Children :: School Life
Primary school (prathom level) - 6 years
Lower secondary (mathayom level) - 3 years
Upper secondary/high school (udom level) - 3 years
Public primary education is free but parents have to pay for school uniforms and supplies. Thai is the language of instruction and English is taught from the fifth grade onwards in public schools.
The government requires Thai children to attend school for nine years, usually from ages 6-14. Only a small percentage of Thai students continue schooling beyond the required years.
Secondary school is also free but not compulsory. Students at the upper secondary level have the choice of pursuing an academic program that will lead toward applying for a university or vocational program that will prepare them for working life.
