Thread: Why Does It Cost So Much To Educate Our Kids Here?

Originally Posted by RPETER65

The Oldest Neice Will Receive Her Doctorate In Physics This Year, Then To Boston University, At The Expense Of The Thai Govy.

Sounds like a gifted family.

However, it highlights the point of education here in Thailand for the brightest minds.

They usually go overseas for an education that matters.

Originally Posted by hillbilly

Originally Posted by RPETER65

The Oldest Neice Will Receive Her Doctorate In Physics This Year, Then To Boston University, At The Expense Of The Thai Govy.

Sounds like a gifted family.

However, it highlights the point of education here in Thailand for the brightest minds.

They usually go overseas for an education that matters.

YES GIFTED BUT MORE SO DETERMINED.

^Any chance you can work the caps key? this shouting gets on my tits,

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

Jandajoy you keep debating with ET. I don't look to win points; so all I can say to justify my statement is that at the Uni I taught at there were 20 odd students sent abroad each year to study for their Ph.Ds. Therefore, over time, this number, when multiplied by the number of other Unis practising the same policy, will amount to many more than a few, to me that is a lot

Believe me mate I've no interest in "points" either. It was a crude attempt at humour.

What does interest me is how many of these kids get these excellent opportunities on the back of their family connections, bribes or whatever.

Do the kids in the bush get the same chances, hopes and aspirations. Do the families out in the paddy fields even know that these opportunities exist?

I don't know, but I'd like to.

I think you are asking good questions but I think you know the answers.
There is very little future for the under privelliged class in this country.
Those who have, get more. Those who have not, what little they have will be taken away.

My BiL finished a degree in accounting from the Udon Rajabat in April -- paid almost exclusively by the Thai government.

But that's where it ended. I too am interested in the "connections" aspects of these fortunate students who are degreed-up by the government. I'd imagine the percentage of students helped beyond a basic 4-year degree have them in spades. But I don't know.

As an aside,
my wife supported her son through Uni in BKK, unaided, single parent, working in Central, as the father had legged it.

The boy worked hard and did the right thing. He got his paper from His Majesties emmisary etc. etc. My wife went to BKK with the best clothes we could buy etc etc.
The boy had it made.
A degree in Law!

He's currently working in the paddy fields but we hope to get him a job grading grapefruit soon.

She's gutted, and so she should be.

He stayed in BBK with his degree for a year seeking work but he had no connections.
5 years work, by him and her and he's cutting rice.
Sorry, I just find it a tad emotionally distressing.
It's so un fucking fair.

cheers

Originally Posted by notanameleft

and I don't think the govt would give the scholarships to the children whom their parents can afford to pay for the international school.

Correction. I think it's highly likely that the kids who get the scholarships do in fact come from families that are well connected and could afford it.
Wealth = power=connections etc etc

Originally Posted by jandajoy

As an aside,
my wife supported her son through Uni in BKK, unaided, single parent, working in Central, as the father had legged it.

The boy worked hard and did the right thing. He got his paper from His Majesties emmisary etc. etc. My wife went to BKK with the best clothes we could buy etc etc.
The boy had it made.
A degree in Law!

He's currently working in the paddy fields but we hope to get him a job grading grapefruit soon.

She's gutted, and so she should be.

He stayed in BBK with his degree for a year seeking work but he had no connections.
5 years work, by him and her and he's cutting rice.
Sorry, I just find it a tad emotionally distressing.
It's so un fucking fair.

cheers

there are so many same cases as your wife's son.
my friend (and I) got the degree in Tourism. After she worked in Starbuck's for 3 years, she moved back to Pak chong to help her family doing the paddy fields (sugarcane, corn, etc). how shame????

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Originally Posted by notanameleft

and I don't think the govt would give the scholarships to the children whom their parents can afford to pay for the international school.

Correction. I think it's highly likely that the kids who get the scholarships do in fact come from families that are well connected and could afford it.
Wealth = power=connections etc etc

That's true.. and again, the kids should study in thai school. parents have the good connections, and have enough money to support (who? govt?) them.

Originally Posted by jandajoy

As an aside,
my wife supported her son through Uni in BKK, unaided, single parent, working in Central, as the father had legged it.

The boy worked hard and did the right thing. He got his paper from His Majesties emmisary etc. etc. My wife went to BKK with the best clothes we could buy etc etc.
The boy had it made.
A degree in Law!

He's currently working in the paddy fields but we hope to get him a job grading grapefruit soon.

She's gutted, and so she should be.

He stayed in BBK with his degree for a year seeking work but he had no connections.
5 years work, by him and her and he's cutting rice.
Sorry, I just find it a tad emotionally distressing.
It's so un fucking fair.

cheers

Sincerely feel sorry for your wife and her son.

Possibly he is not not pure Chinese Thai (which seems to be pre-requisite here) which is such an unfair situation.

Some Luk Krung kids can make it within their circle but they must be ultra white skinned and have a superb education to do it.

Possibly he is not not pure Chinese Thai (which seems to be pre-requisite here) which is such an unfair situation.

Some Luk Krung kids can make it within their circle but they must be ultra white skinned and have a superb education to do it.[/quote]


I wouldn't get a job in the cities for my whole life.
Mummy... why you gave me this chocolate skinned??

My BiL sent out a few applications in May and went to a few interviews.
Nothing yet. I hope it wasn't a wasted effort. He is certainly not well connected.

But he doesn't seem to be trying very hard to get a job either. Almost as if he knows its futile. This place sucks.

Good luck Tex.

Keep at it and don't lose hope.

I don't think that there is much chance of a decent job, let alone education, in Thailand, unless you are connected. My Thai wife and her 3 kids (18, 14 and 12) hopefully will get their permanent visas to U.S. in 3 weeks and we will be leaving (not permanently for me) for U.S. in October for children to finish education in U.S. and, if they want to stay in U.S., get GOOD jobs. If they want to come back to Thailand, I will make sure that they know the fields of study that will produce the best paying jobs and have them make connections with U.S. companies that have business in Thailand.

Last few pages have been pretty gloomy.

SO here's some relatively good stuff.

The lawyer in the paddy fields, needs some professional help, PM me, I know a few local lawyers that he could contact for advice, if nothing else.

"Connected" as I mentioned earlier is they way all professionals are going. Networking if you will. I have met some pretty bad engineers out there that have good jobs - through no fault of their own.

As I also mentioned, getting connected is part of the game, my option, for my daughter, is through a military education.

Take Shinawiz:
I googled this guy, his family are filthy rich, yet he gets sent to military school (Police) and through them gets MBA in the US (assumed Police paid), then marries a senior policeman's daughter - connected again.
With all this one would imagine the easy life, he was average to say the least, had three or four failed business attempts after leaving the Police, then wins the concession to run a monopoly mobile phone service - go figure that one. Who couldn't run a monopoly? And some touted him as CEO of the year back in 1999


My daughter attends a good private Thai school in Sattahip, that is almost exclusively for the Thai Navy personnel's children. They grilled her for two days before accepting her. Now if we keep working on her English, and I keep having beers and playing golf with the Navy boffins, she stands a good chance of getting into a military - Naval college.
Alternatively, my employment is more and more pulling me overseas, (3 interviews in Australia alone next week). I may have to re-consider the lazy 6 months a year of work and go full time in Aussie. Therein lies the real future for my daughter, but for now Mum and daughter really want to stay here - so majority vote wins out.

For those people who have lost faith in their ability to win a job, some personal insights:

I apply for 50-100 jobs a week when not working, get about 2-3 interviews per 100 applications. About one job per year that lasts, on average, 9 months.

I am not networked, I'm persistent, I survive.

At one point 5 years ago I was out of work for 10 months, really depressing, but I just kept applying. So my advise is keep trying.
PM me if you want some good employment websites.

Hi Ban Saray,

My name is Chompue. I was an exchange student in 1985 and lived with Arjarn Pradith the Deputy Principal who still lives and works at Dhammasiri Suksa School. I am delighted to read your email and your thoughts. I think that you are right on task keeping your 8 year old at Dharmma and not an International school.

Because of my influence from Arjarn Pradith, I became a teacher back here in Australia. I live in Adelaide and have taught for 18 at Loreto College.

My own three children have had small 6 week Aussie Christmas holiday study experiences at Dhammarsiri Suksa school. This has been most memorable in their lives. Dhammasiri is a great school and the staff are committed, energetic and experienced.

My middle child, a girl, is called Jai and she is eight like your daughter. Maybe you can ask your daughter does she remember Jai from Australia, maybe back when she was in Kinder One? She might remember Jai. I can upload a photo if you wish.

Jai is here now and she wants to know if her name is Sunny?

I would love to chat to you some time.

Cheers

Chompue

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Why Does It Cost So Much To Educate Our Kids Here?

Import duty.

Nice document made by BOI, plenty of informations, they called it cost of living in Thailand 2008...

www.boi.go.th/english/services/costs.pdf

All major schools are listed with prices

Condos prices per square meter different areas

Shipping - transportation companies and fares + contacts

Industrial zones and contact + prices rental or purchase

All chambers of commerce

Differents clubs, fees and contact adress...

and much more

100 pages of good informations

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Why Does It Cost So Much To Educate Our Kids Here?

Import duty.

Pretty well spot on Marmite.

It really hits home, and that is Thailand is still a third world country.

Any good or service that is financially out of reach of the poorer masses here are taxed to the hilt.

Strange that Thailand are pushing to sign free trade agreements with all and sundry but we are finding the benefits are very one sided.