Blog about Thailand
In Thailand, the school year begins mid – May which is usually a period of heavy rain. The first semester will end by early October , which precedes a three-week break for students. By the end of October , students will return to school.
Lower and Upper-Secondary Education. Secondary education starts at the age of 12 and consists of three years of lower secondary education, called Mattayom 1 to Mattayom 3, and three years of upper secondary education, or Mattayom 4 to Mattayom 6.
Usually, Thai schools offer tutoring sessions after school , which usually end around 5-6pm.
School system overview
Typical age | Stage | Level/Grade |
---|---|---|
10 | Basic education | Prathom 4 |
11 | Prathom 5 | |
12 | Prathom 6 | |
13 | Matthayom 1 |
Between 2015 and 2018, the poverty rate in Thailand increased from 7.2 percent to 9.8 percent, and the absolute number of people living in poverty rose from 4.85 million to more than 6.7 million. Thailand had one of the lowest GDP growth rates in the region, at 2.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Despite Thailand’s universal access to education and 96.7 percent literacy rate, Thai students scored below the global average on PISA tests in 2014, ranking 35th out of 40 countries. Recent reports from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) also indicate that the country has fallen behind.
Because Thailand did not initially join the Allies or the Communism Bloc, it is a Third World country . Thailand is considered to be a developing country or, more accurately, a New Industrialized Country .
The average school fees in Thailand is $17,200 per year. Annual tuition fees among international schools in Thailand range from $1,800 to $24,000 . These international schools offer a variety of curricula, including but not limited to the International Baccalaureate (IB), CBSE, and Indian curriculum.
In order to teach English in Thailand , most teachers will require native proficiency and a bachelor’s degree. TEFL certification is not always required. The average salary for teaching in Thailand is $800 – $3,500 per month. Most teachers will end up teaching at either a private language school or a public school.
A national health insurance system, the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) provides free public healthcare through the Ministry of Public Health. Expats working in Thailand are covered by the UCS and their contribution to the scheme is deducted from their salary.
What to expect from the school day and the school year in Thailand Government school times do vary but the school day usually starts at 08:30 when the National Anthem is sung. It ends at around 15:30. International schools may have differing start and finish times depending on the school .
There are 37,175 schools in Thailand providing general education as of the 2011 academic year. These include 31,286 schools under the OBEC, 1,726 operated by local governments, 57 university demonstration schools, 414 Phrapariyatidhamma (Buddhist) schools and 3,679 private schools.
Key stages
Child’s age | Year | Key stage |
---|---|---|
6 to 7 | Year 2 | KS1 |
7 to 8 | Year 3 | KS2 |
8 to 9 | Year 4 | KS2 |
9 to 10 | Year 5 | KS2 |
United States. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually either 11 or 12, though could be younger or older, if they are promoted (skip grades ) or held back for not reaching a standard.
Stamford American International School Grade Placement
Grade by Age Appropriate | 2020 – 2021 | |
---|---|---|
Grade 3 | Age 8 – 9 | Sept 2011 – Aug 2012 |
Grade 4 | Age 9 – 10 | Sept 2010 – Aug 2011 |
Grade 5 | Age 10 – 11 | Sept 2009 – Aug 2010 |
Grade 6 | Age 11 – 12 | Sept 2008 – Aug 2009 |