Bangkok international school found illegally teaching 100

An illegal international school in Soi Pridi Banomyong, Bangkok, was raided on May 30 after immigration officers found it had operated without a licence and employed six foreign teachers without work permits. The inspection took place at about 1pm, after Immigration Bureau officers received a tip-off that the school was operating without approval and employing foreign teachers illegally. Officers found the school was operating without a licence and employing six foreign teachers from the Philippines and Myanmar without work permits. The teachers were arrested and taken to Khlong Tan Police Station for legal action. Initial checks found the school had been teaching for more than five years. It had more than 100 students, all foreigners, from kindergarten to secondary school level. Amarin TV reported that the school began teaching before receiving proper approval and employed foreign teachers without legal work permits. Immigration police said similar illegal international schools had been found in several areas. They said the schools often operated in hidden, hard-to-access alleys, mainly accepted foreign students, and employed foreign teachers without work permits. Police added that the Immigration Bureau would continue cracking down on unlicensed international schools and foreign nationals working illegally. Over 900 migrant students and dozens of unauthorised teachers were discovered during a major raid on two illegal schools in Samut Sakhon. Despite having its licence revoked, the school had continued to operate, offering classes to migrant children and employing 27 staff members without proper credentials. This incident highlights the importance of due diligence when researching schools in Thailand. Phuket buyers should ensure that any international school they consider for their children is properly licensed and compliant with Thai regulations.

What happened

An illegal international school in Soi Pridi Banomyong, Bangkok, was raided on May 30 after immigration officers found it had operated without a licence and employed six foreign teachers without work permits. The inspection took place at about 1pm, after Immigration Bureau officers received a tip-off that the school was operating without approval and employing foreign teachers illegally. Officers found the school was operating without a licence and employing six foreign teachers from the Philippines and Myanmar without work permits. The teachers were arrested and taken to Khlong Tan Police Station for legal action. Initial checks found the school had been teaching for more than five years. It had more than 100 students, all foreigners, from kindergarten to secondary school level. Amarin TV reported that the school began teaching before receiving proper approval and employed foreign teachers without legal work permits. Immigration police said similar illegal international schools had been found in several areas. They said the schools often operated in hidden, hard-to-access alleys, mainly accepted foreign students, and employed foreign teachers without work permits. Police added that the Immigration Bureau would continue cracking down on unlicensed international schools and foreign nationals working illegally. Over 900 migrant students and dozens of unauthorised teachers were discovered during a major raid on two illegal schools in Samut Sakhon. Despite having its licence revoked, the school had continued to operate, offering classes to migrant children and employing 27 staff members without proper credentials. This incident highlights the importance of due diligence when researching schools in Thailand. Phuket buyers should ensure that any international school they consider for their children is properly licensed and compliant with Thai regulations.

Background and context

The development matters for buyers comparing Phuket districts, rental demand, and exit liquidity against Thailand’s broader 2026 market backdrop.

Why it matters for Phuket buyers

For Phuket property buyers, headlines like this shape foreign demand, short-stay rental flow, and how quickly investors move from research to a viewing or offer.

Source: The Thaiger

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