• Registered: 05-08-2006
  • Posts: 290

Topic: Krabi's first international school could open soon

AFTER many years of agonising over their children's education, expats can now breathe a sigh of relief: Krabi looks set to get its first real international school within a few months.

Nawattaphume International School in Lampang is a leading education provider in northern Thailand, with a teaching staff of 16. Founded in 2002 by Dr. Pimonmas Photong-Wollmann as a solution to her own child's schooling needs, the school now has a day care nursery, Montessori kindergarten and a British curriculum primary school with around 150 pupils. Plans for a high school, boarding facilities and local hospital are also underway.

The school's rapid expansion at home meant that a second branch of the school elsewhere was not even in question - until Dr. Pimonmas received a call from parents in Krabi. "They explained their predicament [following (Please log in or register to see this link) after it was found they were contravening local laws] and we arranged a visit. After meeting the parents, children and other local people, we felt we could really help them - plus we loved the area and the people as well. The decision was not terribly business-like, but it came from the heart."

Nawattaphume has now lodged a formal application to open a school with the Krabi Board of Education and, pending approval from the Ministry of Education in Bangkok, they could be up and running by the end of this year. A premises on the Ao Nam Mao - Sai Thai Road, near Ao Nang, requiring limited investment, has been earmarked as a temporary location for three years before deciding whether to purpose-build a new, larger facility.

We will post updates on the school's application process here, and you can also read (Please log in or register to see this link) in our expat forum. For further information about the school, fees, and enrolment process, contact info@
montessori-lampang.com.

  • Ian
  • Member
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  • Registered: 08-07-2007
  • Posts: 1

Re: Krabi's first international school could open soon

I am interested in the progress of the new International school.

Is there an opening date yet?

Also is the Montessori school in Ao Nang still closed. The last post about this school said it had closed. The web site is no longer avaiable. It was working just a few days ago.

Thanks for any information,

Ian Hamilton

  • Registered: 05-08-2006
  • Posts: 290

Re: Krabi's first international school could open soon

The Ao Nang Montessori Nursery (in Soi Nathai) is definitely closed and will remain closed - as far as I know as there are no plans to reopen it.

For the new school, the license has been applied for and they are expecting a reply from the Ministry sometime this month (July) or early next month. We will post here as soon as we hear anything. The school's founder, Dr Pimonmas, told us that once approval had been received they could open "within a few months" - i.e. by the end of this year.

You can contact them directly on the email address above if you would like more info about fees, enrolment etc.

  • Registered: 13-08-2007
  • Posts: 2

Re: Krabi's first international school could open soon

The Nawattaphume International School in Ao Nang has been open since late 2007, and is run as a fully licensed British Curriculum school. Here are some details from their Facebook page which you can see at the link at the end...

"At the Nawattaphume International School Krabi, our growing team of international teachers includes university qualified and fully licensed teachers from Britain, USA, France, Germany, The Philippines, and of course Thailand.

N.I.S Krabis educational program begins at kindergarten which follows the Montessori teaching method, and currently ends at Key Stage 2 (Year 1 to Year 6) at primary level. Our primary department follows the British national curriculum which focuses on the important core subjects of maths, English, and science, and places special importance also on the personal and social development of each child.

Children at all levels of our education program are exposed to English and predominantly taught in the English language, but students are also taught Thai and Thai culture throughout. We also offer French as an elective course.

Nawattaphume International School Krabi is located in a spacious and peaceful location next to the river and being outside the city of Krabi enjoys fresh air and a clean environment. Our grounds are beautifully maintained and we provide guests and parents with ample parking space.

Our educational plan contains three essential elements:

    * a prepared environment

    * a prepared teacher and freedom with responsibility.

    * development as an individual: with specific skills and intellectual capacities.

NIS Krabi is a school with very low student to teacher ratios, a very child friendly environment and many activities involving the family and community. We hope you enjoy browsing the website and invite you to visit us soon to see our unique teaching environment for yourself. We truly believe there is no better option for your child in the region."

Meanwhile please post a comment on the Discussion board, or contact Khun Pim at pimonmasphotongwollmann@yahoo.de to ask any question you may have or to enroll your child. Enrollment is ongoing for the next term, so now is the perfect time!"

Facebook Page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Krabi/Nawattaphume-International-School-Krabi/101253861212?v=info&viewas=781424492#/pages/Krabi/Nawattaphume-International-School-Krabi/101253861212?v=wall&viewas=781424492