Sorry very late checking in here and you’ve probably already made your decision regarding your son. But I’d recommend Daroonpat in a heartbeat and echo what GMan said.

It’s a fabulous experience for any Thai child as they really learn everything in an English environment. It is also a small school so they get great individual attention, every teacher knows your child, and they’re well taken care of.

For the most part, almost all the teachers there are excellent, understand about Thai society and love living in Thailand. This positiveness about the country is passed on to the students. I think anyone would be grateful they enrolled their child at Daroonpat.

Many thanks for your comments. You’re right about EP school kids, finally ending up at Thai uni’s INternational Program. But weren’t those In’tl Faculties open to receive these EP graduates? I’ve seen top Thai uni’s like Chulalongkorn,Thammasat, Mahidol, etc., now all have Int’l programs, which of course require passing an admission exam, too.

I’m very interestedin EP schools in Thailand, because they didn’t exist in my school age, but sound ideal in today’s Thailand’s education, where many kids are great in all subjects including English, but can’t speak and/or understand the English native speakers in real world (I mean pure Thai kids, not the mixed blood). Unless studying at EP schools is proven very weak academicly, I’d rather my son goes to a good one until Grade 12 and enter an Int’l program at a well recognized Thai university.

If you have any good EP school to recommend, where teachers are qualified and have good attitude about Thai schools and students, please recommend.
PS: I wish I could afford Harrow or ISB!

My son studies in kindy (Thai program) and there is no way I’d put him in the english program in my school (I can teach him english anyway). It’s a double edged sword for you any it’ a hard choice to make.

Many parent I know send their kids through an EP, and then send them to a Thai school (such as Triam Udom Suksa) for M4-6. That would be your best option and provide the best of both worlds. Unless you can afford Harrow or ISB ofcourse:)

I do feel sorry for many parents, as when i talk with them I don’t think they know what they are getting into, re: EP’s. I hope you make the right choice. Good luck!

I’m a mother interested in admitting my son to Daroonpat in the next two years. Is it good value and how good is the school academic wise? My son is at an international kindergarten now, but I’m interested in DRP because it’s not too far from our place. I want him to retain his English capability, while also studying some subjects in Thai language.

What are your comments?

Starting salaries are now 10,000 Baht per month lower than when you started, and this is causing Daroonpat to have a difficult time retaining staff (except those teachers who started when their initial offers were higher).

Also, they won’t give you diddley squat for your Visa/ Work Permit expenses, and at the end of your contract the reimbursement abount is nowhere near the actual out-of-pocket cost you have to pay to get all of your proper papers and permits.

I would recommend it to anybody (and often do!)

The Thai administration are fabulous, the salaries are much higher than at most other schools at the same level, there are quite a few perks, and I was never once paid late (unlike schools were some of my friends work). In fact, the staff would go out of their way to make sure we got paid on time. I was also treated with respect by every Thai person there, from the man who owns the school, and all the teachers, right down to the (incredibly nice) cleaning staff!

I also got anything I needed for my classroom, with no problems and no questions asked. I was simply told to buy it and give them the receipt, which they refunded to me very quickly. If I needed books for the library – same thing. All the teachers were frequently asked what supplies we needed and then those supplies were bought for us.

The kids are a bit lazy, but that’s pretty typical for affluent Thai kids, but I loved teaching them – they were great!

Daroonpat, to me, is very much like a ‘family’ (and that’s how the man who owns the school wants it to be). I left there about 8 months ago, and I still go back to visit my kids, the Thai staff and to participate in all the special events and holidays they have.