Early Investment in Education Has the Highest ROI

Before I was born, my mom made the decision to quit her job and become a full-time stay-at-home parent. Our family was an ordinary single-income, middle-class household living near Bangkok. My parents went all-in on our education, even if that meant going into debt.

In Thailand, most children face multiple rounds of intense examinations, with increasing competitiveness towards university entrance. The pressure can be as overwhelming as in Japan or South Korea, where even a small misstep could close the door to a better future.

Some might argue, “If you're diligent and hard-working enough, you can make it to top universities from anywhere.” I agree. And having a supportive environment can significantly enhance that effort.

The harsh reality is that the quality of primary and secondary education in Thailand is highly unequal. For most students, local schools alone aren’t enough to prepare them for prestigious universities. Without a strong learning environment, many students are not encouraged to be lifelong learners or well-rounded individuals.

Unfortunately, this is a systemic issue in Thailand that will take years to resolve. The challenges include understaffed schools, overworked and underpaid teachers, and poor budget allocation, to name a few. While there are people working to improve the system, progress is slow.

But what about the children who are already part of this flawed system? In many cases, parents have to rely on external education—cram schools—to help their children succeed. This race often begins in primary school, where children must already strive to secure a spot in the top regional schools.

My mom’s approach was simple but effective: she ensured we were surrounded by an environment that encouraged learning. She enrolled us in a slightly more expensive private school and prioritized education above all else. We were given the freedom to explore any subject we wanted, with my mom always finding the best options within her budget. We were not given smartphones until late highschools, and were very much living as minimalists.

On a side note. We learned A LOT outside schools. Most from books Mom bought for us, be it any topics: Math, Science, Cartoons (with exchange of good grades), History, Arts.

She taught us the importance of saving and investing in education, explaining how the returns from education compound more exponently than anything else. One of her favorite sayings was:

They can take everything from you, but they can’t take the knowledge in your head.

Armed with knowledge, even after countless failures, we’d always have a head start.

This is where the stereotype of the “strict Asian parent,” when applied with balance, can be life-changing.

She didn’t force us to learn stuffs that we don’t want to do. No, I can’t play piano nor violin. Chess? forget it.

My parents went even further into debt to support my studies in Japan. Fast forward six years, and my full-time job in Japan is helping us clear that debt, bringing us closer to financial freedom. Had my mom not invested so much in my education, we wouldn’t be where we are today, both financially and in terms of quality of life.

If you have children, invest in their education and environment. It’s worth it. The return on investment is immeasurable.