Households in Bangkok spend about twice the national average on school education, according to a study conducted by the Equitable Education Research Institute (EEFI).
Additionally, the difference in money spent on schooling between the poorest and richest groups of families in the capital is up to 12 times apart, the study found.
"These figures suggest Bangkok residents have considerably higher costs of living to deal with in all aspects including household spending and costs of schooling, despite the existence of the government's free education policy," Pumsaran Tongliemnak, acting director of the EEFI, said yesterday.
Also, the study pointed to the need to adjust a formula being used in the government's allocation of educational resources in order to address these disparities in the country's education system, he said.
Primary education in particular requires more attention as child development during this period is crucial to their future growth, he said.
The average household spending on schooling in Bangkok is 37,257 baht per person per year, the vast majority of which -- 26,247 baht -- goes towards school fees, he said, citing findings from the same study.
The national average spending on school education per household stands at 17,832 baht per person per year, about two times lower than the same figure for the capital, he said.
Students in the poorest 10% of households in Bangkok each pay 6,600 baht per year for their schooling, while those in the richest 10% each pay up to 78,200 baht per year, he said.
"This dramatic difference in schooling costs among these two groups also reflects the difference in the quality of education they are receiving in return," Mr Pumsaran added.
When taking into consideration the financial capability of households in these two groups, the poorest group is found to have a financial burden about four times higher than the richest group when it comes to paying for schooling, he said, citing information obtained from the National Education Account (NEA).
Although most students do not have to pay tuition fees under the country's free education policy, they still have to pay fees for some courses, including languages.