A nine-strong Thai delegation, including Thai Ministry of Education Office of the Basic Education Commission deputy secretary-general Dr Amporn Pinasa and Chitralada School director Associate Prof Dr Yuvadee Nakapadungrat were in Dunedin yesterday to sign memorandums of understanding with six Dunedin secondary schools.
The memorandums ratify a relationship between Bayfield High School, Kavanagh College, Otago Boys' High School, Otago Girls' High School, Queen's High School and Taieri College, and 12 Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools and the Chitralada School situated in the Dusit Palace grounds, in Bangkok.
Dr Nakapadungrat said it was a great opportunity for Thailand and its pupils.
The memorandum was not signed without doing some research on the quality of Dunedin's education system first.
She said eight Thai pupils were sent to attend classes in six Dunedin secondary schools and stay with host families for two months.
The pupils loved the experience, especially the opportunity to study the English language, and Dr Nakapadungrat was impressed with the wide variety of subjects the pupils were able to study alongside Dunedin pupils.
''We are very happy because of the education quality of New Zealand, especially in Dunedin city, which is very high.
''I would love to have more collaboration with studying in Dunedin, like student exchanges, teacher exchanges and teacher development.''
Signatory to the memorandum and Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said the Thai international student market was a strong one for the city.
''Statistics from 2017 show it's in the top 10 countries for Dunedin, with 102 Thai students studying here that year - 63 of those at high school.''
In future, the secondary school programme may grow to include joint school projects between classes in Dunedin and Thailand, a pupil buddy system and a teacher exchange programme, he said.
