For many parents, the promise of “15 years of free education” is merely a slogan, not a reality.
“I have already spent more than 6,000 baht on my son’s schooling this term,” said one mother, a construction worker. The school had presented her with a bill of 5,050 baht for an “academic foundation adjustment” course. She also had to pay for books and uniforms.
Just days before the semester began, the young mother took her son to a donation stall to pick up second‑hand uniforms. Set up by the Mirror Foundation in a fresh market in Nonthaburi, the stall aims to help parents cope with rising education burdens.
The construction worker said she faced a daily struggle to make ends meet on her minimum daily wage of barely 300 baht.
“My budget is stretched to the limit. I toil under the scorching sun all day, so skipping meals is not an option,” she said.
The rising cost of learning
According to a recent survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), back‑to‑school spending rose 6% this year to an estimated 66.37 billion baht – a record high.
The average family sets aside nearly 30,000 baht to cover expenses during the school‑opening period, the survey of 1,250 households found.
Parents of children in regular state education reported average added expenses of roughly 11,000 baht. However, costs for children in state‑funded special schools were significantly higher.
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