Schools Around the World – Thailand

The Thai public school system is overseen by The Ministry of Education. We have seen numerous different schools around the Chiang Mai area, whether on foot or riding in a Grab. We see college students all the time while walking around Chiang Mai University, and we ran into so many students during our trip to the Planetarium. It’s always fun to learn what school is like in the country we are visiting. Although schools here do not have guards out front like we saw in Vietnam and the Philippines, I still did not feel comfortable taking pictures. So, the pictures you see here I found online.

School Structure and Calendar

The Thai school system is broken into Primary (Grades 1-6), Lower Secondary (Grades 7-9), and Upper Secondary (Grades 10-12). Students are required to pass the National Education Test to graduate high school. 

The school calendar runs from mid-May to early March, following Thailand’s climate pattern. They get a 2-3 week break in October, and then a long break from March to mid-May, which is during the hot season. We are approaching the hot season right now and we can really feel it as the daily temperatures are higher than when we arrived.

Dress Code, Classrooms, and Expectations

Dress Code

Uniforms are required among all public schools. The uniform extends all the way to the type of shoes they wear and sometimes even matching backpacks. In addition to strict policies regarding their uniforms, there are also very strict policies in place regarding hair and overall appearance. 

We saw this first hand at the planetarium with the girls in braided hair and pony tails with white bows. The boys are not allowed to have long hair and are prohibited from the use of accessories. Girls are sometimes allowed to have simple accessories (i.e. jewelry) but it is on a school by school basis. They are also not allowed to dye their hair or have tattoos. 

Classroom

The school day starts for Thai students with the national anthem and flag raising, and there is a picture of the King in every classroom. We see pictures of the King everywhere. The picture below is from the entrance to Chiang Mai University. The average class size is between 30-35 students and students typically stay in one classroom while the teachers rotate. It is the students responsibility to clean the classroom at the end of each day. 

Expectations

The Thai school places a strong emphasis on obedience, rule following, and respect. Students are expected to show respect for their teachers with the traditional wai greeting (hands in prayer and bow). Priority is centered around rote learning and memorization, and students are taught not to question the teacher.

The Thai Scouting Program

Something that is very unique to the Thai school program is that scouting is part of the school curriculum. One day each week, every Thai student comes to school in their scouting uniform instead of their regular school uniform. They spend part of the day learning practical outdoor skills, leadership, and community service – and they’re actually graded on it! It’s a government-backed program with royal patronage that’s been part of Thai education for over 100 years.

As we have seen in other Asian countries, there is a huge emphasis on respect and rote memorizations within academics. I found the scouting program especially interesting. I think this would be an extremely beneficial program within any school. The skills learned sound very beneficial and time in nature is good for everyone!