Thai school holidays

[Ian Forbes]

Bunch of self important fucks that have no concept of reality. When my kids were going to school we took them out on extended holidays several times, and within a few weeks of returning they were right back where they were before they left. My daughter was always at the top of her class and my son was somewhere in the middle. They both graduated despite all the so called "loss" of schooling. Some of our trips were 6 to 8 weeks long. My brother was a bit weird and took his son out of school entirely, and self taught him. The kid was almost 3 years ahead of the curriculum by the time he reached grade 7.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Bunch of self important fucks that have no concept of reality. When my kids were going to school we took them out on extended holidays several times, and within a few weeks of returning they were right back where they were before they left. My daughter was always at the top of her class and my son was somewhere in the middle. They both graduated despite all the so called "loss" of schooling. Some of our trips were 6 to 8 weeks long. My brother was a bit weird and took his son out of school entirely, and self taught him. The kid was almost 3 years ahead of the curriculum by the time he reached grade 7.

Well that was a weird rant

 

[Ian Forbes]

Well that was a weird rant

Not a rant, just replying to your complaints about the strict rules in Thailand schools. I've seen how many schools are in rural Thailand. They are run like a military acadamy where everything a teacher says must be believed and followed. Very little flexability. There is some good to it because the children are more well behaved, but it curbs creativity.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Not a rant, just replying to your complaints about the strict rules in Thailand schools. I've seen how many schools are in rural Thailand. They are run like a military acadamy where everything a teacher says must be believed and followed. Very little flexability. There is some good to it because the children are more well behaved, but it curbs creativity.

While I don't disagree with that we are just talking about simple school holidays
They can't all be 2-3 weeks long
And this break doesn't actually celebrate anything......just moreso because a lot parents/families also have those days off over the Western NYE

 

[Ian Forbes]

The questions I have to ask are... Are these regular schools or semi-private schools? Are parents paying extra for tuition? Do Thai parents have to pay for their children's schooling at all? Are farang parents expected to pay more? In Canada we pay indirectly through taxes, but Thailand seems to be a user pay system, and that could change due to location.

I know lots of farangs who are NOT qualified teachers and yet are teaching English in rural districts with limited funding. My kids in Kanchanburi seem to have slightly different holidays than either of my friend's daughters in Chiang Mai. I have more questions than answers, but everything I learn gives me a better understanding of the whole country.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

The questions I have to ask are... Are these regular schools or semi-private schools? Are parents paying extra for tuition? Do Thai parents have to pay for their children's schooling at all? Are farang parents expected to pay more? In Canada we pay indirectly through taxes, but Thailand seems to be a user pay system, and that could change due to location.

I know lots of farangs who are NOT qualified teachers and yet are teaching English in rural districts with limited funding. My kids in Kanchanburi seem to have slightly different holidays than either of my friend's daughters in Chiang Mai. I have more questions than answers, but everything I learn gives me a better understanding of the whole country.

My stepson goes to a private school in Samut Prakan
The prices are pretty set so doubt farangs pay more.

He will be going to high school in May. One difference is that my wife and MIL will factor price into choice of his school which although price is always a factor I wouldn't base the choice ultimately on that.
I told them he should go to the best school he gets accepted to and we figure out the cost then

 

[Mr. Smiley]

Pricing is pretty simple... government (public) schools: tuition is free, private schools have a set tuition fee for Thai/English studies, English immersion studies, Gifted (focus more on math and science) studies. Of course school fees are not free (for school meals, school activities, uniforms and text books).

 

[Ian Forbes]

Thanks for the replies, Mr Smiley and M26. That is sort of how I thought it worked, but I never got a straight answer from the mother of the 2 kids I helped support in Kanchanburi... no matter how many times I asked, or had people ask for me in Thai. It wasn't until I brought Pui with me to visit two seasons ago that I got some honest answers to my questions. Pui asked the two kids themselves and they gave straight answers. I can still see the games being played, but I have a better understanding now.

 

[Nomad]

Not totally free. There are small fees here and there, and for anything additional. But small beer, so to speak,

 

[Zablive]

Not totally free. There are small fees here and there, and for anything additional. But small beer, so to speak,

Like absolutely useless English classes which totally ignore spoken English.

 

[Mr. Smiley]

Like absolutely useless English classes which totally ignore spoken English.

Not just the English classes... across all subjects... depends on who's really doing the work and who's doing the copying. Paying money for tuition is really about a student's socio-economic status and class size... normal classes usually have 45-50 students... once parents start paying 30k to 50k tuition/semester... class sizes range from 18 - 25 students.

 

[Nomad]

It's also a form of baby-sitting/overseen homework, but cheap...kids stay for an extra hour or so

 

[Ian Forbes]

It's also a form of baby-sitting/overseen homework, but cheap...kids stay for an extra hour or so

Isn't that what a lot of schooling is like in the western world as well? That is what I was referring to when M26 called it a rant.

 

[Nomad]

To a different extent...CJ has breakfast at school at around 6.30am and teachers are there! And does an extra 1 to 1.5 hours (which is paid for) after school finishes, although the latter she only attends occasionally as she does private English classes. Very different to western school which is ~ 8.30 to 3.30. This is 6.30 to 4.30+

 

[MarcTwoSix]

To a different extent...CJ has breakfast at school at around 6.30am and teachers are there! And does an extra 1 to 1.5 hours (which is paid for) after school finishes, although the latter she only attends occasionally as she does private English classes. Very different to western school which is ~ 8.30 to 3.30. This is 6.30 to 4.30+

But from what I have seen.....the kids love it. They love being at school
My stepson has no qualms being at school 6:30-5-6pm
Mostly because my MIL is so strict that he doesn't get to socialize much.....so he gets that at school

 

[Nomad]

100%...she has a choice of motorsi with uncle at a bit after 6 or 7:30 with Mum, and chooses the former

 

[Ian Forbes]

It's also a form of baby-sitting/overseen homework, but cheap...kids stay for an extra hour or so

That would also allow a single parent to finish work and get home when the child does. Or similarly, if both parents work. Beats being home alone. Socializing is important with kids, and that is why I try to help Nid's daughter, Noey. I give Noey some pocket money so she doesn't have to miss out.

It would also explain my thoughts about no Christmas holidays, and only 4 days off over New Years. If the parents have to work then there's nobody home for the children after school. I do know that a LOT of single Thai moms work a 6 or 7 day week.

 

[Hatari]

Holidays in general (but not for the General)

The government has asked public and private organisations preparing to produce 2017 calendars to wait for changes in public holidays involving the monarch. Government sources said public holidays concerning the late King include Coronation Day on May 5, and His Majesty's birthday on Dec 5.

 

[Hatari]

Public holidays in Thailand during 2018
October 21, 2017

The following are all of the financial market holidays in Thailand during 2018. I’ll add government holidays as and when they are announced.
We are expecting a holiday for the new Coronation Day next year, but no date has been announced yet.

Monday 1 January: New Year’s Day
Tuesday 2 January: Substitution for New Year’s Eve (Sunday 31st December)
Thursday 1 March: Makha Bucha Day
Friday 6 April: Chakri Memorial Day
Friday 13 April: Songkran Festival
Monday 16 April: Songkran Festival
Tuesday 1 May: National Labour Day
Tuesday 29 May: Wisakha Bucha Day
Friday 27 July: Asarnha Bucha Day
Monday 30 July: Substitution for H.M. the King’s Birthday (Saturday 28th July)
Monday 13 August: Substitution for H.M. Queen Sirikit’s Birthday (Sunday 12th August)
Monday 15 October: Substitution for the Passing of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Saturday 13th October)
Tuesday 23 October: Chulalongkorn Day
Wednesday 5 December: HM the King Bhumibol’s Birthday, National Day and National Father’s Day
Monday 10 December: Constitution Day
Monday 31 December: New Year’s Eve

Looks like there are nine long weekends in 2018 so far.
It is possible there might be more as the government has a habit of adding extra days to holidays that fall on a Thursday or Tuesday in order to stimulate domestic travel.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Public holidays in Thailand during 2018
October 21, 2017

The following are all of the financial market holidays in Thailand during 2018. I’ll add government holidays as and when they are announced.
We are expecting a holiday for the new Coronation Day next year, but no date has been announced yet.

Monday 1 January: New Year’s Day
Tuesday 2 January: Substitution for New Year’s Eve (Sunday 31st December)
Thursday 1 March: Makha Bucha Day
Friday 6 April: Chakri Memorial Day
Friday 13 April: Songkran Festival
Monday 16 April: Songkran Festival
Tuesday 1 May: National Labour Day
Tuesday 29 May: Wisakha Bucha Day
Friday 27 July: Asarnha Bucha Day
Monday 30 July: Substitution for H.M. the King’s Birthday (Saturday 28th July)
Monday 13 August: Substitution for H.M. Queen Sirikit’s Birthday (Sunday 12th August)
Monday 15 October: Substitution for the Passing of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Saturday 13th October)
Tuesday 23 October: Chulalongkorn Day
Wednesday 5 December: HM the King Bhumibol’s Birthday, National Day and National Father’s Day
Monday 10 December: Constitution Day
Monday 31 December: New Year’s Eve

Looks like there are nine long weekends in 2018 so far.
It is possible there might be more as the government has a habit of adding extra days to holidays that fall on a Thursday or Tuesday in order to stimulate domestic travel.

It seems like my stepson has a hell of a lot more holiday days off than I did when I went to school