Bhutanese Students International Education - Panyaden School, Chiang Mai

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Bhutanese families looking for an international school with strong values, rooted in sustainability and care for the planet, and offering holistic education while drawing on Buddhist principles, have to look no further than Panyaden International School, located in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Panyaden’s model is a Genuine Values-based Education for a Sustainable Planet, with a vision to see our children excel academically, enrich their physical, social, emotional and intellectual well-being and develop a caring and compassionate understanding of the environment, to benefit themselves, the people they meet and the planet.

Why Study in Thailand?

Thailand and Bhutan share great similarities as Asian kingdoms with rich heritage and Buddhist community. Chiang Mai, known historically as the ‘rose of the north’ is located in Thailand’s mountainous region. It is a safe and affordable city to be based in. We offer information on life in Chiang Mai on our website and can advise families interested to move here.

Panyaden International School’s campus in Chiang Mai is unique from other schools, using natural materials and a green architecture design concept that embraces nature. We strive to offer an eco-friendly school experience, and educate our students on the importance of living an environmentally mindful life and the impact they can have on the planet.

We are the first school in Chiang Mai to have invested in a Fresh Air System instead of using air purifiers and air conditioning, which is not only environmentally friendly but also healthy and better for people with respiratory conditions.

Our international curriculum, which is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is integrated with Buddhist Principles, and we are privileged to also have a spiritual advisor to guide our school community in the 12 Wise Habits.

Our students and their well-being and positive development is central to all our decisions.

Our school community is a diverse one and has shown great resilience and caring for one another, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents get to be members of the Friends of Panyaden community, whose purpose is to advance the education of pupils in the school, in particular by supporting the community through social events and other activities and by developing effective relationships and communication between the staff, parents and others associated with the school.

Panyaden’s curriculum

At Panyaden International School, we offer students the opportunity to complete their education from Early Years right through to High School graduation

Early Years

Early Years, covering starts with the UK curriculum, delivered through hands-on, active units of learning. We use the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as the core curriculum, centred around an indoor-outdoor, free-flow combination of adult-led and child-initiated activities. This learning-through-play approach focuses on seven areas of the curriculum, supplemented by the Thai national curriculum.

Primary Years

Primary Years (Year 1- 6), uses the International Primary Curriculum from Year 1 to Year 6. The British Curriculum is academically rigorous, highly regarded and remains the most popular choice for international schools worldwide. Using the UK curriculum alongside the IPC and Thai Language and Culture curricula results in a remarkably strong academic curriculum that keeps student-centred learning at the forefront of our approach.

The Middle School Years Pre-IB programme

The Middle School Years (Year 7-9) and Pre-IB programme (Year 10-11) continue preparing students for the challenging International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

IB Diploma Programme (Year 12-13)

The IB Diploma Programme is recognised worldwide as an outstanding preparation for university studies, and it aligns with Panyaden’s school mission.

The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous, two-year programme that results in personal and academic development and, upon successful completion, a globally recognized diploma. Consistent with Panyaden’s core values and strengths, the IB Diploma Programme aims to develop the thinking and skills of students to become tomorrow’s leaders and change-makers.

Panyaden’s unique educational approach

Founded in 2010, Panyaden International School stands out for its educational approach, incorporating the forward thinking educational framework that not only  promotes academic achievement, but also nurtures the spiritual and mental growth of the children. Our objective is to create individuals who are not just individually successful, but contribute positively to the world, and become leaders who care for their community and environment.

While we are a young school, we already see from our alumni that our approach is starting to have an impact: families who have moved to other countries stay in touch with the Panyaden community and share with us how their children are applying their learnings from Panyaden in their new environments. We indeed feel that we are on the path of helping to develop responsible future citizens with strong values.

Currently, over 40 nationalities are represented in the student and staff bodies. We celebrate the different cultures and take a multilingual approach to education, not only embracing the languages that our students are speaking at home and with friends, but also those of our teachers. This approach enhances first language skills and international-mindedness, as well as increases students’ ability to think in more complex ways.

Panyaden is accredited  by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a world-renowned accrediting association and one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States, which provide the accreditation to schools and colleges around the world.

Panyaden Secondary Scholarship Programme

The Panyaden Secondary Scholarship Programme embodies the school’s commitment to ensuring our approach to education is not limited solely to those who can afford it. Partial and full scholarships covering tuition fees are available for students from Year 7 to IB Diploma Programme. Scholarship criteria are based on demonstrated and potential academic ability, artistic and creative aptitude, and a commitment to contribute to the school community and beyond through service and leadership.

Panyaden International School awards a range of generous scholarships on offer for high-achieving students to join us at the secondary school from Year 7 to Year 13 Programme. You could be eligible to receive up to 100% of total tuition fees. To be considered for the Academic Scholarships, you must first complete the application process. – discover more information on Panyaden IB Academic Scholarship section.

The Panyaden campus

Built over 30 rai (48,000 square metres), the green architecture utilised for the buildings and classrooms uses locally sourced bamboo and earth, mimicking the antler-fern leaf. There are multiple facilities supporting students and teachers, including physics, biology and chemistry labs, a sports hall, gyms, and a large library.

The design of our school campuses require low maintenance and eliminate over-reliance on certain technologies that are not necessarily beneficial. It creates an environment where the health, growth and learning can thrive while students learn by example how to develop sustainable practices which allow for coexistence with nature instead causing more pollution or making us rely too heavily on closed bubbles of air conditioning inside buildings only.

The Panyaden Fresh Air System is not only environmentally friendly, it ensures increased oxygen flow in classrooms while limiting carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. This ensures that the classroom, a space that our students will spend a large part of their lives learning and growing in, remains a healthy space that optimizes their learning as well as protects their health.

Visa information

Bhutanese students coming to Thailand will need the appropriate visa and documents before travel. The Official Royal Government of Bhutan website provides an overview in the current context and on what to submit to the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General in Thimphu.

Visa information

Once enrolled at Panyaden International School, our Admissions team will support in providing necessary documents for applying for the correct education visa for your child. Parents or legal guardians are eligible to apply for an ‘other’ category visa that is linked to the education visa issued to the student.

Our Admissions team is contactable online and ready to answer questions and support new Panyaden families through the visa application process.

Being part of the Panyaden community is an enriching experience for students, teachers and parents.  If you are interested to learn more about  Panyaden International School  and how our values based education goes with Bhutanese culture, please feel free to contact us for more information, or to arrange a visit to Panyaden please apply for a school tour.

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