Thailand's need for foreign teachers and the spread of Covid-19 a "balancing act" - Thai media

 

Image: Manager

 

Thai media Manager has said in a commentary piece that Thailand's need for more foreign teachers and the importance of keeping out Covid-19 infections brought in from abroad is a "balancing act". 

 

On the one hand the Thai education system is desperately in need of foreigners to improve standards in English.

 

On the other the kingdom needs to think about the spread of the virus. 

 

Already 165 Filipinos have been allowed in and they must quarantine. Comments made in a Thai Rath headline drew ire from the Philippines Consul General who complained to the editor. 

 

The letter outlined the fact that the Filipino teachers were complying with all Thai virus regulations. The exact nature of the headline that caused "deep dissatisfaction" to "brothers and sisters in ASEAN" was not articulated.

 

 

Manager noted that the Philippines had the worst Covid-19 infection rate in all of ASEAN. 

 

Meanwhile the media said that 3,000 foreigners were waiting in the wings for final approval to come to schools in Thailand.

 

However this is just a  fraction of the number of foreign teachers that are required - and that assessment came from the Education Minister himself. 

 

Manager said that at the turn of the year before the pandemic took hold Nataphol Teepsuwan had put the figure of foreign teachers required at between 10,000 and 28,000. 

 

Whether the Thais can get anywhere near that number in the pandemic era is now a hot debate. 

 

Do the Thais accept that their standards in subjects like English have to be put on hold or do they let foreigners in to teach and risk the possibility that they might bring the virus with them despite stringent measures put in place to prevent its spread?

 

That is the question.

 

Source: Manager

 

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must be painful, as painful as tooth extraction, for the Thai people to admit and say that they actually need foreigherns help at something, and of all, the need of lowly paid teachers, what next? that they actually like the farangs that are staying here?...

Edited August 15, 20206 yr by ezzra

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

was there not a wonderful project to teach the teachers so farang english teachers would never be needed again ?

 

wait, I got a thai solution to this problem :  NO MORE ENGLISH teaching in schools allowed, only THAI

When they enforced the "must have a degree" in anything to teach (for a work permit), they greatly reduced their access to good teachers. To compensate for low applications many dropped the requirement, must of an English language teaching certificate and relied only on a degree in anything. So getting teachers without qualifications. Our kids go to good schools in a big city and the teachers they have teaching English are at best a 5 out of 10.

Salaries are still stagnant at 30 000 bht thus nothing to motivate people to come I was hoping the pandemic would help to increase salaries... alas...

48 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

I can see why you're grumpy, with all that nonsense rattlin about in your head: "just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over." and  racist too "No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English".

I quite like it. No, I quite like it.

Ok, I'm ready to teach. When can I start?.... Oh wait. I can't get a NON-B Visa inside the country. I better get an embassy letter. sad but true. 

Ok, Thailand might not survive without foreign teachers.. 

But how in the world is Thailand supposed to survive without tourism? 

Won't the economy completely collapse soon?! Can someone explain this to me? 

Edited August 15, 20206 yr by hobz

Why am I laughing?

Just what I was thinking, ask the teachers to hold on and hopefully force the Thai schools to increase the salaries and benefits, as it has been going down, or staying the same for at least 15 years! 15 years ago I got paid 45K and now even those schools have reduced the money to 33-35K

1 hour ago, Grumpy John said:

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

Such misguided, superior laden  rhetoric smacks of the same Thainess that you pointed out. The so called "Queen's English" is a name contrived by this who either fail or refuse to recognize the international contributions that have been made to that language.

1 hour ago, Grumpy John said:

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

 

Geez talk about a British redneck hick. You are so ahead in life that you have to post here rather than in some British expat post or newspaper... wanna bee buzzzzzzzz

Edited August 15, 20206 yr by LazySlipper

Satisfying to know that these Filipino teachers all complied with all Thai virus regulations and brought their 'bits of paper' stating they were Covid-free, money to pay for their 14-day quarantine in a Government hotel -- and all had the $100,000 US medical insurance with them??? ????????????

 

I shall have to investigate the possibility of using a Philippine Medical Insurance company when I return -- they are obviously much cheaper than in Europe!

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Already 165 Filipinos have been allowed in

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The letter outlined the fact that the Filipino teachers were complying with all Thai virus regulations

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Manager said that at the turn of the year before the pandemic took hold Nataphol Teepsuwan had put the figure of foreign teachers required at between 10,000 and 28,000.

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Do the Thais accept that their standards in subjects like English have to be put on hold or do they let foreigners in to teach and risk the possibility that they might bring the virus with them despite stringent measures put in place to prevent its spread?

 

That is the question.

So , the Philippines can ' export ' english teachers while Thailand need to ' import them ?

What is the fundamental difference between those 2 countries ...?

The Philippine education system seems to work much better than Thailands ...

 

The general overall picture is clearly illustrated in Thailand’s lowly and worsening position in the PISA educational tables.

22 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

 

 

So , the Philippines can ' export ' english teachers while Thailand need to ' import them ?

What is the fundamental difference between those 2 countries ...?

The Philippine education system seems to work much better than Thailands ...

 

Better reread your history book.  I believe that from 1900 (Spanish American War) to 1946 the Philippines' were basically a colony of USA.  That is where the English ability started.  

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

However this is just a  fraction of the number of foreign teachers that are required - and that assessment came from the Education Minister himself

What do they expect? The salaries haven't increased in a minimum of 10 years, more hoops and hurdles to jump through to work here legally, additional nonsense added to work schedules (e.g. gate duty, working weekends, endless reports, etc., etc.), passing students who don't deserve to be passed, little, if any, professional development and, to cap it all off, irrespective of how long you've lived here or howuch you've contributed, you're still treated as a foreigner having to do 90 day reporting, practically impossible to obtain a credit card and even something as simple as getting a post paid package for a mobile phone is extremely difficult. 

Then, there's socializing with the locals: blank stares, grunts and I don't know, I don't understand. 

Despite beautiful beaches and the exotic nature of the place, overall it isn't the most attractive package I'm afraid. 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

On the one hand the Thai education system is desperately in need of foreigners to improve standards in English.

I don't think bringing in Philippine teachers is going to help that... accept keep the costs down.

3 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

A smart Thai in Power would indeed ask for some help from the Expat Community.

I for one would volunteer some of my time to Educate the Children in my Village.

As one of only 3 Expats ( that I know of ) in the Village, I am positive that we , between us could help out these Children and their School.

OK, I realise that as a Teacher some of my skills would be lacking, but surely to learn even a little is better than not learning at all.

Unfortunately, the Authorities prevent people such as myself from volunteering due to some really draconian Laws, Etc.

 

Reduce their requirement of having a degree. Look for capable people not idiots with degrees. I took a TOEFL qualification before coming to Thailand and was told by the tutor and classmates that I would be an excellent teacher as I was a proficient actor and taught another language.

Only to come here and find they don't want good teachers, they want people to be seen as so-called educated or indoctrinated as I would term it!

You could have a degree in farming and know buggery about grammar and still get a job teaching English here if you come from one of the desired countries which I am from. Makes no sense! Welcome to the abnormal as opposed to new normal!

19 hours ago, rooster59 said:

On the one hand the Thai education system is desperately in need of foreigners to improve standards in English.

 

Before Thailand employed big numbers of foreigners to teach English ,  Thailands ranking was one of the worst in Asia for the standard of English spoken.

 

It still is.  You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

 

The very idea that if you have a native speaker at the front of the classroom the students will be more interested in the subject and their English will improve has not been born out by results.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

On the one hand the Thai education system is desperately in need of foreigners to improve standards in English.

All they are looking for are native English speakers who are willing to work long hours for little compensation in a job market where they are still paying their NES teachers no more than they did over a decade ago.
What they want are obedient backpackers who are ignorant of how they are being used, abused, and then jettisoned.
But now that market has dried up as the government places restrictions on foreigners entering the country.  The average backpacker-type isn't going to negotiate that regulatory gauntlet as well as paying the additional costs of insurance and quarantine just to come and teach at a low-paying job with absolutely no job security for an employer who treats them like livestock or house-pets. 
It's no big deal.  The average Thai really doesn't want to learn English. 

3 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

was there not a wonderful project to teach the teachers so farang english teachers would never be needed again ?

 

wait, I got a thai solution to this problem :  NO MORE ENGLISH teaching in schools allowed, only THAI

I seem to remember that the PM wanted the World to have Thai as its second language instead of English, but maybe I just dreamt it!

Just now, sambum said:

I seem to remember that the PM wanted the World to have Thai as its second language instead of English, but maybe I just dreamt it!

He was just joking 

There's no balancing act at all, since every "imported" teacher goes through the full 14 day quarantine - just a balance between xenophobia and reality.

4 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

A smart Thai in power would ask for help from the ex-pat community to get qualified English speakers into schools...just for one year till the Wuhan China virus silliness is over. Immigration and Educators work together to smooth the way.  There would be enough Aussie's and British ex-pats out there in the community.  No sense in bringing in Flippers who speak American English, all those lovely kiddies need to learn the Queens English so they can get ahead in life.  

Philipinos speak American English wish a Spanish like accent mixed in with their native Tagalong tones.  Just so you know it's actually Canadian "North American dialect" which is the most sought after in the world of ESL. The Canucks have very clear pronunciation ( unlike us Americans), , and they have a North American accent which is clearer to the Non Native English speaker unlike Queen's English.

only 20-25 year olds & good looking need apply (unless you're fliipino and so much cheaper)

I was teaching in Bkk in 2005 to the end of 2006. I was being paid 45k with a few perks which all changed after my first coup experience. I witnessed first hand the change in attitude to us western teachers and how my fellow teachers were sacked/got rid of and replaced with Philippine teachers who did not speak real English but "Pilipean English" but were only being paid about 30-40% of an native English speaking teacher. The english level in schools started to fall very fast. I also witnessed the exodus of expats as I also did after my second coup. People on here seem to comment with very little actual first hand experience. I love Thailand which makes all this very, very, very sad. I sometimes wish I could be like some on here with their "I'm alright Jack" attitudes without having any epiphany to others. 

All Thai kids in the future will be speaking English with a Filipino /American accent.

Thailand teachers need to teach Reading ,Writing & Arithmetic + World Geography & History.

Social studies +accepting being wrong & losing FACE.