| Dulwich College of London (DCL) is terminating its franchise contract with a boarding school in Phuket due to unsettled differences, which has left some parents worried about the standards of the local namesake.
Dulwich International College (DIC) in Phuket will be renamed British International College of Thailand when it ends its contract, which was to have lasted till 2014, at the end of this academic year on June 24.
DIC chief executive officer Arthit Ourairat stated in a letter dated May 12 to parents and staff members that DIC and DCL decided to "part amicably after failing to reach common ground'', and would terminate the current franchise agreement next month. The school's curriculum would continue to be based on the British National Curriculum.
School executives were now engaged in discussions on the potential for affiliation and academic cooperation with other prestigious schools in the United Kingdom.
Pitthawat Intarameesap, chief financial officer and executive, said the school, which now had 840 students, would change only its name and logo, and would continue to use the same British curriculum which has been applied for about 10 years, and improve its academic standards, school and sports facilities, the food service, and information technology.
Chalam Atthatham, deputy director of Phuket's education district office, said the office has not yet received a formal request from the school to change its name but had been informally told of the franchise's termination.
As the office had received complaints from a number of parents fearing the school's education quality would be affected by the change, it would invite school executives, especially Mr Arthit as licence holder, to explain the school's standing in a bid to prevent confusion, he added.
Mr Chalam said the office knew the change was caused by a conflict between the school and franchise owner Dulwich College London, and that the Phuket school claimed DCL had set too strict management conditions for it to follow.
In a statement issued May 13, Dulwich College Enterprises Ltd of the UK said its franchise agreement required that "any school which bears the name of Dulwich be run in a way which reflects the traditions, including those of governance and management, of Dulwich College London and ensures that everyone can be confident about all aspects of the school.
"DCL, on behalf of Dulwich College Enterprises, regularly inspects franchise schools to ensure that the required standards are being met in all areas and will advise when this is not the case.
"The owners of Dulwich International College, Phuket, as is their right, have decided that they wish to manage the school without the checks and balances from DIC that are an essential part of any partnership which Dulwich College Enterprises Ltd could sustain''.
By: Bangkok Post, Thailand
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