The school of Anurak
'Some parents are afraid that their children at an international school will grow up to be elitist, arrogant and spoiled brats with no connection to any culture'
Thai Visa Forum Jul 14, 2007
Choosing a school is one of the most important, and often one of the most difficult decisions parents have to make in their children's lives. What determines that choice? Is it the beautiful legs of the teacher? The master's suit? With or without air conditioning? Or is it just the quality of education?
If we make a rational choice based on the quality of education, we must bear in mind that only 25 percent of learning outcomes are due to the quality of education, the remaining 75 percent are related to education level and parental interest; family stability; student motivation and intelligence.
There can be many other reasons for choosing a school, such as location and price, or perhaps dislike of another school. But the most important consideration should be: will my child feel comfortable at this school?
My son Anoerak (now 14 years old, on the right in the picture) goes to Nakhorn Phayap International School in Chiang Mai. Before that, he attended primary school at a normal Thai school in Phayao province, but was often bullied there, especially in the last year, with 'farang, farang!'
I chose this school because it is close to our house (Anoerak comes home from school every day with a bunch of friends called the 'Gang of Five'), the school fees are just affordable and it is a secular school. But the main reason is that after visiting all the international schools in Chiang Mai, I felt that this school had the most pleasant appearance. And a first impression often determines a choice and so it was in this case.
International schools are pricey
What is an International School? Let me mention three features. Teaching is always in English, the student and teacher base usually consists of many nationalities (although the mix can vary greatly from school to school) and diplomas generally give access to all universities worldwide.
An International Schools Association Thailand (ISAT) website has a list of all international schools in Thailand (95 schools, if I counted correctly, half of them in Bangkok). The second website gives an evaluation and lists the 10 best and the 10 worst (there are also!) international schools in Thailand. (The URLs are at the bottom of the article)
International schools are pricey, with the most expensive school in Chiang Mai, Prem Tinsulanon (also known as the 'Arab' school due to its many students from the Gulf countries) costing a whopping 570.000 baht per year for high school students with many additional expenses. There are schools of around a million baht a year.
Anoerak's school costs 270.000 baht per year all-in, which is the minimum for an international school. Many schools have a Christian signature, in Chiang Mai that is 3 out of 7 international schools. Usually the American or British curriculum is followed. The teachers are mostly foreign, but there are usually also Thai teachers.
Why choose an international school? Chiang Mai has plenty of good Thai schools, Montford (where Thaksin studied), Prince Royals and Varie eg. Cheaper but fuller classes, a more limited range of subjects and very poor results in English.
Nakhorn Payap International School (NIS)
(The school's motto: Learning through diversity, Nakhorn Payap means 'the north-western city')
My son is in Grade 9 at this school which is just north of Chiang Mai city. Founded in 1993, it is the second international school in Chiang Mai.
The current owner is Piti Yimpraset, a director of the PTT Oil group, who bought the school in 2002 when his son was studying there (the son is now in Grade 12), and then built the current school on a new site. I was assured that he has no influence on educational policy.
The school has a kindergarten, a primary and a secondary school with a total of 410 students. It employs 61 teachers, 6 of whom are Thai, and there are also 120 other, mostly Thai, staff members.
The school follows the American curriculum, supplemented with international elements. Secondary school has 6 grades. In the first two years, Middle School, all students take the same subjects, in the last 4 years there is a core of 5 compulsory subjects: Literature, Writing/Grammar, Modern History, Physics and Algebra, as well as a multitude of elective subjects. Much emphasis is placed on art, m
Let me name a few electives (there are 32!): Biology, Statistics, IT, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French, Music, Dance, Art, Drama, Sports, Economics, Ethics, Psychology and Environment. The school attaches great importance to the subjects of art, music, drama and sports. Each sufficiently completed course is worth a number of credits (two or three), whereby a minimum of 75 credits is required to graduate. Staying seated is an exception; if a course is insufficiently completed, it can be updated the following year.
The school has a separate website where the progress of the students can be viewed, absences and late arrivals are also reported. My son now has 2 A's, 2 B's, 7 C's. 0 D's and 1 F (Failed); the latter for Physics; and now he has to stay home from me in the evening to collect it. (That did not work).
All students receive Thai lessons, the Thai students at a higher level. Anoerak's Thai teacher is highly regarded but she only teaches 'Old Thai'. I brought her a stack of Thai newspapers so that the students can now also read and discuss newspaper articles. What is unique is that the school has regular consultations and joint training sessions with the six other international schools in Chiang Mai.
As with medical care, it is very difficult to assess the quality of education. If I can give it a try, I'll end up with good, certainly not excellent. But that is compensated by excellent communication, facilities and subjects.
Two organizations assess the school: Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Association of Indian Universities, and the school is licensed by the Thai Ministry of Education.
One teacher for every eight students
I already mentioned that the school has 61 teachers, almost equally divided from the United States, Canada and England. In addition, there are 8 Thai teachers and a few other nationalities. That is one teacher for every eight pupils, which the school is rightly proud of.
On average, the teachers stay at this school for 5 years. Their powers are strictly controlled. My experience is that teachers are very involved in the fate of their students, good communication is one of the spearheads of policy. I have received regular emails about my son, phone calls and invitations for an interview over the past 2 years. Tomorrow I have to get back on the mat with the deputy principal, whom I will then interview. In addition, the school has 120 other, mostly Thai, employees.
More than 90 percent of graduates study abroad
The school has 410 students. A high school class has a maximum of 20, but usually only 15 students. This school is called 'the Korean school' in Chiang Mai, 30 percent of the students are of Korean descent, 40 percent are Thai or half-Thai, the rest are divided among 20 other nationalities such as Japanese, Chinese, and many Western countries with almost every country being represented by a few students.
There is an entrance exam (English and math), which Anoerak failed like a brick 2 1/2 years ago. But he was admitted to the school anyway because of 'good potential'! (No, I didn't pay anything for it)
The school is proud of the fact that more than 90 percent of its graduates (35 students this year) go on to higher education in 11 different countries: in Bangkok (9 students), South Korea (6), England (5), USA (4), Canada (3), and further in Japan, South Africa, China, Taiwan and Australia.
Thai and Korean students should work together more
An interview with two Thai directors partly revolved around this question: how can we ensure that the two large groups, Koreans and Thais, work together more? In some classes this works well, in others not at all. We are going to set up a plan together with the core: organizing more activities in compulsory mixed groups, in sports, drama and homework.
In addition, we will try to recruit more nationalities, other than Thai and Korean. Unfortunately, there is not enough money for some scholarships, says the owner. In addition, I will be helping with more extracurricular activities such as community service and charity.
A school of rich kids? Winner says: 'It doesn't matter.'
Anoerak's best friend, Winner, tells that he used to go to Prince Royals school (a Thai private school). He didn't like it there. Classes that were too large (40 students) and every year with different students in the class, so that he could not make close friendships.
He noticed that his English was not improving, while he would very much like to study at a foreign university later. Moreover, he never dared to open his mouth in class. (That's different now, Winner is one of the most pleasantly outspoken Thai guys I know). He thinks this school is a great progress in that respect.
Are there no downsides? Yes, Winner mentions a few teachers who criticize too much and never say anything positive. And there's the healthy but not tasty food that sometimes even runs out if you're late! Winner describes the contact with the many Korean students as superficial, in the classroom and especially outside, where each group keeps to itself. He attributes this to their 'different way of thinking'. But he would like to see the school develop more joint activities to get to know each other better.
When asked if he does not become too isolated from the Thai community at this school, he replies that this will not happen quickly because he has many contacts outside the school. 'I will never forget my Thai background', he puts it, 'and we often take a trip to an orphanage or a farm'. Moreover, he said that next year they will participate in the 'roh doh' program*. My suggestion that it is a school of 'rich kids' is laughed off by him. "It doesn't matter," he said.
* The 'roh doh' ('literally 'care for the fatherland') program means that once every two weeks boys perform one day of community service with a paramilitary slant. If they keep that up for 3 years, they will no longer have to do military service, to the chagrin of General Prayuth.
money matters
I couldn't understand the budget of Anoerak's school. So I have to make an estimate of income, expenses and profit. The income, given the amount of school fees, will amount to approximately 105 million baht. The expenditure on salaries amounts to 65 million baht. The construction of the school will have cost about 100 million baht.
Perhaps Mr. Piti makes a profit of 5-10 million baht on his investment in the school, but I understand from the various interviews that the profit is invested annually in more facilities and staff.
The teachers earn between 52.000 and 62.000 baht per month, with health insurance, a trip to their country of birth every two years and free education for any children.
My son likes to go to school. What more do you want?
International schools are expensive, but does that guarantee a good school? From various comments I can deduce that this is by no means always the case.
Sometimes I doubt whether I did the right thing in sending my son to an international school. I can now save less for his later studies. Furthermore, I am sometimes afraid that he will become an elitist and spoiled boy with no connection to the society around him (see quote at the beginning).
On the other hand, the quality of education at this school is good, perhaps not excellent, but sufficient. Moreover, it is a fun, pleasant school with committed teachers, an open atmosphere with many extra activities. After an early period in which my son was very shy and withdrawn, he now has many friends and enjoys going to school. What more do you want?
Tino Kuis
Those who are not afraid of spending several hours reading to separate the wheat from the chaff can visit this website:
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/129613-international-schools-fees/
Websites of the International Schools Association Thailand (ISAT):
http://www.isat.or.th/
http://www.thetoptens.com/international-schools-thailand/
For more about Winner see:
Sources: various interviews and websites.
Hello Tino.
I read your piece with attention. Have a question though. Do the students at that expensive school (e.g.) know
Anoerak already what they want to become as a future job.? Or is that never mentioned.
A very clear story Tino. Have never experienced an international school up close. It does not seem easy to me to forge a close-knit group of different nationalities. Hopefully it will be possible thanks to your help with extracurricular activities. A survival camp perhaps?
that system is possible in almost all Thai matayom (middle) schools. To avoid compulsory military service, there are also other options, with a strong Boy Scout-like slant. Die 'doh” (it's the toh taharn)
Hi Tino, I'm there again. Nice to read and know about Thai education. What a difference with 1955. Greetings, Anneke.
the “rho doh” is really more than just community service. Because it is a real paramilitary training, where you also learn to use different weapons. The admission requirements are strict, and you must be able to show good results at school, otherwise you will not be accepted.
They are also the first to be called up when civil war or other conflict breaks out
My youngest son and my 2 grandsons followed this course. my son has even completed parachutist training.
It wasn't until my now adult son had been studying abroad for a long time that I understood that international schools are seen as elitist. I've never experienced it as such. There were always good and bad, sociable and less sociable students, teachers and headmasters. The buildings, classrooms, tables, chairs, etc. did not look any nicer than those in NL. The only real difference I could find was that almost all children had at least one working parent. One reason may be that people in Western countries where schools do not have to be paid for often think that education there is also free and that they then consider an international school that does have a price tag as elitist. I don't know how much the NL government spends on education per student, but I'm sure it's a solid amount per student. All costs must be included in that calculation (including costs of the ministry itself) and sometimes I doubt whether this will happen. At an international private school, all costs are by definition passed on.