We plan to send our child to study at a pondok in southern Thailand. What should we weigh up?

Weigh your child's readiness, their welfare there, and the standing of their documents and education after they finish. Many Malaysian children benefit greatly from pondok study, but each institution differs in management, cleanliness and care of students. Visit the pondok yourself before deciding, talk with the teachers and other students' parents, and ask how they handle a child who is sick or homesick. Make sure your child's travel documents and residence permit are always valid by checking with the authorities of both countries. Discuss their education path afterwards too. Most importantly, the child should be willing, not merely complying. See Muslim families in Thailand.