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

^^^^ Funding helps but at the end of the day it's the students and teachers that make a school good. In the UK they often have good teachers but unfortunately they are overrun with awful kids and no means of controlling them, which leads to a poor working environment and no learning being done.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Levels of teaching here must not be that bad after all or>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> All the best teachers come to Thailand.

You get what you pay for, international schools like Regents are very expensive.
English teachers can earn far more in Korea and Japan, so I guess the cream go there.
I never want to go back to UK life is still good here.

In my experience, a teachers level of pay has little to do with how good a teacher they are. Yes, they may have higher qualifications or a PhD, but at the end of the day what really matters is how well they interact with the kids.

All my best teachers were just low level standard guys, the ones who worked their way up the administrative ladder in order to get better pay were normally tossers.

Originally Posted by chitown

I am convinced that teaching your kids reading, writing and arithmetic is all that is needed, unless they are going to be some scientist or doctor.

So that's your kids fucked if they should want to be scientists or doctors then. When will you make that decision?
TWAT.

Daddy I love you....... And I love working in MacDonalds too.

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Daddy I love you....... And I love working in MacDonalds too.

Didn't do Paethongtan Shinawatra any harm.

The Imperious Leader himself also worked in KFC when he was younger.

I'm not sure which is the best, so I'm going to do a bit of a mix.... they've done Thai school already (so they can learn to read and write Thai and English with a bit of help from me), soon they'll start primary school back in the UK, and if all goes well, they'll come back to an international school here and then go back to England again for university.

One complaint I've heard about international schools, is that they teach a very minimal amount of Thai, so that if kids go there for all their schooling they can end up virtually illiterate.

Hit the nail on the head again Nick.

My dilemma is, I am paying all this money and so as my kids can learn to speak English with a Singlish accent but what about if we stay in Thailand forever. How could any of my kids qualify for a job here without being able to read or write the language?

The Regents School, and for example has very basic Thai language teachings and common sense tells me that my children will never become totaly literate in Thai (reading /written) if they continue going only to this school.

We have employed a Thai teacher (after school hours) 3 times a week x 2 hours a lesson but I know this is nowhere near enough exposure to the fundamentals of the language.

Painting myself into a bit of a corner I think.

^Variety is the spice of life. If you think your kids are doing well enough in English, give yourself a cheap year and find them a good Thai school to go to.

Don't know about kids being illiterate if their Thai teaching is minimal? but I am amazed at the language skills of 3 young pre-school kids I know here born of African/Thai parents. All credit must go to the parents teaching as the kids readily switch language between Thai and English - I just wish I had the same language skills!

If I were a parent, I wouldn't want my children growing up in Thailand.

An education is much more than what school a child attends, and Thailand doesn't have enough educational requirements such as museums, libraries, places of historical importance and culture for my satisfaction.

In many ways, they are far more important than the simple schooling a child receives and will help mould your child into the person he/she will become in later life.

Too much emphasis on what languages and proficiency thereof by parents also IMO.

Originally Posted by Papadave

Don't know about kids being illiterate if their Thai teaching is minimal? but I am amazed at the language skills of 3 young pre-school kids I know here born of African/Thai parents. All credit must go to the parents teaching as the kids readily switch language between Thai and English - I just wish I had the same language skills!

My 5 year old daughter id flient in Thai (her first language) English, Laos and Khmer. She also speaks some Japanese as her best friend (for 3 years) is Japanese.

My problem is, if she can't read and write Thai fluently she doesn't have much future here. She will never learn it in
when going to an International School.

Nicka has given me something to think about. Send her too a top Thai School for a year. Thanks Nick.

I also realised I should be spending more quality time with my kids when I am at home.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Originally Posted by chitown

I am convinced that teaching your kids reading, writing and arithmetic is all that is needed, unless they are going to be some scientist or doctor.

So that's your kids fucked if they should want to be scientists or doctors then. When will you make that decision?
TWAT.

All you need are some Thai comics, crayons, paper and a few stones to demonstrate basic arithmetic.

Congratulations, you've just saved yourself half a million Baht.

half a million a year so over twelve years that makes 6 million baht. You can almost buy a decent car in Thailand for that money.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

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

Quite simply, that's the value of education without government subsidies to keep costs artifically low.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

As I know there are one or two teachers that post on TD, and as a father (that pays a small fortune to educate his kids) would like to know your opinions about whether the school directors here treat the schools as a business only or a place of education.

Yes I am. The top international schools are set up as non-profit entities, some of the mid-ranged ones are for $$$. Funnily enough there is also a close correlation between western boards and Thai owners....

Originally Posted by Redneck

American School (campuses in Sukhumvit and Bangna)

I hope I'm not insulting you when I say that ASB is absolute complete shite....

not an international school at all.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

What amazes me is why the teachers don't seem to be getting a fair salary for the obviously good job they are doing!

I love you now! ~ makes a difference from "you dont have to work hard" "you all get so many holidays" or "anyone can teach, it looks easy"

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

After all the teachers are the engine room of the school.

erm, yes, but also the admin, and also the students, and also the parental support, and also the infastruture and also the environment and available resources.

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

between a govt school

about this I know little...

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

and Regents comparable with the price?

Regents or International School of the Eastern Seaboard both are not great, BUT they are certainly the best in Pattaya. Personally, I'd work out something (including travel or boarding with a trusted relative) for my son to go to one of the top six ion bangkok.

Originally Posted by NickA

I'm not sure, but with housing allowance international school teachers can earn something around 120,000 baht a month.

erm, at least, I would have said. more like 150K for the top 6 or so schools.

the mid range they would be pushing 100K and the rest much less.

which, really, IMO is not that much anyway. Australian government school teachers are averaging about $75,000 pa these days.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Personally, I'd work out something (including travel or boarding with a trusted relative) for my son to go to one of the top six ion bangkok.

Would be good to hear your opinions on this mate (I mean top six). Keen to know if I have Wayne Jnr in one of them. Well impressed with teacher to student ratio of 1:15, daily instructions sent home for home work, reading logs etc.

Originally Posted by jandajoy

We're expected to create and mold the future yet we just get blamed for the disasters. The money is shit, the hours long and the potential for abuse absurd. I'll never go back to it.

different in the international schools mate. well a little.

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

Alternatively once they get to 10-11 just going to sit them in front of google and tell them to search and read for 8 hrs a day.

yeah yeah yeah, little bit more to teaching than that.

Originally Posted by blackgang

we checked around the schools, I went and sat in a few class' at Buda schools, Govt schools, and a couple of international schools here in CM, and when it came down to it, I sent my kid back to the states to go to school.

some do, and that works out the best for them, soem kids just cannot cope with that. If you can afford it the top level international schools here are second to none.

Originally Posted by NickA

The teachers that I know around here get a 20,000 baht housing allowance.

I hate talking exact monies, but almost 10 years ago when I started in Thailand I was getting 35,000 baht p/m. gpne up a lot since then. think i was getting about 40-50K when i left.

Originally Posted by NickA

because the local house & condo renting guy knows this and knows he can charge them 20,000 baht for a 10-15,000 baht property.

Unfortunately, the blokes around my area knew what we got also....

Originally Posted by NickA

Of course, schools in Pattaya and other holiday destinations will probably pay less.

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

That's the higher wage level for farang teachers only though isn't it NickA?

At the top schools, it is not based on race........... supposedly. But locally hired teachers get different benefits and sometimes even different salary compared with overseas hired staff. So basically, Thai's and TEFL'rs who managed to move up in the world still got screwed.

Originally Posted by NickA

^^teachers I know are from Ruamrudee, ISB and The Regents school. I don't know what other schools pay, but i thought 80,000 was about the minimum for international schools. On the other hand government schools pay 40,000 baht There's a few international school teachers on here, maybe they can enlighten us more.

I could be wrong, but I would be very surprised if any of those schools paid a basic salary less than 100K.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

the school committee (all chinese thai). .............Quite happy to pay the extra 5,000.00 Baht out of his own pocket yet they still have him waiting and after 8 months.

hmmmmmm. did i mention before western vs thai management...?

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

He also feels he has been brought here on false pretenses and had never agreed to take up the housing option at the school before arriving in Thailand.

I know what I would be doing......

Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

Well impressed with teacher to student ratio of 1:15, daily instructions sent home for home work, reading logs etc.

g'day mate, I'm happy to name and shame schools (but my opinion is not the law either, I'd hate to slander a school that didnt deserve it) might be best to send me a PM and ask.

However, I'm also a parent, and YOU know things.... staff to students ratio, the communication sent home, the image the schools and teachers project, teh quality of the assignments, reports, information sent home. As a parent you do end up having a 'gut' feel for it all.

There are good Thai schools, and bad International ones

as with most things, you should do some research before committing your kid to a place

Thanks King for your always articulate and easy to understand explanation of the situation.

Anyone know about shrewsberry in Bangkok.

Heard it was a good school and insists on disipline from the students.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

My problem is, if she can't read and write Thai fluently she doesn't have much future here.

Not having a professional future in Thailand has its benefits.
In fact its a good thing.

These selfish phoney Fathers who condemn their kids to a 100% future in Thailand, while they are swanning around on their Hobie Cat or their Kawasaki are the ones who need to be taken out back and shot through the head. (and mourned by none).

You sound like a good and decent man. I am really impressed about the sincerity of your conviction for the ongoing future of your kids.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Better than being a boring maths or science teacher (with all due respect to all you good teachers out there in Cyber Space)

Not your friend anymore!

Originally Posted by NickA

Although I'd probably have to say that if I could put my kids in the best international school in Thailand, I'd probably prefer that than some grubby comprehensive school in Crewe

Agreed. and not just UK either.

Originally Posted by madjbs

this whole image of a fantastic free education available in the U.K is just rubbish.

see comment above.

Originally Posted by chitown

How about home school?

Definately a viable option for some. BUT you need to be REALLY disciplined about it. I said YOU, not your child! and they also need another outlet for creativity and socialisation. Works for some. not all.

Originally Posted by chitown

I subscribe to the Rich Dad Poor Dad theory in the books by Robert Kiyosaki .

Who has been proved a conman and a liar...

Originally Posted by Bobcock

I admit to being very happy with the quality of their education. It's often down to individuals,

yes it is, really important to remember.

Originally Posted by Papadave

You get what you pay for, international schools like Regents are very expensive. English teachers can earn far more in Korea and Japan, so I guess the cream go there.

Please, international schools do not (mostly speaking) hire 'English teachers' - they hire regular teachers who choose to work overseas. so the pay scale is quite quite different. I would only get slightly more in most schools in Japan, which may or may not offset the increased cost of living.

Originally Posted by madjbs

Mae Sai Last Online: Today 09:33 PM Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangkok Posts: 379 In my experience, a teachers level of pay has little to do with how good a teacher they are. Yes, they may have higher qualifications or a PhD, but at the end of the day what really matters is how well they interact with the kids.

At one level, yes, I agree.

But at the very low end of the scale, you get what you pay for. and at the top end of the scale you generally get decent or better teachers, as they are expected to perform for their money.

So I agree, just throwing money at teachers will not make them better teachers, but, over time, the poorest paying schools will end up with the shittiest teachers. (excpeting a one or two individuals trying their best against the prevailing winds)

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

My dilemma is, I am paying all this money and so as my kids can learn to speak English with a Singlish accent but what about if we stay in Thailand forever. How could any of my kids qualify for a job here without being able to read or write the language?

Honestly, if your kids are Thai or half-thai - do you really want them working in thailand as a recpetionist, bank cashier, salesperson in Emporium or a waitress in a restaruant for $400 per month????

And if they work for a multinational company, in sales, as a luk kreung movie star, would their level of thai really matter that much??

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

One person, (who I cannot name) claimed the school was making a fortune and he has to fight every day for even 100 Baht and to improve the facilities for the students.

Same old theme -- get every baht from the farang and spend it to improve face

BTW - I pay that in property taxes (which is 75% school tax) and don't even have kids in the school