At Cambridge Home School Online, we’re often approached by parents and students interested in switching from conventional to online schooling. They’re generally hesitant about the transition, and understandably so. Conventional schooling has been the norm in Thailand for several decades. However, the conventional model is gradually being challenged.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of online learning have come to the forefront. Today, many students are continuing with virtual schooling in Thailand. In fact, we’re on the precipice of a transition from conventional to online learning. While it may take more time for the transition to crystallise, it has begun to take root.

In this blog, we’ll offer a closer look at whether you should switch to the online schooling model in Thailand. Is the transition worth it? If so, which institution should you select and why? Continue reading for more insight. If you have any questions, feel free to speak with our chatbot. Let’s get started.

1. Greater Flexibility

There has been extensive research done on student stress and burnout in Thailand. As one of the most prominent scholastic problems in Thailand, lack of flexibility is gradually being highlighted more and more each year. Students are often overworked, which prevents them from retaining optimal focus levels.

In most conventional schooling systems, the classes are protracted, tedious, and monotonous. Students zone out and feel tired. As a result, they fail to absorb and retain their lessons. This affects their academic performance. Online schooling offers greater flexibility to students.

At Cambridge Home School Online, our students attend online classes in small classrooms (8–10 pupils per group). Our classes are focused, attentive, engaging, and stimulating. Students don’t have to sit through long lectures and shuffle in and out of classes all day long. They can comfortably attend their classes from home, engage with their teachers and peers in a quiet, safe setting, and retain their energy levels. This is imperative.

As students return home from conventional schools, they feel too drained and overwhelmed to continue the learning process. Ideally, students should complete their homework, socialise with their friends, develop new skills, explore new hobbies and activities, revise their lessons, and play sports after school. They should at least check off four of these boxes, if not all.

Students who attend conventional school fail to check off more than two of these boxes. They feel too fatigued and worn out to achieve personal, social, and academic growth after school. This affects their everyday routine. Students become irritable and feel restless. They struggle to stay on track.

At our online private school, we tackle this problem by providing balanced lessons. We have a team of MA/MSc/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers on board. They’re equipped with the experience, expertise, and specialised training required to deliver effective lessons.

For younger students, we leverage advanced audio-visual technology. This prompts higher levels of interest and engagement. Students are fascinated by the graphics, animations, and transitions. Difficult concepts are assiduously broken down into digestible, easy-to-understand bites of knowledge. Students absorb and retain more knowledge. Their routine is also significantly more healthy, balanced, and well-structured. Students don’t feel tired after their lessons. They retain their energy levels, which helps the learning process continue throughout the day.

At CHS Online, we provide our students with access to a vast online library of educational resources, e.g., videos, presentations, catch-up lessons, past papers, study guides, worksheets, etc. Students can access these to revise after school. This helps us ensure that our students learn and grow even when their teachers aren’t available for the rest of the day.

We strongly believe that consistent learning is effective learning. No matter how enriching a lesson may be, it cannot amount to much if students aren’t walked through the same concepts again. Our teachers tackle the revision process daily. However, we also instil the importance of revision in our Thai students. They regularly revise their lessons using our online resources. By offering greater flexibility, we help students perform exceptionally well in school.

2. Better Grades

Flexibility and grade enhancement go hand-in-hand. If students are overworked, they cannot possibly perform well in school. A balanced schedule is imperative for good academic performance. In the previous section, we discussed the flexibility granted to online students. This section will understand how virtual learning helps pupils secure better grades.

Most online schools in Thailand (including CHS Online) have a low student-teacher ratio. As stated earlier, we teach students in small groups of 8–10. This helps our teachers provide individualised attention to every student. Thai students carry immense potential. However, the conventional schooling system often fails to actualise it. In some schools, as many as 30 and even 35 students are crammed into a single classroom.

Think about it. When so many students are taught in one classroom, their teacher cannot possibly provide one-on-one attention to each of them. Teachers are humans, not robots. No matter how experienced and qualified they are, they cannot evenly distribute their attention across the entire class if too many students are present.

The online schooling model tackles this problem head-on by minimising the number of students in class. As a result, students learn more intently. They can unhesitatingly ask their teachers questions and receive prompt responses. Our teachers also closely track each student’s performance, including their academic strengths, weaknesses, and ambiguities.

Understanding these subjective metrics is imperative. This valuable insight helps our teachers tailor the lessons for each student, enabling them to perform better. This level of detail and personalisation is lacking in most conventional schools in Thailand.

Online schools, on the contrary, take each student’s unique learning capabilities and needs into account. As a result, students become better learners. They secure better grades and progress exceptionally well from one academic stage to another.

At CHS Online, we offer four competitive homeschooling programs to students living in Thailand: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A-Levels (ages 17 to 19).

Our Thai students secure excellent grades across every stage, especially the two pivotal stages: IGCSEs and A Levels. In June 2021, 86% of our IGCSE students secured A*s and As in their target subjects. 83% of our A Level students secured two As and a B or higher, as requested by top universities. Moreover, all Thai students who applied received offers from some of the best universities globally.

When students learn in a safe, comfortable, controlled, and well-regulated setting, they learn better. At CHS Online, we also use a well-rounded, independent, and interdisciplinary curriculum for our Thai students.

We believe that the national curriculum is too prescriptive. This is an additional benefit of online schooling UK as most conventional schools in Thailand use the regular curriculum. Since it lacks curricular breadth and depth, students fail to cover adequate ground. They receive superficial knowledge and sit their exams with less clarity and preparedness. As a result, their final grades aren’t up to par.

Using an independent curriculum gives our online students the academic boost they need to secure excellent grades: A*s and As. Our curriculum has been meticulously designed by a team of education specialists, experienced CIE examiners, and MA/MSc/PhD qualified teachers. As a result, it’s more comprehensive, robust, balanced, and effective. Your academic performance will significantly improve as you switch to online learning in Thailand.

As one of the leading online virtual schools in Thailand, we often hear from alumni who have secured admission to some of the most prestigious universities globally, including Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Stanford, King’s College, London School of Economics, Princeton, Duke, Cornell, and several others. Our alumni study excellent programs and enjoy successful careers in the future. They also benefit from impressive career progression as we double down on skill development.

Understanding this pivotal difference between conventional and online schooling is essential. At most conventional schools in Thailand, the overall schooling environment is rushed. Students don’t receive the care they need, teachers don’t provide the guidance they should, and the learning outcomes aren’t nearly as laudable as they should be. Diligence is lacking. As an online school, we keep this diligence intact at all times. Owing to its structure, online schooling is more effective and well-paced.

3. Improved Student Mental Health

According to research, 92% of Thai students are victims of school bullying. The same study reveals that an astounding 62% of students admitted that they’d suffered head slaps from their peers. Another study reveals that 13% of Thai students are clinically depressed because of instances of school bullying.

In recent years, bullying, harassment, peer pressure, ostracisation, and abuse have been rising in conventional schools. This directly affects student mental health in Thailand. Online schooling helps students receive a quality education from the safety of their homes.

At CHS Online, our online classrooms are well-moderated by our teachers. There’s absolutely no risk of in-class bullying. If our teachers pick up on microaggressions or hints of bullying, they take prompt measures to nip it in the bud. We believe that student mental health should be carefully preserved at all times.

If students aren’t content, they cannot perform well in school. As an institution, we shoulder the responsibility of creating a safe, wholesome, and happy learning environment for our Thai students. By improving student mental health, we help improve our learning outcomes.

4. Broader Skillset

Online schooling is recognised for its focus on skill-building. At CHS Online, we use state-of-the-art online learning software systems. Using top-tier technology, we plan a lot of virtual activities for students. Students perform these activities at home, which also adds an element of practicality to the lessons. By combining theory with practice, we help our students have an effective learning experience.

We build a range of soft and hard skills in students by setting up group presentations, activities, and quizzes. A broader skillset goes a long way in enabling students to perform well in school.

For instance, we frequently plan activities around soft skills like time management. As students learn how to manage their time effectively, they utilise these skills in their everyday life and—most importantly—during their examinations. By building a range of similar skills, we ensure that our students become well-rounded, multi-faceted learners who excel in different areas of their life.

5. Should I Switch to Online Schooling in Thailand?

Online schooling has quickly popularised across Thailand, especially in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya City, Krabi, Mueang Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lampang, Surat Thani, and Pap Kret, among other notable cities, towns, and villages. If you want to improve your academic performance and enjoy balanced, flexible studies, enrolling in an online private school in Thailand is an excellent decision.

We recommend doing your research and selecting an institution that boasts a stellar faculty, a low student-teacher ratio, an independent curriculum, and a strong focus on student mental health. At CHS Online, we check off all of these boxes. We also provide one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support to our students, which helps them stay motivated and focused.

If you’re considering high school online learning in Thailand, explore the following links:

• Admissions Process
• Term Dates
• Application Form
• Scholarships & Bursaries
• Grades & Fees
• Online Reviews

We’re presently providing a quality British online education to students in the UK, Europe (including Western Russia), Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In the coming years, we plan on reaching more places!

If you have any questions, please feel free to connect with us. In addition to providing a full and balanced curriculum of live lessons, we also provide academic booster classes. These are planned during the holidays. We build a strong foundation during the summer vacation.

Not only do our students get a chance to learn, but they also have a lot of fun! Whether you’re interested in consistent online schooling or temporary summer sessions, reach out to our team. We’re always happy to answer your questions and help you make the right decision.

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FAQ

What are the advantages of online schooling in Thailand, especially through Cambridge Home School Online?

Online schooling offers various benefits, including increased flexibility, better academic performance, and improved student mental health. Specifically, Cambridge Home School Online provides focused, engaging lessons in small classroom settings, extensive educational resources, and a strong faculty with subject specialists.

Is online schooling flexible enough to address student stress and burnout?

Yes, one of the core advantages of online schooling is greater flexibility. Unlike conventional schools that may have long, monotonous classes, online schooling allows students to learn in a more engaging, focused manner. Students have the flexibility to better balance their studies, social life, and extracurricular activities, thus reducing stress and burnout.

How does online schooling affect academic performance?

Online schools typically feature smaller class sizes, which allows for more personalised attention and subsequently, better academic performance. At Cambridge Home School Online, for instance, classes have 8-10 students, and the institution reports that a significant percentage of students secure top grades in their target subjects.

Does online schooling provide any mental health benefits?

Yes, online schooling provides a safer learning environment that can be beneficial for student mental health. Cambridge Home School Online actively moderates classrooms to prevent any forms of bullying or harassment, contributing to a more wholesome learning environment.

Can online schooling help in skill development?

Absolutely. Online schooling often includes activities designed to build both soft and hard skills. At Cambridge Home School Online, virtual activities, group presentations, and quizzes are regularly planned to help students become well-rounded individuals capable of effective time management, among other skills.