Formal education comprises 3 main sections; after a couple of years in pre-school, students move into Kindergarten, which is designed to develop social skills, creativity and imagination. Then they start with Year 1 of primary school, which lasts until Year 6, and this prepares the students for the tougher academic learning they face in secondary school, which is Year 7 to Year 12.
In this short article, we present a few reasons why the primary years are critical for a well-balanced academic education.
- Start with the basics – Reading and writing skills are obviously important, and while the kids may have been introduced to the alphabet in kindergarten, the real work begins in Year 1. It is globally accepted that the British Curriculum is the best in the world, and your child can learn the Key Stage One Curriculum in Thailand at one of the prestigious international schools that can be found in Bangkok.
- Critical thinking skills – All students need to be able to think critically, and this is taught from Year1 through to Year 6, by using a wide range of techniques, which include debating controversial topics to better understand how to analyse issues. If a child lacks in this department, they will have serious issues from Year 9 to Year 12.
- Developing the right habits and routines – Teachers help students to get into routines that develop focus and discipline, and by the time they move to the secondary section, they are already well-versed in school behaviour and etiquette. Homework would be the first thing to do upon arrival at home, while other responsibilities around the home are taken care of before leisure activities. Click here for reasons why your kids should enjoy a foreign summer camp.
- Core subjects – Math, English, Science and IT are the core subjects that all students need to have a sound understanding and can handle the work for their specific year. Those who fall behind can hire a private tutor to bring them up to scratch. As the years go by, the work gets harder, and the students have to apply themselves 100% in order to achieve good grades.
- Start thinking about careers – Students start to think about what they enjoy learning about, and these point them in the right career direction. By the time a boy or girl enters Year 7, they probably have a list of 3 occupations they would like, and by Year 9, the students start seeing a career guidance counsellor, a professional who has all the skills to connect with the young learners and help them decide on which path to take.
If you are looking for the best primary education in Bangkok, Google is your best friend and can bring up a list of International School websites.
