol Anunthavorasakul, who teaches at Chulalongkorn University and also chairs a Thailand Consumer Council subcommittee, attributes these extra costs to lax law enforcement and legal loopholes.
“Even though the government claims it covers all 22 basic education expenses, many parents are still paying hefty sums,” he said.
In one example, the current uniform subsidy is roughly 400 baht per primary school student, but the actual cost to kit out students is much higher. Meanwhile, the government’s annual subsidy for learning equipment is just 440 baht per head, meaning schools often call on parents to cover the shortfall. For learning activities, the government just pays 547 baht per students, leaving parents to cover costs for activities like school trips.
Emergency measures for 2026
To ease the pressure on parents, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has introduced seven measures for the 2026 academic year. These include cutting school maintenance fees, relaxing uniform requirements, removing unnecessary learning materials and limiting expensive extracurricular activities.
“There’s no need to buy full scout uniforms; students can wear just the scarf and hat,” Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said.
Schools have also been instructed to relax rules on shoe and bag brands for students.
Critics say these steps are merely superficial, arguing that structural reform is required to solve the problem.
Former MP Surawat Thongbu urged the government to redirect the massive budget of 29 billion baht for student tablets and laptops towards essential learning materials and books.
“Such a shift would boost the overall quality of schooling,” he said.
Policy vs practice
Asst Prof Athapol called on the Education Ministry to provide more support to cash-strapped schools and identify students who are at risk of dropping out. These steps should be taken at the start of every academic year, he said.
“Every child should be allowed to complete their education without discrimination. Schools should also be barred from withholding transcripts and certificates just because the parents can’t settle bills,” he said, adding that this practice blocks students from furthering their studies or applying for jobs.
Policy vs reality: The true cost of Thailand’s ‘free’ education
Flaws in Thailand’s “free education” policy are back under the spotlight as schools reopen for the new term. Hidden fees remain a problem for low-income families already struggling with rising living costs, placing millions of children at risk of dropping out.
world.thaipbs.or.th
Mvh isan lover
Isan Lover
Forumveteran
Hej
Govt Tightens School Bus Safety Across Thailand
10 hours ago
The Thai government has ordered stricter nationwide safety measures for school transport vehicles at the start of the new school term, with a focus on vehicle inspections, braking systems and GPS tracking to reduce road accidents involving students.
Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Phermsriwatthana said on 18 May 2026 that the government was working with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and related agencies to improve standards for school transport services across the country. The measures are intended to reassure parents and improve road safety during the school reopening period in May.
The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Department of Land Transport to accelerate inspections of school transport vehicles nationwide. Provincial transport offices have been ordered to coordinate closely with schools to ensure vehicles undergo safety checks, particularly on braking systems.
Officials said any vehicle failing to meet safety standards must be repaired before being allowed back into service. The government said the tighter inspections were aimed at improving safety for students and other road users.
The Department of Land Transport has also worked with the Ministry of Education to create a national database of school transport vehicles through the website schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th. Authorities said the database would support supervision and help improve safety standards for school transport services.
The government is also promoting the use of GPS technology to track vehicle locations and monitor driving behaviour. Officials said the system would help improve safety oversight and support safer journeys for students travelling to and from school.
Additional measures include expanded training for drivers and bus attendants on child safety procedures. Authorities are also studying the introduction of dedicated licence plates for school transport vehicles to improve regulation and make them easier for other motorists to identify on the roads.
The government said the proposal could help encourage drivers to take extra caution when travelling near school transport vehicles. Officials also confirmed that the “New Generation Students with Driving Licences” project would continue as part of efforts to promote road discipline and safety awareness among young people.
Amarin reported that the initiative also includes additional safety training for public transport and truck drivers as part of wider road safety improvements. Lalida said the government would continue raising safety standards for school transport through cooperation between all sectors.
Mvh isan lover
Govt Tightens School Bus Safety Across Thailand
10 hours ago
The Thai government has ordered stricter nationwide safety measures for school transport vehicles at the start of the new school term, with a focus on vehicle inspections, braking systems and GPS tracking to reduce road accidents involving students.
Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Phermsriwatthana said on 18 May 2026 that the government was working with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and related agencies to improve standards for school transport services across the country. The measures are intended to reassure parents and improve road safety during the school reopening period in May.
The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Department of Land Transport to accelerate inspections of school transport vehicles nationwide. Provincial transport offices have been ordered to coordinate closely with schools to ensure vehicles undergo safety checks, particularly on braking systems.
Officials said any vehicle failing to meet safety standards must be repaired before being allowed back into service. The government said the tighter inspections were aimed at improving safety for students and other road users.
The Department of Land Transport has also worked with the Ministry of Education to create a national database of school transport vehicles through the website schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th. Authorities said the database would support supervision and help improve safety standards for school transport services.
The government is also promoting the use of GPS technology to track vehicle locations and monitor driving behaviour. Officials said the system would help improve safety oversight and support safer journeys for students travelling to and from school.
Additional measures include expanded training for drivers and bus attendants on child safety procedures. Authorities are also studying the introduction of dedicated licence plates for school transport vehicles to improve regulation and make them easier for other motorists to identify on the roads.
The government said the proposal could help encourage drivers to take extra caution when travelling near school transport vehicles. Officials also confirmed that the “New Generation Students with Driving Licences” project would continue as part of efforts to promote road discipline and safety awareness among young people.
Amarin reported that the initiative also includes additional safety training for public transport and truck drivers as part of wider road safety improvements. Lalida said the government would continue raising safety standards for school transport through cooperation between all sectors.
Mvh isan lover
Isan Lover
Forumveteran
Hej
thethaiger.com
Mvh isan lover
Bangkok international school found illegally teaching 100 foreign students
An illegal international school in Bangkok was raided after police found it had no licence and teachers had no work permits.
thethaiger.com
Mvh isan lover
