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Education
Twelve years of schooling is mandatory throughout Thailand. Many people, however, don't go to school anywhere near that length of time. The vast major of the Isaan people have finished grammar school at best.
One obstacle to a good education is, certainly, finances. The people are poor and for most families, children start work at a young age. There are also expenses involved with education. All children, from kindergarten through 12th grade, are required to wear uniforms. However, many can't afford the uniforms in the first place. Some families with two children, for example, can only afford one uniform. They buy a large uniform which is shared between the children. Having only one uniform, one of the children must be absent every day.
Another problem is transportation to and from school. Most villages have a grammar school which is close enough for the children to walk to. Often, though, the high school is in the nearest market town, which can be many miles away, separated by unkempt, dilapidated roads.
Cultural pressure
In spite of the poverty problem, the Isaan people are well known for their friendliness and openness. They have maintained, to a large degree, their own culture which is predominantly Laotian. Most of them are family and community oriented, which makes them generally non-competitive and easy-going.
The Isaan people have never had much wealth, but the shift from their past communal farming style to a cash based society has done a lot to promote selfishness. Because the elderly are highly respected for their wisdom and accorded respect, a common solution to the poverty they face in the villages is to send their children to the city in order to make money to send home. While the poverty is challenging enough, the male-oriented culture has added an even more unfortunate fate for the women. It is surprising but well known that most of the time, it is the young female who rescues her family, while many men tend to be freer to live their lives. There is always at least one person in every family, who knows intuitively from an early age that she will become responsible for improving the whole family's life out of poverty while the rest of the family lives from her earnings. Though men work hard if there is work to be found, they may also choose not to work even if it is available. While men have a higher social status, in reality, women are the backbone of the country and in no way should be looked down upon.
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