Thai parents turn to pawn shops for school expenses
Rising costs push families to trade valuables as school expenses reach breaking point
Parents across Thailand are increasingly turning to pawn shops to secure funds for their children’s uniforms and other essentials for the upcoming school term. With the new school calendar set to begin on May 16, these establishments are preparing for a surge in business.
Pawn shops nationwide are bolstering their cash reserves in anticipation of the increased demand. In Nakhon Ratchasima, the municipality-operated pawn shops hold 300 million baht across three city branches and are offering low-interest rates as a supportive measure for parents.
Siriphan Kuanha, manager of the city’s second branch, assured that there is sufficient cash to meet customer needs.
Government and private pawn shops in other provinces are also increasing their cash availability.
In Yala city, a municipality-run shop has stocked 100 million baht. Charoonrat Lamrassamee, assistant manager of the Yala branch, noted an expected rise in visitors as the school year approaches, as reported by the Public Relations Department.
The second branch in Nakhon Ratchasima is filled with a diverse array of pawned items, including amulets, gas cylinders, refrigerators, and washing machines.
Meanwhile, a resident of Pak Kret district in Nonthaburi faced challenges while attempting to pawn a 40-inch TV. After visiting at least five shops, he found none willing to accept the item due to storage constraints and other reasons.
Ultimately, he resorted to borrowing from a loan shark to urgently secure 1,000 baht for his five year old nephew’s tuition and fees demanded by the school, reported Bangkok Post.
The man expressed his frustration to Thai PBS, suggesting that pawn shops should indicate if they do not accept TVs.
In similar news, parents across Thailand welcome a financial break as the Ministry of Education scraps the mandatory scout uniform rule.
With the new school term approaching, families will no longer be required to purchase full scout uniforms, easing the burden of back-to-school expenses. Deputy Education Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakul announced the policy shift during a meeting with senior officials on April 23.
The National Scout Organisation of Thailand is expected to issue an official statement confirming that schools under the ministry’s authority will be exempt from enforcing the traditional scout uniform requirement.
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