Graduates complain after being refused teaching licences

By Kawintra Jisue 
The Nation

 

File photo: Photo from/www.facebook.com/kuruthayat59

 

One hundred and twenty-five graduates in three streams at Loei Rajabhat University’s Faculty of Education have been unable to obtain teaching licences because their study programmes failed Higher Education Commission assessment and Teachers’ Council of Thailand’s certification.

 

Some graduates who passed the government’s Khru Keunthin (“returning to teach in hometowns”) project recruitment exam were disqualified for this reason.

 

The affected students are from the computer studies, Thai-language and English-language programmes at the university’s Khon Kaen Centre. 

 

After three months with no progress in resolving the situation, one of the students, 25-year-old Montri Khansrinuan, led a delegation on Monday to file a complaint with the Khon Kaen Damrongtham Centre. 

 

Montri said he had enrolled in the five-year computer studies programme in 2012 but was disappointed when told in April this year that the university could not provide teacher licences to him and fellow graduates because the three programmes had failed assessment in December 2012. 

 

“We were told upon graduation in April about this, and the university personnel promised to solve the problem. Some of my friends who passed the Khru Keunthin recruitment were disqualified because the project required teaching licenses,” Montri said. 

 

The graduates were told that they could still apply for a two-year teacher practice document, but this could not be renewed in the same way as a five-year teaching licence. For this reason, the 125 graduates were having trouble finding jobs.

 

The university stopped taking students in the three study programmes in the 2013 academic year after its appeal of the December 2012 verdict was rejected.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30328269

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-02

Amazing Thailand & amazingly bright students (not)

So first of all they were entering into a program that was still being clarified between the Gov & school 

2nd is that you had a school ( bad one at that ) that didn,t notify the students of the rejection ( also the students should of checked ) but I guess it's the old Mai Pen Rai they're a school with the heads looking after this

Then they must of been amazed that no other students were doing the courses as of 2013 (oh look were the only ones that have been doing this for the last 4 yrs)

Then after 5 yrs ( just to learn some basic courses ) they got a shock & another BS promise

It is nothing to do with the government, but the Teacher's Council of Thailand (Kurusapa) keep changing the standards. Whoever takes the teaching degree course in 2012, they need to follow "9 Standards" of Kurusapa, then later on the year, the Kurusapa change to "12 Standards". Making a lot of universities unable to meet the requirements because they just change and follow "9 Standards". Then "12 Standards". 

 

Furthermore, the Kurusapa also change from 4 years programme to 5 years programme. It means that 4 years, you require to complete your degree and another one year for practical training (without any allowance) in the public school. 

 

Many graduated students with the degree in teaching, also unable to get a teaching licence from Kurusapa. My wife and her university mates also encountered so many problems. Even she has a first class honour and top student, as well she went through the 5 year programme. Also can't get the teaching licence. 

There must be a huge celebration now by the 5.000 retired teachers over the good news.

She seems to be using a plankboard.

Honestly, you'd think at least there'd be a decent blackboard.     

 

the excuse for a blackboard should have been an indication that something was amiss...

& obviously the Teachers Council doesn't have to explain to the Education Minister (who no doubt sets out the whole system for Thailand )

Most credentials these days here and abroad are a joke

I was recently prosecuted for teaching English to children after school in my home. Basically they said if I had more than 7 students then I am acting as a school. I had 10 students 1 hour per week. 

Madra 120 says the evidence to be a school is teaching a curriculum that you say is approved by the ministry and giving a certificate that you say is approved by the ministry. 

I didn't do that. 

But my point is, the students should make a complaint directly to the police as what the university did is illegal by madra 120 /madra 147 in the private education act. 

The penalty is 1 year in prison or a 20000  baht fine. 

For each case. 

The problem for these kids is that they have paid the money already.  They only know what they are told by the school.  

 

The system for verifying the school programs has nothing to do with Krupsa it is the OHEC that does the checks and makes the recommendations.

 

There are numerous schools that try to circumvent the system to make money.

 

 

After  5  years of  deception or  not  it is  a sad outcome  for  the  students  but possibly/ probably a  better  outcome  for  "home  town "  teaching  standards.

It  would  be hard  to  believe  that  paying  attendees  at a education  facility  had  no  realization  that  there  were issues  about  the  courses  for  5  years!

1 hour ago, greenchair said:

I was recently prosecuted for teaching English to children after school in my home. Basically they said if I had more than 7 students then I am acting as a school. I had 10 students 1 hour per week. 

Madra 120 says the evidence to be a school is teaching a curriculum that you say is approved by the ministry and giving a certificate that you say is approved by the ministry. 

I didn't do that. 

But my point is, the students should make a complaint directly to the police as what the university did is illegal by madra 120 /madra 147 in the private education act. 

The penalty is 1 year in prison or a 20000  baht fine. 

For each case. 

I hope you will put some of what you earned in the KT threads to good use.  We couldn't bear to do without your wisdom there for a whole year.

As appalling as this story is, even if the students discovered what was going on, after sinking thousands into  course fees were they supposed to just walk away as so many wise posters here would do?

12 minutes ago, Slip said:

I hope you will put some of what you earned in the KT threads to good use.  We couldn't bear to do without your wisdom there for a whole year.

As appalling as this story is, even if the students discovered what was going on, after sinking thousands into  course fees were they supposed to just walk away as so many wise posters here would do?

Probably   not  if  they were  led  to  believe   "It will  be   ok !  "

Just now, Dumbastheycome said:

Probably   not  if  they were  led  to  believe   "It will  be   ok !  "

Quite- and who has the power in this situation?  Much easier to believe what the establishment tells you, hence also avoiding being assaulted by your lecturer.

That 'll teach em !

57 minutes ago, Slip said:

I hope you will put some of what you earned in the KT threads to good use.  We couldn't bear to do without your wisdom there for a whole year.

As appalling as this story is, even if the students discovered what was going on, after sinking thousands into  course fees were they supposed to just walk away as so many wise posters here would do?

 

That is totally uncalled for. 

Rotten sod you are. This has got nothing to do with KT, the mind boggles how you even connect the 2. 

They lost .  Get over yourself. 

Why should they walk away. It's illegal what the university did. 

The students should send it to the court and let justice take its course. 

Provided they can accept the outcome after rolling the dice. 

Very hard problem to traverse and reverse. This is where amazing Thailand comes from. Have kids in the system. 

14 minutes ago, greenchair said:

 

That is totally uncalled for. 

Rotten sod you are. This has got nothing to do with KT, the mind boggles how you even connect the 2. 

They lost .  Get over yourself. 

Why should they walk away. It's illegal what the university did. 

The students should send it to the court and let justice take its course. 

Provided they can accept the outcome after rolling the dice. 

Can I encourage you to the relevant part of the post.

Quote

 

As appalling as this story is, even if the students discovered what was going on, after sinking thousands into  course fees were they supposed to just walk away as so many wise posters here would do?

 

 

I agree the students should go to court (assuming that they can afford it), but we make that comment with hindsight.  What would they know to do as youngsters arrayed against the establishment.

(Sorry for being such an off topic rotter earlier, but we all make our own reputations here).

Edited October 2, 20178 yr by Slip

5 hours ago, BEVUP said:

Amazing Thailand & amazingly bright students (not)

So first of all they were entering into a program that was still being clarified between the Gov & school 

2nd is that you had a school ( bad one at that ) that didn,t notify the students of the rejection ( also the students should of checked ) but I guess it's the old Mai Pen Rai they're a school with the heads looking after this

Then they must of been amazed that no other students were doing the courses as of 2013 (oh look were the only ones that have been doing this for the last 4 yrs)

Then after 5 yrs ( just to learn some basic courses ) they got a shock & another BS promise

That's a bit harsh... 

 

First, the students here, and in any other part of the world, are only as "bright" as the education they receive. It's hardly their fault that the people pulling the strings high up the food chain keep the educational standards here at an absolute minimum. Dumb is cheap and obedient labour. 

 

Secondly, how many people, especially teenagers and people in their early 20s, check a school's credentials? Not many. 

 

The university's personnel have a lot of explaining to do. They 1) took the money/fees knowing that the program wasn't certified and 2) did this for 5 years in a row! 

 

I really do pity these poor students who have spent (wasted?) 5 years of their lives. 

Perhaps they should have saved their money and gone to the same school as the two recent "teachers" from Cameroon.

Either way, they're f****d!

8 hours ago, djayz said:

That's a bit harsh... 

 

First, the students here, and in any other part of the world, are only as "bright" as the education they receive. It's hardly their fault that the people pulling the strings high up the food chain keep the educational standards here at an absolute minimum. Dumb is cheap and obedient labour. 

 

Secondly, how many people, especially teenagers and people in their early 20s, check a school's credentials? Not many. 

 

The university's personnel have a lot of explaining to do. They 1) took the money/fees knowing that the program wasn't certified and 2) did this for 5 years in a row! 

 

I really do pity these poor students who have spent (wasted?) 5 years of their lives. 

 

That's right. People should stop blaming the victims. 

Those youngsters attended class for 5 years. They deserve full refund of fees, 300 baht a day for each day attended and compensation for all their work that was deemed useless. 

It is a criminal offence to give fake schooling madra 120/147 of the education act. 

 

They did not pass the singing class... as that so called hottie who is a social media hit did. 

 

School is responsible for not organizing its curriculum to meet the MOE standards.

 

Case closed.

Edited October 3, 20178 yr by LazySlipper

...oh the Administrators degrees were not checked as well.

14 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

the excuse for a blackboard should have been an indication that something was amiss...

 

The line 'File photo...' should indicate something is amiss with your comment 

16 hours ago, BEVUP said:

Amazing Thailand & amazingly bright students (not)

So first of all they were entering into a program that was still being clarified between the Gov & school 

2nd is that you had a school ( bad one at that ) that didn,t notify the students of the rejection ( also the students should of checked ) but I guess it's the old Mai Pen Rai they're a school with the heads looking after this

Then they must of been amazed that no other students were doing the courses as of 2013 (oh look were the only ones that have been doing this for the last 4 yrs)

Then after 5 yrs ( just to learn some basic courses ) they got a shock & another BS promise

University accreditation certification is standard procedure in most countries. Frequently schools are warned by the country’s accreditation organizations that they do not meet required standards in some area or another and the schools are given a time frame in which to correct the issues. Some schools do not or cannot improve those problem areas and lose their accreditation certification. Some schools go out of business when accreditation is lost, others continue to function without accreditation or seek a lesser educational acknowledgement--of which there are many.  There are many unaccredited yet functioning schools in the West. The graduates of these schools enter the workforce and many employers do not know or understand accreditation. Often, the only problems the graduates of these unaccredited schools may encounter is from gaining entrance to advanced degree programs from accredited schools or finding employment as educators under national or state auspices.   

It is all back to the KSP issue. I believe that all the universities trying to meet the requirements of KSP, but KSP keep changing the standards requirements. Last time, it was 3 Standards Requirements, then they change to 9 Standards, later 12 Standards and now planning to change 4 Standards. The faculty of education of the universities have to change the curriculum each time (cost is high too), when KSP change the standard. There are many things need to considered. Prepare the curriculum will take some time, then submit to KSP will take longer time. Average time to get the curriculum to approve the Standards will take 1 - 2 years. After few years, change again the Standards.

 

So please don't blame the universities. It is not about the making money from the students, it is the process to get it approve. 

The worst part is that the Education Minister is a medical practitioner, and don't know much about education. Last April, he made a big change on the education without consulting the academicians. He mentioned that anyone who graduated with any field, they can become a school teacher. This includes the doctor, engineer, business and etc. In regard to KSP, he will push through KSP to give the teaching licence to them after 2 years working. About 700,000+ graduated students went to apply for a government teacher position. Then the universities academicians against this ideas and asked to withdraw the statement. Anyway, leave it to them. 

10 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

 

The line 'File photo...' should indicate something is amiss with your comment 

Easier to rubbish the story than actually think..