In Thailand there are three government departments which take responsibility for education in the country. These are the National Education Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of University Affairs. The National Education Commission takes responsibility for policy, planning and research into educational matters. The Ministry of Education looks after education at all levels below university, while the Ministry of University Affairs is responsible for all universities in the country.

Thailand has many private schools and international schools and those who attend can enjoy education of a high standard and small class sizes. Bangkok has more than 70 international schools alone but they can be found in all large cities. The international schools cater for all age groups. These schools follow mainly an American or British curriculum, although some will follow the International Baccalaureate and there are some schools which use systems developed in other parts of Europe or Asia. Qualifications such as the GCSE and A Level are accessible to students of international schools in Thailand.

All schools, including private and international schools, must be accredited according to the regulations in Thailand as there are procedures and standards to be adhered to. Most teachers will teach in their own language. International schools will offer Thai studies as a subject, in addition to the wide range of other subjects and extra-curricular activities. In order to enroll at a private or international school it is necessary to contact the school directly as each has its own policies and procedures. Most will expect parents to pay a fee for administering the admissions process. Expat students will need to have a valid visa in order to enroll. The admissions process should be started as soon as the visa is granted as some schools can take some time to process this.

All Thai children from the ages of 6 to 15 are obliged to attend school. Pre-school is not compulsory but many children do attend from the age of 3. There is no charge for education for Thai nationals. If a child has one Thai parent then they are considered to be Thai nationals, although the birth must have been registered in Thailand. In order to register at a Thai school the parent will simply need to provide the child’s birth certificate and the House Registration document of the family. There are some fees to pay for school uniform, books and other essential equipment.

The Thai educational curriculum teaches in five main areas. All children will learn Thai language and mathematics. Life experiences studies include citizenship, natural science and social studies. Character development is an area which includes physical education, music, art and moral education. Thai studies is taught to all children and those in grades five to six will learn special skills such as English language or vocational skills.

There are three levels to the Thai Education System. Level 1 consists of KG1 to KG3 for ages 3 to 5 but is not compulsory. Level 2 is primary education for ages 6 to 11. Level 3 is secondary education for ages 12 to 18, although the last three years are not compulsory. Children will only be allowed to progress to the next year if they pass their end of year exam. There is always the option to repeat the year or have extra tuition over the summer in order to resit the exam before the new school year begins. Repeating the year is not usually an option which is taken up. At the end of year M3, there are optional exams known as the Ordinary National Educational Test. These must be passed if the student wishes to continue with their education. At the end of year M6, there is the option to take the Advanced National Educational Test for graduation from secondary school. These are the equivalent of the UK A Levels or the SAT in the US. Those who wish to go to university also need to take an admissions test known as CUAS. This takes into account marks from both ONET and ANET.

As with private schools, application for admission to government schools must be made directly to the institution. There is no catchment area system in place. Foreign students will need to have a valid visa, provide a birth certificate, health certificate, immunization records and any documentation which has been produced by a previous school.

Universities operate in a similar way to those in Europe and the US. Courses and qualifications vary but the universities in cities such as Bangkok have a very comprehensive programme covering arts, sciences and other subjects.

The school day in Thailand begins at 8.30 am and ends at 3.30 pm. It should be noted that some private schools have different hours. Dates for holidays will also vary from school to school. International schools are similar to those in Europe with a long break over July and August and 2 weeks each at Christmas and Easter. State schools will take a one month break in October and a 2 month break covering March and April.

Useful Resources

Ministry of Education
www.moe.go.th
Tel: + 66 2281 3441