Homeschooling in Thailand can be a daunting prospect, particularly if you're an expat family that is new to the country, or if you're new to homeschooling in general. In this blog, we'll go through everything you need to know about homeschooling in Thailand, whether you're a local or expat family.
First, we'll start with an overview of the Thai education system, and the other schooling options available for families living in Thailand.
Local schools
The Thai government offers free public education to Thai nationals up to the age of 13. Students must have at least one Thai parent to qualify as a Thai national and must be able to provide proof of this on their birth certificate. Public schools in Thailand are largely taught in Thai.
There are also a variety of private schools in Thailand, some of which are bilingual. Many private bilingual schools in Thailand have adopted Western-style teaching methods, and have become an increasingly popular option among expat families. They are also largely more affordable than international schools in Thailand.
International schools
Due to nationality and language restrictions posed by the public school system, international schooling remains the option of choice for many expat families living in Thailand. Learning standards at private international schools are also generally very high, offering modern facilities and various extra-curricular options.
These schools typically offer either the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International Exams or Edexcel curricula, the English National Curriculum or other national curricula from different countries.
Despite their reputable standards, high school fees can make international schooling in Thailand a prohibitively expensive option for many families. You can expect fees to come between 80,000 and 1,000,000 Thai Baht each year for tuition and other fees.
Homeschooling in Thailand
If you're a homeschooling family or looking to start homeschooling, the good news is homeschooling is totally legal in Thailand. The law recognises Thai children's "right to basic education by the family", and homeschooling was legalised in 2004. However, Thai families must submit an application to homeschool, and children are assessed on a yearly basis.
You are not tied to these local homeschooling regulations if you are an expat/tourist. However, it's always a good idea to follow a set curriculum and document your child's progress in case any documentation is needed when you return to your home country.
Online schooling
Online education is a fantastic option if you are looking for a more structured approach to your child’s home-education. My Online Schooling offers a full-time British education online for pupils in the Asia Pacific region. Our online lessons follow the English National Curriculum, and are taught live by fully trained and qualified teachers at a fraction of the cost of most international schools.
Our pupils attend lessons to a set weekly timetable. This takes the pressure off of you as parents to gather resources and deliver lessons yourselves. We guide pupils from Key Stages 2 and 3 right through to International GCSEs and A-Levels. This gives them the opportunity to receive internationally recognised qualifications while learning from home.
If you’d like to learn more about how online schooling works, download your copy of our school prospectus here.
My Online Schooling is a global online school that offers a flexible, full-time English Curriculum-led education to children all over the world. We support home-educated pupils by providing live online lessons following a set syllabus, offering them the opportunity to receive International GCSE and A-Level qualifications that open doors to higher education.