For many children, going to school means carrying a bag filled with ordinary things:
Books.
Pencils.
Paper.
A school uniform.
Shoes.
Learning materials.
These items may seem small.
But for families already struggling with the cost of food, housing, transport and healthcare, the cost of sending a child to school can become another significant financial burden.
And when families have to make difficult choices, education can sometimes be one of the areas affected.
In August 2026, UNICEF Thailand reported that nearly three-quarters of households with children surveyed said their education-related costs had increased. Among young people surveyed, 52% said their households had reduced spending on education-related items, including school transport, internet or devices, tutoring, activities and learning materials.
This is why school supplies matter.
They aren’t simply objects.
For a child, they can be tools that make learning possible.
Education Is Not Always Free in Practice
Thailand has made significant progress in providing access to education.
But “free education” does not necessarily mean that families have no education-related expenses.
UNICEF research has identified costs such as:
- Transportation
- Uniforms and clothing
- Food
- Additional classes
- Other school-related expenses
as potential financial barriers for families.
For a household with a stable income, these expenses may be manageable.
For a family living close to the financial margin, they can become much more significant.
A uniform may be essential.
A notebook may be essential.
A school bag may be essential.
Transport to school may be essential.
Individually, each cost may appear relatively small.
Together, they can add up.
How Much Can Education Cost a Family?
UNICEF’s research into education expenses for migrant families in Thailand has previously estimated that out-of-pocket education expenditure can range from approximately THB 1,000 to THB 10,000 per child per year, depending on circumstances.
These numbers demonstrate an important point:
Getting a child into school is only the beginning.
Families also need to be able to support the practical costs associated with education.
Why School Supplies Matter
A child cannot learn effectively without appropriate learning resources.
Depending on their age and school, this might include:
- Books
- Exercise books
- Pens
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Rulers
- Art materials
- School bags
- Uniforms
- Shoes
- Sports clothing
- Educational resources
These aren’t luxury items.
They are part of the infrastructure of everyday learning.
Imagine being the only child in a classroom without the materials everyone else has.
The financial cost may be relatively small to someone outside the situation.
But for a child, the experience can affect confidence and participation.
School Uniforms Are More Than Clothing
Uniforms are sometimes overlooked when people think about education.
But they can be an unavoidable cost.
UNICEF research into education expenses found that uniforms and clothing are among the costs reported by families.
Uniform requirements can also mean more than buying one shirt.
Children may need:
- School uniforms
- Sports uniforms
- Shoes
- Socks
- Belts
- Bags
- Other school-specific items
Children also grow.
A uniform that fits one year may not fit the next.
For families with several children, these costs can multiply.
Books and Learning Materials Create Opportunity
Learning materials give children the tools they need to participate.
A child learning to write needs something to write with.
A child practising mathematics needs somewhere to complete exercises.
A child learning to read needs access to books.
A child studying technology may need access to appropriate devices or internet connectivity.
These resources can seem obvious.
But when household finances are under pressure, they can become difficult to afford.
The Latest Cost-of-Living Pressure
The issue has become particularly relevant in 2026.
UNICEF Thailand’s June 2026 household survey, conducted with NIDA Poll among 1,227 households with children, found that 61% experienced a great or very severe impact from rising living costs.
The pressure is affecting multiple parts of family life.
More than four in five households with children reported that rising costs had affected the quality or quantity of food their children eat.
Education is also being affected.
Nearly three-quarters of households reported higher education-related costs.
Among adolescents and young people surveyed, 52% said their household had reduced spending on education-related items.
That includes things such as:
- School transport
- Internet
- Devices
- Tutoring
- Activities
- Learning materials
This demonstrates how closely household finances and children’s educational opportunities can be connected.
When a Family Has to Choose
Imagine a household facing several expenses at once.
The family needs to pay for:
Food
Rent
Electricity
Transportation
Healthcare
School costs
If income doesn’t increase but prices do, something may have to be reduced.
That doesn’t mean parents don’t value education.
Quite the opposite.
Parents often make extremely difficult decisions because they want to protect their children.
But when resources are limited, even relatively small education costs can become difficult.
The Hidden Cost of Missing Out
The consequences aren’t always immediate.
A child may still attend school.
But perhaps they don’t have:
- The same learning materials
- Internet access at home
- A suitable device
- Extra tutoring
- Access to activities
- The ability to participate in every school programme
Over time, these differences can contribute to wider educational inequality.
UNICEF has highlighted persistent learning gaps in Thailand, particularly affecting children from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds.
This is why educational support needs to look beyond enrolment.
It also needs to consider whether children have the resources required to learn successfully.
School Supplies Can Support Equality
Providing school supplies doesn’t eliminate poverty.
But it can remove one barrier.
When a child has the materials they need, they can participate in lessons without worrying about whether they can afford a notebook or pencil.
That can contribute to:
- Greater participation
- Better preparedness
- Confidence
- Independence
- A stronger learning environment
A school bag won’t solve poverty.
But giving a child a school bag can solve the problem of not having a school bag.
Sometimes practical solutions matter.
Mercy Centre and Educational Materials
Mercy Centre operates 17 charity schools across Bangkok serving nearly 1,000 children.
The organisation states that its schools provide children with the resources they need to learn, including nutritious meals and educational materials.
Its social workers and teachers also identify children who are most in need of support.
This means educational support can be connected to the wider needs of the children and families involved.
The objective isn’t simply to distribute supplies.
It is to help create an environment where children can attend school, learn and progress.
From Preschool to Primary School
Mercy Centre’s education programme focuses heavily on early childhood education.
The organisation’s 17 kindergartens serve nearly 1,000 children in marginalised communities.
Each year, preschool children graduate and move on to First Grade in Thai government schools.
That transition is an important milestone.
The supplies and support children receive during their early education help prepare them for the next stage.
What Can a Donation Provide?
When people donate to a children’s charity, they may wonder what their contribution actually achieves.
The answer depends on the organisation’s needs and how funds are allocated.
At Mercy Centre, educational support can form part of a broader programme that includes:
- Education
- Learning materials
- Nutritious meals
- Child development
- Social work
- Children’s homes
- Community support
The goal is to address the barriers that can prevent vulnerable children from learning and developing.
Donations Don’t Have to Be Huge
People sometimes believe they need to make a large donation to make a difference.
They don’t.
A large number of smaller contributions can collectively provide significant resources.
For example, if 100 supporters each contributed toward educational materials, their combined donations could help fund supplies for many children.
The important thing is not the size of one person’s contribution.
It is the collective effect.
What Businesses Can Do
School supplies can also provide an opportunity for companies to become involved.
Businesses can potentially support children through:
School Supply Drives
Employees can collect:
- Books
- Stationery
- School bags
- Educational materials
CSR Partnerships
Companies can work with Mercy Centre to support schools, education programmes or specific projects.
School Sponsorship
Businesses can explore opportunities to support one of Mercy Centre’s schools.
Employee Volunteering
Employees can contribute professional skills or time alongside financial support.
Mercy Centre specifically invites companies and organisations to discuss CSR opportunities, including school sponsorship, school renovations, events and team-building projects.
What About Technology?
Learning materials increasingly include digital resources.
A child may need:
- Internet access
- A computer
- A tablet
- Educational software
- Digital learning resources
UNICEF has documented how unequal access to technology affected children’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More recently, UNICEF’s 2026 survey found that internet and devices were among the education-related areas where young people reported reduced household spending.
This demonstrates that educational inequality is not limited to physical school supplies.
The digital divide can also affect learning.
The Importance of Keeping Children in School
School supplies are ultimately part of a larger objective:
keeping children engaged in education.
Mercy Centre explains that its schools provide children with a safe place to learn and a pathway towards mainstream education.
The organisation’s Janusz Korczak School also supports children who face particular barriers to accessing government schools, including some foreign-born children without Thai citizenship or documentation and children with special educational needs.
This illustrates why educational support cannot always be reduced to simply paying tuition.
Some children face several barriers simultaneously.
Education Is an Investment
When we provide a child with a book, uniform or learning resource, we are not simply giving them an object.
We are supporting an opportunity.
The opportunity to:
- Attend school
- Participate
- Learn
- Develop confidence
- Build skills
- Graduate
- Continue into further education
- Eventually enter employment
Education is one of the most important foundations for a child’s future.
UNICEF notes that without quality education, children can face major barriers to future employment, earning potential and their ability to shape their own futures.
The Bigger Picture: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
No single school supply can break the cycle of poverty.
But education can be part of a much larger pathway.
A child receives:
Education
↓
Knowledge and skills
↓
Qualifications
↓
Employment opportunities
↓
Greater economic independence
↓
A stronger future for the next generation
The pathway isn’t guaranteed.
Children need support from families, schools, communities and wider social systems.
But education can help create opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable.
How You Can Help
There are several ways to support children at Mercy Centre.
Sponsor a Child
Child sponsorship can help families who struggle with the costs associated with keeping children in education.
Mercy Centre specifically identifies books, uniforms and school supplies as expenses that can be difficult for families in its communities to afford.
Donate
Financial donations can help support Mercy Centre’s wider education and child-support programmes.
Volunteer
If you have professional skills or time available, you can also contribute as a volunteer.
Support a School
Businesses and organisations can contact Mercy Centre to discuss opportunities involving school sponsorship, renovations, educational projects and CSR partnerships.
Every Child Deserves the Tools to Learn
A pencil is a small thing.
A notebook is a small thing.
A school uniform is a small thing.
A book is a small thing.
But to a child who doesn’t have one, these things can matter enormously.
Education is built from thousands of small moments.
A child opens a book.
A teacher explains a lesson.
A student writes an answer.
A mistake is corrected.
A new skill is learned.
A child begins to understand what they are capable of.
Providing the resources needed for those moments is one practical way to support education.
The Goal Is Bigger Than School Supplies
The ultimate objective isn’t to provide children with more possessions.
It is to remove barriers.
To make it easier for children to attend school.
To help them participate.
To give teachers the resources they need.
To support families under financial pressure.
And to help children continue along their educational journey.
Mercy Centre’s 17 schools serve nearly 1,000 children and provide educational materials alongside food, teaching and wider support.
That work depends on people who believe that children deserve opportunities regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
Help a Child Stay in Education
You can support Mercy Centre’s work by:
A school bag may not change a child’s entire life.
But giving a child the tools they need to learn can help open the door to something much bigger:
an education, an opportunity and a future.
Sources
- Mercy Centre — Charity Schools: information on the 17 schools, nearly 1,000 children, educational materials, meals and school programmes.
- Mercy Centre — Sponsor a Child: information on education-related costs including books, uniforms and school supplies.
- UNICEF Thailand — Rising Living Costs, 2026: latest survey data on household financial pressure and education spending.
- UNICEF Thailand — Education Expenses and Migrant Children: research on transportation, uniforms, food and learning materials.
- UNICEF Thailand — Education: national education challenges and inequality.
- UNICEF Thailand — Thailand’s Education System: recent evidence on learning gaps and inequality.