English Programmes in Thai Public Schools (EP/MEP)
Thailand's public schools run their own English programmes — and for families who live here long-term, they are a real option alongside the private bilingual and international schools in our directory. This guide explains how the public English Programme system works. CredRadar does not list individual public schools — public admissions are run locally, in Thai, through the education authorities — but understanding the system helps you compare every other option on this site.
The two labels: EP and MEP
Under the Ministry of Education framework administered by OBEC (the Office of the Basic Education Commission), a public school can run an English Programme (EP), in which a large share of subjects — typically half or more — is taught in English by foreign and Thai teachers, or a Mini English Programme (MEP), a lighter version with fewer English-taught hours. The framework dates to 1995, when English Programmes began (the very first were at private schools — Bangkok Christian College, Sarasas Ektra and Udomsuksa); the MEP tier was formalised in 2003. The national curriculum underneath is the same Thai curriculum as every public school: the difference is the language of instruction and the smaller, separately-admitted programme classes.
Bangkok's own bilingual programme
Bangkok's city-run schools are administered separately, by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which runs a large bilingual programme of its own: in the 2025 school year (2568 BE) it covered 97 public schools — 83 teaching Thai–English and 14 teaching Thai–Chinese. BMA bilingual classes follow the same pattern: the Thai national curriculum, with a substantial block of subjects taught in the second language.
What it costs — and why we do not quote a figure
Public EP and MEP classes charge programme fees on top of the free public core — for foreign teachers, materials and smaller classes. The fees are set school by school, published in Thai (often on the school's notice board, Facebook page or a PDF circular), and they sit far below private bilingual tuition. They are also not published in any central, checkable register, so — exactly as with school fees elsewhere on this site — we do not print a number we cannot show you the source for. Ask the school office for the current programme fee schedule (ตารางค่าใช้จ่าย) before you apply.
Satit (demonstration) schools: the middle path
A third public-sector route is the satit (demonstration) schools attached to universities — public in status, university-run, and often more academically selective than ordinary public schools. Many run bilingual or English-medium tracks of their own. Entry is competitive and handled by each university school separately, usually with its own entrance examination. They are a popular choice for Thai families aiming at strong Thai universities, and a small number of foreign families use them too.
Admissions reality
Public EP admission is a local, Thai-language process: application windows follow the Thai school year (the year starts in mid-May), popular schools test applicants in Thai, English and mathematics, and Thai-national places are tied to the household-registration system. Foreign children can and do attend public EPs, but availability, documentation and fee treatment are decided school by school — there is no central application portal. If your Thai is limited, take a Thai-speaking helper to the school office; staff are usually welcoming, but the paperwork will be in Thai.
How to research a public EP
Start from the school's own channels: its website and Facebook page (search the school name plus โครงการ EP or ห้องเรียนสองภาษา), the ONESQA quality-assessment status, and O-NET results where the school publishes them. Then compare the total picture against the private bilingual schools in our bilingual directory — the honest trade-off is usually cost and Thai-language immersion on the public side, against smaller classes, published data and English-language administration on the private side.
Do public English Programmes follow the Thai curriculum?
Yes. EP and MEP classes teach the Thai national curriculum — the same content framework as regular public classes — with a large share of subjects delivered in English (or, in Bangkok's BMA programme, in Chinese at 14 schools). Pupils sit the same national O-NET assessments.
Can foreign children join a Thai public school EP?
In principle, yes — foreign pupils attend public EPs across Thailand. In practice, places, documentation and fees are decided by each school, applications are handled in Thai, and popular schools are oversubscribed. There is no central admissions system, so enquiries go to the individual school office.
How much do public EP classes cost?
Programme fees are set by each school and published in Thai, and no central register exists — so we do not quote a figure we cannot source. They are far below private bilingual school fees. Ask the school for its current fee schedule (ตารางค่าใช้จ่าย) in writing before applying.
What is a satit school?
A satit (demonstration) school is a public school run by a university, originally as a training school for teachers. They are often academically selective, run their own entrance exams, and many operate bilingual or English-medium tracks. Admissions are handled by each school separately.