Private schools at risk of mass closures – but international schools still endure
Many Thai private schools are at risk of shutting down permanently in wake of the ongoing Covid-crisis. To date no international school covered by TIS Monitor is among them. Official Thai government sources report that about 70 private schools of any kind in Thailand have closed down during the past nine months, and another 1,000 are […]
Well known international school circumvents government pandemic term fee freeze by raising other costs
The government has ordered international schools in Thailand to maintain or lower tuition fees for the current school year in order to help families during the pandemic. At least one prominent school has quietly raised fees while hiding it through a major fee structure makeover – rendering the government orders toothless. In early September, news […]
Government orders two prominent international schools to scrap fee hike under threat of shutting them down
St Andrews and Ruamrudee international schools have been ordered by the Thai government to reverse their planned fee increases for the 2021-22 school year. This comes after the government rolled out measures to support families affected by the shift to online schooling during the COVID crisis. As there are several schools in Bangkok operating under […]
Father sued by international school after protesting fee-hike
A well-known international school in Bangkok took a parent to court after a dispute over a fee hike. ”Don’t be scared of going to court if you have an issue with your school,” the parent says, after having reached a settlement with the school. Many international schools in Thailand have no limits to how much […]
As the COVID-19 crisis worsens in Thailand, international schools face exodus of foreign children
With the surge in COVID-19 cases, international schools in Thailand will continue with online learning. Some families are running out of patience, turning their backs on the schools and simply leaving the country. ”Online learning isn’t that great, and safety for my family comes first. We are out,” one mother tells TIS Monitor. With […]
More signs international schools in Bangkok preparing for extended closure, with opening in August in doubt
Some international schools in Bangkok are quietly preparing for an extended period of online learning even after the start of the next school year in August. As Thailand opens up later this year, the COVID-19 virus could start spreading again, putting non-vaccinated, including children, at risk of falling ill. This could set off new […]
The BIG interview part 2: NIST-supremo on fees, regulation and why some schools have profit margins reaching 50%
Mr James Dalziel is Head of School at NIST, one of Thailand’s most well known international schools. In an hour long interview over Zoom with TIS Monitor, he talks frankly about why the number of international schools in Thailand is growing so quickly, regulating the industry and why enrollment fees are used. Also taking […]
Cap on international school profits quietly removed in 2011 – enabling bonanza for owners
Thailand’s 2007 Private School Act imposed a cap on profits at international schools. This was quietly removed in 2011, opening the way for schools to start reaping huge profits. The past decade has seen rapid growth in both the number and size of international schools in Thailand. While this can partly be explained by […]
The BIG interview part 1: NIST-supremo on Covid-closure, refunds and which students tend to perform better
Mr James Dalziel is Head of School at NIST, one of Thailand’s most well known international schools. In an hour-long interview over Zoom with TIS Monitor, he talks frankly about the challenges facing the school during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure from the board to cut costs and why educating a student at […]
Strong reaction to article on fees during Covid-closure ● Topic discussed worldwide
An article published on TIS Monitor about school fees during the Covid-closure has become one of the most widely read and most shared articles on the website. It has reached readers all around the world, and has led to strong reactions from many people. On May 26, TIS Monitor published an article discussing the […]