The Phuket News has spent weeks trying to get clear answers from the PPEAO, whose current Director is Panna Phromwichian, about the legal status of the ‘Waldorf Phuket School’ in Cherng Talay, which openly promotes itself as a school.
“We [the PPEAO] encourage directors to submit the necessary documents and undergo the proper review process. Once approved, the school is formally registered and recognised by the system,” Ms Panna said, deflecting from key issues asked.
“Right now, no formal police complaints have been filed against the Waldorf Phuket School or any other schools so far,” she said.
Ms Panna repeatedly emphasised prioritising bringing schools into compliance rather than “immediate punishment”.
However, Ms Panna also admitted that the school was previously shut down for operating illegally at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary site.
The current location of the school given on its Facebook page guides visitors to what is labelled a garden centre at the end of Soi Cherngtalay 3, which joins Srisoonthorn Rd near the main intersection beside Cherng Talay Police Station.
Ms Panna did confirm that the PPEAO was informed of the school currently operating on May 13, and that the application for the school to be approved was received by her office on May 19.
However, Ms Panna did not confirm whether her office had contacted the school to instruct it to apply to be legally approved as an educational institution ‒ as required by law.
Ms Panna also did not confirm whether any foreigners were involved in the operation of the business.
Deflecting from questions about Waldorf Phuket School, Ms Panna said, “We’ve already identified more than 20 unauthorised schools, including Waldorf Phuket school. Once discovered, we order them to cease operations immediately and initiate the closure process,” Ms Panna explained.
Yet the school today (June 5) on its Facebook page still publicizes itself as “Open today”.
“Our top priority is to stop these schools from operating without approval. After that, we move forward with legal steps,” Ms Panna said.
“After inspection, the school operator will be given a month to fix any issues. Only after a follow-up inspection confirming full compliance would a license be issued,” she explained.
Ms Panna declined to comment about the school publicly posting that it has been in operation since August 21.
“I’m not certain whether the school has been operating since 2021, as I only assumed the position of Chief [of the PPEAO] in 2024,” she said. Ms Panna arrived in Phuket from another province to take up the position as the leading education official on the island.
As the application submitted to the PPEAO describes the facility as a “nursery caring for young children”, Ms Panna said that the site also requires permission from the Phuket branch of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS Phuket).
Sompit Srikhamhaeng, Chief of the MSDHS Phuket office, told The Phuket News, “An information check was conducted after we received the report, a site inspection will be conducted soon.”
“After the inspection, the school operator will be given a month to fix any issues. Only after a follow-up inspection confirming full compliance would a license be issued,” she explained.
Asked whether the school was allowed to continue operating while waiting for the approval process, Ms Sompit answered a clear, “No”.
Despite the number of schools already known by the PPEAO to be operating illegally in Phuket, PPEAO Chief Ms Panna still urged the public to report any suspected unlicensed schools.
“If anyone suspects a school is operating without approval, they can report it to our office,” she said.
The PPEAO can be contacted at 076 211428-9 or by email to phuketpeo@sueksa.go.th