The practice of homeschooling is a global undertaking, just like any other kind of education. Millions of families worldwide have decided to take control of their children’s education, particularly during and after COVID-19. Like the United States, every nation has its views, ideologies, and legal framework about homeschooling overseas. Let’s have a look at the essential aspects of homeschooling in Thailand.
Homeschooling in Thailand: Is it legal?
According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, homeschooling is legal in Thailand. The constitution and education regulations of the nation expressly acknowledge alternative education as a legal option and regard families as educational institutions. Homeschoolers in Thailand successfully petitioned the government to pass a homeschool law in 2004, which stipulates that “the right to basic education by the family” governs the practice. In Thailand, the only prerequisites for online homeschooling are an application from the family and an annual evaluation of each kid.
Public Schools
Thailand has some top-notch public schools, most of which are in Bangkok. Some of these are connected to nearby renowned universities, which train student instructors at the school. However, public schools often fall short of what ex-pats may be accustomed to. Lack of funds affects many public schools, especially those in remote areas. Large classes are the norm, making individual attention more challenging for each child.
Thai citizens are entitled to free public education in Thailand. However, the child must have at least one Thai parent to be declared a Thai national. Children who don’t fit these criteria typically aren’t entitled to free public education in Thailand, so their families must pay tuition.
International schools
In Thailand, a lot of ex-pats decide to enrol their kids in international schools. These institutions provide Western curricula and instruct in a language and manner comfortable for the students. Although some international schools offer instruction in other languages, such as French and German, most of their homeschool curriculum is taught in English.
Since these institutions are all affiliated with outside organizations, there are generally high requirements for recruiting teachers and educational standards. As a result, these schools are the first choice for many Thai families.
In addition to having modern facilities, small class sizes, and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, these institutions are virtually always well-funded. However, this comes at a cost because tuition at overseas schools is infamously exorbitant.
English program schools
Several public and private schools participate in the government-sponsored English Programme (EP). An international teacher engaged in an EP class teaches almost all disciplines in English. Some schools have more extensive EPs than others; larger programs may be housed in completely different buildings, or sessions may be taught in a small section of a Thai-speaking school. With EPs, Thai nationals and foreigners must pay for these classes at public and private schools. Even though private schools’ tuition is higher than that of public schools, it is still considerably less than that of international schools.
The English Program schools may be the best choice for families that intend to stay in Thailand for an extended period. They allow kids to forge stronger ties to Thai society and culture while enabling access to multilingual education.
Special-needs education
Learning disabilities are listed as qualifying for state help in Thailand’s education law. Although they are needed, special education teachers are hard to come by in the public system.
Many foreign schools often provide support for students with special needs at an additional cost. Because the level of help differs from school to school, it is essential to look into some of the best online homeschooling.
Tutors
Thailand’s private education market is enormous. Thailand’s enormous tutoring market, worth several billion baht, was born out of the need to prepare pupils for the brutally difficult university entrance tests. Due to the increasing demand for private education and the attractive pay for teachers, the sector has experienced significant expansion. Many teachers from public schools have moved into the private sector.
Access to local tutors may be a helpful resource for local and international families. They can support in various ways, such as helping with challenging subjects and creating study techniques. Tutors are particularly helpful in easing an ex-pat child’s adjustment to a new environment and aiding language acquisition.
Summing up
If they have children, ex-pats coming to Thailand might choose between a private international school or a local public school. Since local public schools only offer free education to Thai children and only educate in Thai, most ex-pat families choose to enroll their children in an international school or a private institution that offers an English-language curriculum.
