Private schools are making a significant contribution to formal education in Thailand. The Government provides private schools with pupil subsidies, teacher benefits, professional development and subsidised loans. However, schools need more support to improve education quality, especially for rural and disadvantaged schools.

Research from the International Institute for Education Planning and the Thai Ministry of Education reviews the current situation and the likely future development of private secondary education in Thailand.

Around ten percent of Thai secondary school students –around 375,000 pupils – now attend private schools. The most marked increases have been at upper secondary level (ages 13 to 16), in rural areas and amongst girls. Private schools have reduced government outlay on basic education in 2002 by US$562.7 million.

The research team investigated a sample of 36 private secondary schools in city, suburban and rural areas. Physical facilities were rated as good in about 70 percent of schools, but often below standard in charity-run schools. Most private schools were started by private individuals, own the land on which they are built and are located within three kilometres of existing government schools. Parents value private schools for providing security, better management, greater discipline, wider subject choice and an emphasis on foreign languages, such as English and Chinese.

Of the 3,500 teachers surveyed, about 75 percent were women, almost all with a university degree. Their salaries are lower than counterparts in government schools, but they receive other benefits – including uniforms, housing and lunch. Some private schools have difficulties recruiting enough mathematics, science and English teachers. Private school teachers are generally satisfied with their working conditions, but about two thirds complained about the complexity of the curriculum.

Much private school income comes from government funds:

• Most private schools receive government subsidies on a per pupil basis, but have to obey regulations on the fees they can charge.
• Private schools have access to low-interest loans that are subsidised by the Government. However, funds are limited, collateral requirements substantial and the application process time-consuming, forcing some schools to opt for more expensive commercial bank loans.
• The Government contributes to a teachers’ welfare fund.
• Schools charge parents for meals, laundry, equipment use, transportation, health inspection, and insurance at rates specified by the Ministry of Education.
• A small number of elite private schools receive donations from the private sector.

Private schools generally agree with the Government’s role in supervision, support and in-service training. Yet they are frequently confused by contradictory advice received from supervisors and the inappropriate nature of many of the 165 regulations in the areas of taxation, teacher salaries and student fees.

The authors argue that government support of private education can support Education for All goals. They urge policymakers to:

• increase student subsidies to ensure facilities are maintained, especially in rural areas
• allow private schools to earn additional income to provide better professional development and improve teachers’ salaries and pensions
• link subsidy levels and private school fees to proven improvements in infrastructure and academic achievement
• encourage the training of more teachers
• review taxation regulations
• give private schools more opportunities to discuss government regulations.

Source(s):
‘The Development of Private Secondary Schools in Thailand’, International Institute for Educational Planning, UNESCO, by Kannikar Pinyakong, Prapin Viraslip and Usa Somboon, 2007 (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: UNESCO

id21 Research Highlight: 24 March 2008

Further Information:
Kannikar Pinyakong
Office of the Private Education Commission
Ministry of Education
Bangkok 10300
Thailand

Tel: + 66 22828654
Fax: + 66 22823783

Office of the Private Education Commission, Bangkok, Thailand

Igor Kitaev
International Institute for Educational Planning
7-9, rue Eugène-Delacroix
75116 Paris
France

Tel: +33 1 45037700
Fax: +33 1 40728366
Contact the contributor: i.kitaev@iiep.unesco.org

International Institute for Education and Planning (IIEP), France

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