Government Gives Money for 15 Years to School Students

Foreigners and Thais alike who have a child or children in school will receive a refund from the government each term for each child. A parent can contact the school the child attends to receive a payment from the government of about 2,000 baht per child per term. This financial help applies to all students studying in Thai schools, private or government. Foreign students are also eligible.

This is welcome news to parents and to many of the foreign membership social and civic clubs in Pattaya which have been supporting school fees for many Thai children for many years.  The government has taken over this burden and the children now all have a chance at a public school education.  Many bar and entertainment workers in Pattaya also are relieved that their children will be helped and they do not have to worry about supporting the school payments of their children.

In order to enrol a child in the program the receipts of payment for tuition, books and school uniforms, a copy of the passport or Thai ID card of the parent and the appearance of the parent at the school are required to process the refund for the first term starting from Kindergarten through High School.

For the uniform allowance the government payment is 300 - 500 baht per year for two uniforms.  The book fee is 200 - 760 baht per term. The school fee, if any, is 1,000 - 2,0000 baht per term depending on the grade. For example, Kindergarten is 1,030 baht, primary school is 1,550 baht and high school is 2,000 baht. These refunds apply for year 2010. Every year the payment by the government can change depending on how funds are budgeted.

The government has granted 4,203,370,800 baht to be used in assisting school students with books, 1,531,983,800 baht for school supplies, 3,158,678,100 baht for school uniforms and 2,117,506,400 baht for students’ skill development programs. 

The fund should be enough for students to buy the basic necessary school supplies like A4 paper and coloring pencils.

Money to buy two sets of school uniforms (shirt/pants/skirts) will also be provided. If the student already has enough uniforms the money can be used to buy belts, school shoes, runners, or even scouts uniforms.

 As for the students' development program the funds will be used as follows;

1. Academically, the students will be given a skill development lecture once a year.

2. Development concerning moral values will be given once a year.

3. School trips and excursions at various educational places will be at least once a year.

4. Additional education in computer skills will be conducted 40 hours per year per student.

Funds that will be used to conduct the above activities are as follows;

Preschool 215 baht per term/student

Primary School level 240 baht per term/student

Junior High Level 440 baht per term/student

Senior High Level 475 baht per term/student

The purpose of the government in assisting the private school students are that they want the students to use good quality books along with the best school supplies and other education equipment as possible while dressed in appropriate uniforms. With this help, the school will be able to organise more excursions for the students which will allow them to do more practical learning activities. In addition, with the increase in living expenses, the parents will be able to save nearly 2,000 baht per student each year.