International School

[schools]

As a means to a little market research, how many people here would be interested if a real international school were to open in Hua Hin? If it were to go ahead, it would be a British school based upon the National Curriculum with staff mainly recruited from the UK. Fees would around the 70,000 baht per term mark, with the standard UK 3 terms per year.

Whilst it is very early days in the planning, we would really appreciate some feedback as to the level of interest in Hua Hin for such a project.

Thanks in advance.

[Limey711]

We would be interested, but 210,000 baht per year is triple the going rate.

[DawnHRD]

Lovely idea, but well beyond my price range, too.

[Jaime]

We have a four year old and an eleven year old and quality of education is one of the (many) reasons for not making a permanent move to Hua Hin at the moment. We would be interested but like Limey & Dawn it would be outside our reach at that price.

[buksida]

Same as above, looking to send the rugrats somewhere decent in Hua Hin but definitely couldnt stretch to those fees on the meagre offerings my company gives me every month.

[Norseman]

I'm sure some wealthy people could afford 210G for their offsprings education, but I guess you have to reduce that price with 50-60% if you want
classes. I recon they pay 120G in Somtawin and even that is out of reach for a lot. I would never consider primary schools as big business, but I may be wrong.

[schools]

Thanks for your thoughts.

The majority of a schools expenditure is on teachers salaries. To provide a quality curriculum you need to have the best teachers, and if salaries are not sufficiently high then you simply will not get the staff that are required. The vast majority of schools in Bangkok charge far more, most being around the 100 thousand mark per term, and some well over that.

Please keep the comments coming!

[PeteC]

Regardless of how high you pay staff from the UK, how can they relate to and in turn teach children, who in many cases may be half Thai and half foreign?

This doesn't mean the normal language requirements but, familiarity with Thai customs, values and "personality".

I wouldn't think you could bring a teacher cold into this country and expect him/her to immediately grasp what is needed by these children on the primary level. I would think at least a year or two would be required to "teach the teacher" first.

Now, this may not be an issue in Bangkok or Pattaya where you have many children from expat families with both foreign husband and wife. The further afield you get though, perhaps like Hua Hin, Rayong, Korat, Udorn you are going to get a larger mix of perhaps wealthy foreign Fathers with Thai wives and multi cultural children. Pete

[lomuamart]

I'm not sure, but I would think that this is the problem with education all over Thailand - lack of funding=poor standard of teaching. I appreciate that we're talking about "farang" education, but there won't be many in HH who can afford those prices - as Norseman said. Most here come over for an easier lifestyle and even if they have the money, the kids are off their hands before they come over anyway.
As far as BKK is concerned, certainly there will be foreigners on proper ex-pat salaries who can afford it, or get their companies to pay the fees as part of the relocation deal.
Just my thoughts.

[Limey711]

I understand your way of thinking, but to pay U. K. style salaries with in Thailand. Good luck with your venture.

[DawnHRD]

I fully understand your quandary, schools, but there is a slight problem with HH, as compared to BKK or even Phuket. Much as we would all love excellent education for our kids ( I would give my arm for my son's), we have 2 main types of foreigners here: retirees (usually no kids) or those living here permanently on Thai style wages (maybe a little higher, but not stupid money!)

There are some rich Thais & some on hotel contracts etc, both of whom may find your fees within their reach or reasonable. But those on hotel contracts are usually transient.

Most of us in expat category 2 (as mentioned above) simply cannot afford it, much as we would want it.

[gj]

its not just the fee, but to open such a school needs to approved at the ministry of education and its not easy to to get such a permit. The principal has to be a thai citizen qualified to run such a school and the there must be a standard set to either Us or UK curriculum.
You just cannot oppen such a school and demand such payment for enrolement.
Such schools requre properly qualified teachers that have a past record, regestered and are able to to teach English as a second language to some students.
In order for such a school to exist with properly qualified teachers the wage for a teacher would need to be arround the 100,000 baht a month for a home room teacher.
My daughter currently attends an good international school in Bangkok, and though I am a qualified teacher that has never tought, I would think twice before leaving her in a school that the teachers may have just qualified from Khao San Road.
Your plan may be sincere but logicaly it would not survive without either a decorated official by you side with many medals who would demand most of the money and provide nothing.
I hope you will do something positive, but eho serves the best long island ice tea in town

[gj]

oh dear, I should have pressed the preview button before I submitted - sorry about the spelling but I am a bit drunk, as I have just won a contract from the uk ---- but where to get a decent - long island ice tea Hua Hin?

Ps, I qualified as an art teacher - sorry

[schools]

We are actually a conglomerate (is that the right word?) of teachers from the best schools in Bangkok, with about 60 years experience between the 3 of us in international eduction in Thailand. We have been part of establishing three top class schools here in Bangkok from the ground up, but we understand that such education doesn't come cheap, so the need to understand the market in Hua Hin.

We have the contacts to establish such a school and most likely the backing, just need to make sure that there is a market for a school that will definately deliver a proper education with results - meaning acceptance into top UK and USA universities.

Thanks again for your responses and look forward to reading more...

[Jaime]

We are actually a conglomerate (is that the right word?)

I dunno like. You're s'posed to be the bleedin' teacher! I think you'd better re-think your fees!