Best international schools in Thailand – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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Introduction
Thailand is a truly wonderful country, captivating its guests with magnificent summer almost all year round and a friendly, welcoming smiling population. The incredible nature and conditions of recreation make tourists return to this country on every vacation, and after make them think about moving with their families to there.
If you have a child, you should also think about the education he or she is going to get in a new country. but to make it easy for your kid, you can choose an international school instead of local school. That is why in this article we will talk about some of the best international schools of Thailand, that have a great curriculum, professional teachers, good atmosphere and can give your child a good enough education. But before that, you should be aware of the main advantages and disadvantages of life in Thailand.
Today many people come to tropical Thailand – live, work and even study there. This is due to the fact that it is hot all year round in this country, even during the rainy seasons, and there is a good climate. In addition, relatively inexpensive housing can be found in Thailand, which allows you to live there on a permanent basis.
Many newcomers live in Thailand on money from renting their own homes at home or work remotely. But the Internet in the country is rather weak, which is worth considering.
To help determine the question “is life in Thailand worth changing the usual regime to uncertainty?”, It is necessary to evaluate the positive and negative aspects of this decision. If for you the advantages of living in Thailand outweigh the disadvantages, you can safely start preparing for the winter in Thailand!
Pros:
Why do so many leave to live in Thailand for good? The thing is that life in this country has its advantages:
- Favorable climate and constant access to the sea. Those who do not like cold and frost will like Thailand because it is constantly hot there and there is always an opportunity to swim in the sea (and if you live in a villa, then even in the pool). However, access to the sea depends on the area of residence, and the climate may not please those who do not like the constant heat.
- Low food prices. You can buy regular Thai food here for inexpensive money. Now in tourist areas shops with European products are even opening, which are also sold at low prices and are more familiar. Delicious tropical fruits and seafood are also cheap here – they can be eaten all year round!
- Large selection of housing. Thailand has a huge variety of housing both for rent and for purchase – apartments, apartments, houses, villas, etc. Prices depend on the region of residence and distance from tourist areas.
- Friendly atmosphere. Thais are very friendly and benevolent to each other, as well as to tourists and visitors. Here you will hardly see a gloomy and angry person – there are always friendly smiles on their faces. Plus, Thais are very open and sincere.
- Discipline. The people of Thailand are very disciplined people. They have organized queues everywhere: in stores, at the post office, to the toilet, etc. Even in a subway car or a bus, they do not enter a crowd, but strictly along a chain. And when they need to call a taxi, they also take turns, one after another, to catch a car.
- No transport problems. In Thailand, you can rent a car or bike and move around the city just like that. If you don’t want to rent, you can take the bus without any problems. The islands can be reached by ferries or boats.
- Better quality of life and overall simplicity. You can live much better in Thailand than in your homeland, spending the same amount of money. As already mentioned, housing and food will be inexpensive, clothes can also be bought at low prices (especially when you consider that, living in this country, there is no need for winter clothes).
Cons:
Like any country, Thailand also has its negative sides:
- Dirt and odors. These qualities accompany almost all regions of the state – this is especially felt on the outskirts of cities. Sometimes the smell of sewage in the area is so strong that it is impossible to be there.
- Insects and tropical diseases. Thailand has a very diverse living creature – various ants, cockroaches, geckos, spiders, etc. Some representatives of the local fauna are carriers of dangerous diseases: malaria, Dengue fever, schistosomiasis, etc. Also in Thailand there is a rather high risk of contracting parasitic diseases or getting severe Quincke’s edema after being bitten by some insect.
- Obtaining citizenship. It is not easy for a foreigner to obtain a Thai visa, and citizenship is almost impossible. Even having a Thai wife and children together does not solve the problem. To become a Thai citizen, you need to stay in the country without leaving for several years, have a solid account in a local bank and have perfect knowledge of the Thai language. The conditions are difficult – therefore, few decide to obtain Thai citizenship. And if you live there on a visa, then it needs to be renewed periodically, and it is not a fact that it will be extended in subsequent times.
- Employment problems. It is quite difficult for a foreigner to get a good job in Thailand. Of course, you can go to cleaners, waiters, salesmen – but you won’t earn much in such a job, and employment is likely to be unofficial.
- Rejection of Thai cuisine by the body. All oriental cuisine is very spicy and can lead to digestive problems. But there is a way out of this situation – to eat not in a cafe, but to cook on your own.
- Apartments without kitchens. Many apartments do not have a kitchen area. There is a sink, a cupboard, household appliances – but no stove. Thais do not need it, as they either buy ready-made food or eat in a cafe. Therefore, when choosing a rented apartment, you need to pay attention to the presence of a stove if you plan to cook. Washing machines are also very often absent in an apartment, which for many is a disadvantage when choosing a home. But in Thailand, laundries are very common, where you can wash things cheaply and even iron them.
- Lack of sidewalks. On the streets of Thailand, sidewalks are either completely absent or very narrow. Cars and bikes stand right next to the walls of buildings and it is very difficult to move between them, especially for those who carry a stroller with a child. By the way, there are very few playgrounds in Thailand.
Education in Thailand
Education in Thailand is administered by the Thai Ministry of Education, which in turn is controlled by the Thai government. Twelve years of free basic education in the country is guaranteed by the Constitution. A nine-year school attendance is compulsory. In 2009, the Ministry of Education announced the expansion of free compulsory education to fifteen years.
The education system consists of twelve years of basic education and higher education. Basic education is divided into six years of primary education and six years of secondary education, the latter being subdivided into two to three years. Preschool education is also part of the basic education level. Private independent schools also contribute to general education.
Public and private universities are managed and controlled by the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education.
School education system
The educational system of Thailand consists of not only public but also private institutions, which differ somewhat in their teaching structure. There are classical schools, vocational schools, and general education schools offering both classical and vocational education.
Vocational schools prepare children for employment in their chosen specialty, or for further higher education. The twelve-year compulsory education is divided into two parts: six-year elementary and two-stage secondary, each stage lasts three years – Matthayom (1-3) from 12 to 14, and Matthayom (4-6) from 15 to 18.
School education in Thailand In public schools, the school year begins in May and is divided into two semesters with long vacations in October and March-April, in private schools with a British teaching system – three semesters with two-month summer holidays.
Admission to the gymnasium is carried out by means of entrance examinations. Further education at the university is recommended to be obtained in international private schools with teachers from the USA, Canada, and Europe. With the receipt of a European-style certificate, graduates can enter European universities.
In addition to standard subjects, schoolchildren study Chinese, Japanese languages , and martial arts. From the age of 13, students choose specialized programs with a bias in mathematics, science, and natural sciences, languages, etc.
Standard uniforms include: for girls – black or navy blue knee-length skirt, white blouse with bow tie, black shoes, and white knee-highs; for boys – black or navy blue knee-length shorts, white shirt with short sleeves, knee-highs and black shoes. Often the number and name of the school and the name of the student are embroidered on the collar of a shirt or blouse. In international schools, uniforms are close to the British model.
After graduating from high school, graduates take two tests: a simple and a complicated national educational test.
Choosing an international school in Thailand, Bangkok
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is bustling, colorful, and always on the move! It is home to more than 14 million people, emigrants from all over the world mingle with millions of local Thais. The city is safe for expats and very accessible.
The Bangkok International School Market is well served by over 70 schools, including 38 UK schools, 21 American schools, and 23 IB schools. As with so much else in Bangkok, prices are lower than in other parts of the world. Tuition fees range from $ 5,000 per year to $ 30,000 in high school. This is good for comparison with other parts of Asia as well as Europe.
Below we will review some of the best schools, with the highest reviews and glad feedbacks from both students and parents.
Harrow International School Bangkok
Harrow International School Bangkok is one of six schools around the world. The links between schools are strong, as evidenced by the general Board of Governors and the movement of staff within the group.
They are a coeducational day school and boarding school offering an independent British-style boarding school experience in English in an Asian context on our modern campus in the north of Bangkok.
The school has a strong pastoral orientation through the house system. The school curriculum is taught in English. They accept students from 18 months to 18 years old.
Harrow International School education makes sense, integrity and for life. They offer a wide and varied range of extracurricular activities that enrich and expand the academic pursuits of Harrow Bangkok students, including creative, social and sporting activities.
Students develop leadership and empathy through active participation in philanthropy and community service. They honor students who go beyond the classroom to demonstrate a commitment to inclusive education by making ethical decisions that make them the best citizens in the world.
The Regent’s International School Bangkok
Regent’s International School in Bangkok is one of the leading schools in Thailand. They are a day school and boarding school for children from 2 to 18 years old, they strive to develop the whole personality through academic, physical, cultural and social experiences. The school is guided by the UK curriculum, starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) leading to the IGCSE exams, although they go beyond that in many places. After 16 they take the IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma program.
Academic results are excellent; they are getting some of the best IB results in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Regent’s International School students enroll in some of the best universities in the world, and they have fantastic opportunities for extracurricular activities.
The school works hard to create a friendly, happy family atmosphere without shying away from hard work and high standards.
Rasami British International School
At the British Rasami International School (RBIS), they believe in an individualized learning structure tailored to the needs of individual learners. Their approach is based on experience and students engage in fun and challenging learning activities. They believe in a holistic approach and to implement it they align classroom learning with extensive and successful extracurricular program.
RBIS is a small school with a strong sense of community and partnership between parents. This personalized approach helps to understand, develop and nurture the students. The UK curriculum that the school education is based on, aligned with an international perspective, provides children with excellent opportunities to grow in a learning-driven environment.
The integration of sports, community service programs, visual and performing arts housing camps, and information technology is integrated into our academic program. Rasami British International School showcases a one-school philosophy and many of their students begin their kindergarten education, progressing from school to graduation, providing an impeccable educational experience.
St Andrews International School Bangkok
St. Andrews International School Bangkok, an educational school in Northern England, was founded in 1997 in an attractive, convenient location at 71 Sukhumvit Street, where our primary school is today. The high school (grades 7-13) offers modern purpose-built educational facilities and is located 200 meters from BTS Ekkamai Station. The school now has over 2,000 students representing 58 nationalities, from Foundation Stage 1 (2 years) to 13 grades (18 years).
The school provides a high quality, professional, well-equipped learning environment where the talents and abilities of each child are recognized and developed and their needs are supported.
Their teachers are professional and caring, chosen for their awareness of the needs of a wide range of children, who can come from different social, cultural, religious and educational backgrounds. They are capable educators who take care of curriculum design, use a variety of strategies to implement it, and pay close attention to each individual’s progress.
They are an inclusive school that accepts students of all skill levels. To ensure that all of their children have an equal opportunity, they have a professional learning support team.
This team works with class teachers to identify and support children in their schooling, whether they need extra help with their studies or are recognized as gifted and talented.
The curriculum is based on UK best practices and adapted to the international context of the school. Students take the IGCSE exams at the end of grade 11 and then progress through the senior year in grades 12 and 13. The school offers an International Baccalaureate Degree program along with an alternative school curriculum, both of which lead to graduation and provide opportunities for admission to prestigious universities around the world.
As part of Nord Anglia Education, the world’s leading organization of premium schools, they are partnering with the preeminent conservatory for the performing arts, the Juilliard School and one of the world’s leading universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to bring a truly inspiring learning experience to all their students.
With high quality teaching, excellent facilities and small classrooms, St Andrews International School Bangkok offers students the opportunity to fulfill their academic potential in a stimulating, nurturing and caring environment.
They are fully accredited by the CfBT Education Trust and Thailand’s National Education Standards and Quality Assessment Authority (ONESQA), the first school in Thailand to receive this joint accreditation award.
Berkeley International School
Berkeley International School is a boutique international school offering a wide range of learning opportunities typically found in much larger schools. They offer a kindergarten for children ages two to five, an elementary school for grades one through five, a high school for students six through eight, and a high school for grades nine through twelve.
At Berkeley, they follow a rigorous American curriculum with an international emphasis. Berkeley students will work with and learn from an amazing international community of classmates and teachers. Community is a key word at Berkeley International School as their small size provides a close bond between students, staff and parents who call Berkeley their educational home.
The community believes in the innate ability of the students and that they must find their passion in all areas – academic, sports, arts, social and service. Their goal is to create opportunities for Berkeley students to explore these opportunities.
ELC International School Bangkok
At ELC International School Bangkok, the team fosters the growth of every child through an exploratory approach to learning. In an environment that promotes both learning and learning, their children can interact constructively with the world around them.
The ELC family of international schools consists of five different campuses located in the center of Bangkok and north of the city, serving children from 18 months to 11 years old. Their international preschools, kindergartens and elementary schools are renowned as a solid foundation for admission to Bangkok’s top international schools as well as seamless transition to schools around the world.
The school’s curriculum emphasizes academic and creative thinking, with all subjects interconnected through a project, giving students a deeper understanding that literacy, mathematics, physics, biology and the visual arts are just a few of them that add more deep meaning. education.
The personal approach resonates with everything the teachers do. The small size of their schools ensures that all students and parents are known, giving everyone in their care the personal attention they deserve.
Each student can reach his full potential, which will allow him to become a harmonious person, participating in life both inside and outside of the school community. The modern spaces are specially designed for children from 18 months to 11 years old. The accessibility, complexity and scale of the external environment for both play and sports support the physical and social development of each year group. Spaces, some open, others private, allow children to play games together or take refuge when needed.
