The capital and most populous city of Thailand, Bangkok is a travel hot spot in Asia and also one of the best education hubs in the region. Schools in Bangkok cater to local and international students. Studying in Bangkok is a great opportunity to enjoy the vibrant culture the city has to offer.
In Thailand, the illiteracy rate is 94%. There are around 6-7% people who are illiterate. The government’s efforts to fight illiteracy is reflected in its GDP, with 4.1% accounting for initiatives aimed at improving education.
Concerning quality, schools in Bangkok rank first in Thailand. Private, international schools are generally cheaper than public schools in Bangkok. Another good option is enrolling your child to English-program schools or bilingual schools for children who speak Thai.
Students in Thailand are provided with 12 years of education, without costs. They must complete nine years of mandatory education. Most children in Bangkok start school at the age of three. Preschool is not compulsory in Thailand.
Primary education (prathom) starts from age six to eleven. After this, the next three years of lower secondary school (mathayom) will follow for students, before going to the 2nd stage - the upper secondary school. This is where they learn about other subjects such as home economics, commerce, business, or tourism.
During primary and elementary education in Thailand, children are taught basic literacy and numeracy skills. Basic subjects such as science, mathematics, geography, history and other social sciences are taught in schools.
Like its neighboring countries, homeschooling is legal in Thailand. Since 2004, the government recognises this type of alternative education and regards the family as the fundamental educational institution.
There are plenty of schools in Bangkok following the American, British, German, Swiss or Finnish curriculum. This is the same with the rest of Thailand.
Another excellent option for expatriate communities are private international schools in Bangkok. These schools have better academic standards and facilities than government-run schools. Most private schools are located in Bangkok, which is the center of education in Thailand.
The language of instruction in private schools is English. Each school offer different curricula. In Bangkok, most residents choose a school close to where they live for convenience.
Below are the stages of Education in Bangkok:
| Age | Stage | Level/Grade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Basic education | Early childhood
(Kindergarten) |
Anuban</ 1–3 | |
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| 7 | Elementary | Prathom 1 | ||
| 8 | Prathom 2 | |||
| 9 | Prathom 3 | |||
| 10 | Prathom 4 | |||
| 11 | Prathom 5 | |||
| 12 | Prathom 6 | |||
| 13 | Lower-secondary school | Matthayom 1 | ||
| 14 | Matthayom 2 | |||
| 15 | Matthayom 3 | |||
| Upper-secondary | General | Vocational | ||
| 16 | Matthayom 4 | Vocational Certificate
(3 years) |
||
| 17 | Matthayom 5 | |||
| 18 | Matthayom 6 | |||
| Higher education | -- | |||
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Bangkok through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.
Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Bangkok tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
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