Money makes the world go round and nothing makes the world go round better than the start of a new school year. Money in envelopes exchanging hands at admission time in schools is nothing new; however, this time some money is being paid by schools to parents for uniforms and school equipment. So what has brought about this turn around?  Whether it is actually cash in hands or whether uniforms and books are being bought by schools, some students will be benefiting from the government initiative to help families by achieving the aim of free education for a fifteen year period.

I am sure that many of you are fed up with being reminded about schools charging additional fees and parents making illegal donations to schools during the registration period; however, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that money has been flowing in the opposite direction in some schools.

Whether it is actually cash in hands or whether uniforms and books are being bought by schools, it is plain to see that some students will be benefiting from the government initiative to help families by achieving the aim of free education for a fifteen year period for all students.

The government funding covers tuition, textbooks, school uniforms, school supplies and student development activities. Rates differ depending on the stage of education. An example is of a Mathayom 2 student receiving 450 baht for uniform and 210 baht for educational expenses. This might not seem much, but you have to understand that some rural children walk to school with 5 baht in their pocket.

Some parents have been receiving cash payments from schools, others have not. Some have complained that they have received vouchers instead, which raises the question as to where they have to spend their vouchers and who made the decision.

This does not mean that all our education worries have gone away. Recently in the Bangkok Post, Supawadee Inthawong wrote that “tea money” was still alive and flourishing in Thailand.

In fact, it has become very professional, with entrance examinations and meetings arranged to decide the amount of payment depending on entrance test grades and the social position of the parents. What a shame all this energy and effort couldn’t go into the teaching of our students! What was interesting for me was that these articles are appearing more and more and that they are being written by Thai teachers and parents.

This problem will not go away until we admit that it is there in the first place. In my opinion, the only way it will stop is when parents decide it is time to stop paying up to 100,000 baht for a place in a school of their choice for their child.

These amounts of money being paid out by the government seem small to those of you that can afford to buy this newspaper; however, if this money is used to help poor families to pay for uniforms and books for their children, then I believe that is a move in the right direction.

Even with 15 years free education, some schools will still be charging for additional fees. These fees range for items such as specialist support, special courses, hiring teachers, utilities, computer use and welfare; and are legal if they don’t exceed 1000 baht and are optional, paid on a voluntary basis.

We can only hope that this is a step in the right direction by the government and that it will lead to greater things as long as parents use the money wisely.

With the new government initiative in place, parents will have the money to buy school uniforms and equipment for their children.

(Unedited article published in the Bangkok Post 14th July 2009)