Teachers Looking For A Free Lunch

[marshbags]

Sat, March 31, 2007 : Last updated 7:17 am (Thai local time)

The Nation

Quote:-

Teachers looking for a free lunch ruin quality of education for kids

Much was said over this past school year about the number of dubious foreign English teachers operating in Thailand.

Hardly a month has gone by without some news about a crackdown on foreigners with Mickey-Mouse qualifications to teach English.

Let us today however, have a look at the local Thai teachers. While stories of foreign teachers/child molesters have made national headlines, the equally disturbing stories of Thai male teachers taking advantage of their students make the back page - obviously due to the fact that such indecencies are absolutely nothing new. If the culprits are unlucky, they may get kicked out of the civil service. And I specifically mention civil-servant teachers, as they are held in high respect within Thai society, and are often allowed to get away with more than their peers.

A lot of foreign teachers spend their time in the teachers' room listening to tales from their Thai counterparts about their wonderful post-graduate degrees. As a Thai-to-English translator, I cannot recall just how many master's degree theses I have translated for these teachers. Whenever I asked for specific details related to the research, they hadn't a clue and it was quite obvious that they hadn't done any of the work themselves. In fact, this is a normality in Thailand. Even though there may be very few Thai teachers walking around with suspect accredited credentials, there are quite a number who did virtually nothing to get their degrees besides attend the exams - should they fail, just try again.

According to a very reliable source of mine working in education, 50 per cent of civil-servant teachers are "unwilling to change" - they prefer to adhere to their ancient style of memorisation and that grades begot in class are of the utmost importance. I'm sure that there are plenty of foreign English teachers out there who have been completely bewildered as to why their supposedly smart grade 11 kids on being asked, "How old are you?" reply "I am fine thank you, and you?"

Those who are against education reforms feel that way because of self-security, idleness, or the benefits that are derived from teaching privates etc. Upcountry teachers in particular often earn more cash teaching kids at home than in the classroom, and even though it is against Education Ministry regulations, their houses are packed at the weekend and on evenings with kids completing their homework with the teacher's help - thus guaranteeing a decent grade. You can call it corruption.

Many civil-servant teachers on meeting their foreign counterparts can't wait to tell them about their low salaries of say Bt15,000 a month. What they do forget to mention however is their "rank pay", "relocation pay", "accommodation allowance' and "bonus pay" etc, which actually means they are raking in double the amount quoted. Above that, in comparison to foreign teachers, they receive all the benefits of the job and also a nice secure pension. Also unlike their foreign counterparts, should they do a rather pathetic job and spend half their day sitting around eating fruit and not attending to work with the flimsy excuse of "I must to go the bank" - they are never going to get the sack.

The Education Ministry has ordered that there is to be absolutely no payment of donations for school admissions this summer - that is, no tea money. They just have to be dreaming if they think the country's prestigious schools, both government and private, are seriously going to adhere to such a regulation. Without such donations, especially for private schools, just how are they going to pay for their latest statue, gold engraved plaque and swanky fountain?

In Thai there is saying for it, which goes, "Sprinkle on the parsley" - it doesn't matter how bad the actual thing is, just make sure it looks good on the outside.

A school may spend a few million baht on some kind of fancy pompous meeting hall, but when it comes to purchasing basic teaching essentials such as a simple cassette player or a decent photocopying machine - well, that is a matter for another day.

Much has been said about the standard of English teaching here, but how about the hordes of Thai teachers whose only lesson plan for the past 25 years has been, "Okay, open your book on page 31". Many foreign teachers, both male and female, must have been perplexed about the strict code of behaviour they are expected to adhere to such as, "Don't smoke, drink or bite you nails, even if it is your own leisure time, within a 500-metre radius of the school". In fact, Thai teachers expect a squeaky-clean moral standard from their foreign counterparts. As for the Thai male teachers, they can get completely plastered on alcohol, start a huge brawl and go home to their minor wives every night, and nothing is said. Should the foreigner attempt any such nonsensical behaviour he will be booted out the back door before he knows what hit him.

Talking about strict codes of behaviour, many Thai teachers, especially female ones, spend half of their day complaining to their girls about their haircuts and the length of their skirts. In fact, according to regulations, the girl will be punished more for a non-regulation haircut than bunking off school. Corporal punishment is now illegal in Thailand but some teachers have creative ways of bending the law, asking question along the lines of "Do you want me to hit you?"

I guess everyone has noticed that a lot of civil-servant English teachers, who despite earning Bt30,000 baht a month, can't even put a basic sentence together and still enjoy teaching their kids that lemonade and lemon juice are the same thing.

As for some of the examination papers that they have to prepare themselves, they are often flooded with inaccuracies. Again, should the foreign teacher dare cause the Thai teacher to lose face by being critical about their standard of English, he will have his probationary contract cut short… period.

Thai teachers may complain about their foreign counterparts, but a lot of the time having a foreign teacher in a school is just another opportunity for the school to look prestigious and make money - where all of that money goes, nobody ever seems to find out. Very handsome profits are made at fancy schools through the costs of lunch, uniforms, bags, passenger-van service and "holiday educational camps". Again, if a student decides against attending such events, his grade for the year won't be looking too hot.

I hate to say it, but unless the authorities take a serious look at the system and actually enforce the existing regulations, there isn't going to be much of an improvement for the next 50 years. And for the sake of the children, the brains of the future, any Thai teacher, and especially civil servants, who do not meet expectations ought to be given the red card, just like your average foreign teacher would in the same case.

Stephen Cleary

The Nation

Unquote

Much of this article seems to fit in with what is going on in most of the establishments and governmental departments whereby the staff are pracitcally untouchable and many just do not give a sod about being conscientious about their duties towards the people / children they are supposed to educate, assist and advise.

I have long thought their priorities and attitudes are self serving and a means of belittling those of us who have to depend on them.

As for schooling, we willingly pay decent fees for a good education for our children and from my experience of the last 2-3 years in particular the standards are constantly falling and it seems to be spreading across the whole system.

The fees as everyone knows are on the other hand raising every term.

We do NOT begrudge this but we should however ( and reasonably ) be able to expect the qualities to raise accordingly.

All employees of the state, from the top to the bottom, need to made accountable or suffer the consequences, otherwise things will continue to deteriorate.

" Professionalism " is the summing up in one word, anything less should not and cannot be acceptable.

Those that are not, are undermining those that are, IMHO

marshbags

Edited March 31, 2007 by marshbags

[jumnien]

I agree, since the coup there seems to be a degradation of all govt services across the board accompanied by a "blame the foreigner" mantra from the junta.

[ProThaiExpat]

As a falang living long stay in Thailand, I am most interested in understanding why Thais act the way they do as contrasted to western norms of behavior. What I have heard from first hand accounts from Thais who have gone through their educational system and for those "relatives" who are doing it now, the Nation article is spot on.

I have concluded that salaried Thais, perhaps because of their Buddhist religion, look upon their job as a means to obtain a paycheck and so they "put in their time" and nothing more.

Western concepts of career, advancement and dedication to doing a good job are just absent in Thailand in most cases. Examples abound whether it be waiters, dept. store staff, etc.

My son in law, an Australian, once said to me, "your daughter(an American) lives to work, I work to live". Such an attitude, regardless of country involved, is probably what we are talking about here in Thailand.

Having interviewed many for employment in the west in the past, I recall always trying to look for indicators in resumes that augured well for good employees such as much team sport participation, military service and the like. Working for oneself or project success were also much looked for.

I retired to Thailand with the view toward working as a teacher to keep busy, but abandoned the idea due to what I have learned about teaching in Thailand and the motivation of the students.

Anyone teaching in Thailand who is a falang has my utmost respect or is it sympathy for what they face on a daily basis.

[PhilHarries]

Western concepts of career, advancement and dedication to doing a good job are just absent in Thailand in most cases. Examples abound whether it be waiters, dept. store staff, etc.

I'm not a teacher but I couldn't agree more with you on that statement with respect to Thais generally. Thais consider all jobs, not just civil service, as being lifetime positions. They, generally, do not want advancement as that brings responsibility and pressure. I'm sure a lot of them watch the soap opera scene where the BOSS sits in a magnificent office in an immaculate suit staring dreamily at nothing and believe that is reality.

[Ijustwannateach]

Thanks for that, Marshbags. Although there are many dedicated and competent Thai teachers out there, too, I have witnessed every negative point he makes personally in Thai schools.

[Stephen Cleary]

Hope you enjoyed the article.

Steve Suphan (AKA: Stephen Cleary - Regular Columnist/The Nation)

[chevykanteve]

Hope you enjoyed the article.

Steve Suphan (AKA: Stephen Cleary - Regular Columnist/The Nation)

I certainly did enjoy it. You hit the proverbial nail on the head consistently. And this part I REALLY liked:

Whenever I asked for specific details related to the research, they hadn't a clue and it was quite obvious that they hadn't done any of the work themselves.

Their writing is so original, isn't it? They even "quote" each other.

[PeaceBlondie]

I agree with the opening post (that was you, Steve S? Ha ha!).

#1: Career Thai teachers earn a compensation far in excess of the 8k starting salary often mentioned. All things considered, many make more than the farang who has a bachelor's degree.

#2: Whilst there are farang teaching with dodgy acadmic credentials, many of the Thai professional teachers have worse.

#3: Farang can easily be fired or not have their contract renewed (for no reason at all). Meanwhile, unlike cold November rain, a Thai teacher can last forever.

[aussiestyle1983]

Excellent article. So many true points in that article.

[stevejones123]

Is 'raking it in' the correct erm for a salary of 30k baht a month?

[The Dan Sai Kid]

If the goverment would abolish the stupid sunshine policy and actually allow teachers to fail students then perhaps there would be motivation all round.

Students know they can swing the lead - and get away with it - and still be given a pass.

Teachers get so much paperwork that it's easier to just let things slide - and the boss only sees what paperwork is handed in...

[marshbags]

If the goverment would abolish the stupid sunshine policy and actually allow teachers to fail students then perhaps there would be motivation all round.

Students know they can swing the lead - and get away with it - and still be given a pass.

Teachers get so much paperwork that it's easier to just let things slide - and the boss only sees what paperwork is handed in...

In Udonthani there is a certain Mixed private school that has failed most of it,s P.6 students and they either stay on for another year or try to pass a test to enter one of the government schools.

One student i know presonally failed the entrance test but after an interview has now been accepted for the coming year.

The family has yet to find out how much they have to Donate to the school fund for this privilidge.

I feel really sorry for the hard working poorer students who will not be able to attend this school due to priorities of the school board and the enrollment of more wealthier ones.

This in turn just lowers the standards of the teaching while allowing the classes to expand beyond a realistic level ( i heard the figures of 60-65 )

How can this enable the giving of extra attention to the ones who need it / deserve it and most important of all, welcome it.

As noted the ones paying will never take their studies seriously and will go through life on the

" why bother when i can bribe my way to success mentality. "

How demoralising it must be for all the teachers who care and would wish to make a difference, both Thai and Farang.

I truly empathise with you and your frustrations.

marshbags

Edited April 1, 2007 by marshbags

[Khutan]

Hope you enjoyed the article.

Steve Suphan (AKA: Stephen Cleary - Regular Columnist/The Nation)

I enjoyed it also. What did Mr Jimmy say about it before going to print?

Please say hello to him for me, even though we live in the same Condo, I never see him too much any more.

[Scott]

It's not just in education, but in lots of things that you see this same mentality. I've been around a bit and you see a lot of people putting in their time. I've been expected to do the same and have about lost it because there was nothing to do, but I had to be there!

It's a different mentality toward work (as well as a different pace, but one found widely in tropical areas).

They may not have organized labor groups, but they sure know how to have a work "slow down"!

[PeaceBlondie]

It's not just in education, but in lots of things that you see this same mentality. I've been around a bit and you see a lot of people putting in their time. I've been expected to do the same and have about lost it because there was nothing to do, but I had to be there!

It's a different mentality toward work (as well as a different pace, but one found widely in tropical areas).

They may not have organized labor groups, but they sure know how to have a work "slow down"!

Hey Scott, you just reminded me of my first year teacing in Thailand. A nine-month contract that wasn't renewed, no work permit, no visa help, etc. - but only ten scheduled classroom hours per week, which only required about 35 minutes to prepare each class! The rest of the time, I couldn't leave campus, did not know how to wander around campus as if I were busy, couldn't use the internet, hardly had anybody to talk to, etc. So I spent most of the day in the teachers' staffroom, trying to look busy, reading over the same 200 pages, just wishing that Ajarn Sapachasa and Ajarn Rasameporn would bring me some impossible test question and answers, so I could lie about which one was the least worst answer. Mind-numbing. I never had the nerve to do what the younger, worn-out teacher did: she just slumped over her desk and slept.