Even if a family is able to feed its children properly, a desperate shortage of disposable income may mean that anything more than that is a luxury, including even basic education. Primary and secondary education are theoretically compulsory and free, but fees must be paid for higher vocational training and tertiary education. Despite the early free tuition, thousands of children do not study at high school and many do not even complete their primary education. Even at eight or nine years old, children may be needed to work in the rice paddies or to contribute to the family income by getting a job. Often, children do not go to school simply because their parents can’t afford to pay for the uniform and shoes, bus fares, daily lunch or other expenses associated with education.

Boys from such impoverished backgrounds have the option of ordaining as novice monks. There are usually around 90,000 novices in Thailand, aged from about eleven to nineteen. Although often reluctant to ordain, the boys can then study free at monastic high schools and without the expense of uniform, food or accommodation.  On completion of their studies, the boys usually disrobe as novices and look for work. Girls don’t have the same option but sometimes, with their brothers taken care of in monasteries, there may be sufficient spare money to ensure at least a basic education for the daughters in the family. If there isn’t, the girls must usually seek unskilled employment or work in the rice paddies.

For many youngsters, the biggest problem comes at the end of junior or senior high school. After three years at high school students can sit the entrance examination to study for skills at vocational or technical colleges in three-year or five-year courses. Alternatively, after studying for six years at high school, they can try for a university place. Many are quite capable of continuing their studies beyond high school and may be desperate to do so, but a simple lack of funds makes further education no more than a dream. Without the money to pay fees or expenses, they are left only with the options of working in the rice paddies or seeking unskilled work in the cities.

That’s where SET comes in. That’s where you come in.