Authorities have raided an unlicensed international school in Prawet district of Bangkok, arresting 10 foreign teachers and staff found working without permits.
Investigators from the Immigration Bureau joined officers from the Prawet police station and officials from the Department of Employment to inspect the premises on Wednesday following reports of suspected irregularities.
The team found the school had been operating without a legally required licence for more than a year, offering kindergarten and primary-level classes to over 100 students.
Investigators said they found 10 foreign nationals from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria who were working as teachers and staff without valid work permits.
All were arrested and handed over to Prawet police for legal proceedings.
The raid followed a tip-off that an international school in the Prawet area was operating without authorisation and employing foreign teachers illegally.
Pol Maj Gen Prasart Khemmaprasit, commander of Immigration Division 1, said the case should serve as a warning to parents when selecting schools for their children. Institutions operating without proper licences risk sudden closure, which could directly affect students’ education and academic records.
He urged parents to verify a school’s registration with the Ministry of Education before enrolment.
The employment of foreign nationals must strictly comply with the law, including visa conditions and work permits for designated locations, he added.
Members of the public who become aware of illegal employment involving foreign workers are encouraged to contact the national police hotline at 1599 or the Immigration Bureau hotline at 1178, around the clock.
Police talk to a staff member of an international school in Prawet district of Bangkok, which was found to be operating without a licence. Ten foreign nationals were arrested for working without permits. (Photo: Prawet police station)
