Foreign teachers being asked / forced to teach their Thai colleagues

[jaffas21]

Ok, so our school has now instigated with no notice btw a English language course for our Thai colleagues from A0 all the way to B2 (cefr levels) for 12 hours. Is it legal under the laws of the kurusapha to make foreign  teachers teach their colleagues? There is nothing in the contract about it ( but that has lots of latitude anyway it's been getting more vague for years) I spoke to labour who said it was the under the kurusaphas control. Anyway do we have to do it or can we say no. Does anyone have any info from the kurusapha's laws for foreign teachers on the subject? My investigation is ongoing but I could use some help .thank you. Needless to say three teachers were let go last year and their workload transferred to others so some people are v busy now so this is adding to it all.

[BenCrew]

Do you have a contract with a specific number of contact hours? If so, and this extra teaching exceeds those hours, you would have a case. 

When would the classes take place? I would want paying for after school hours or even worse, weekends!

I remember being asked once, but it was for a few hours during Summer School, which was no hardship.

[jaffas21]

No as I said they keep the contract vague about details such as that. They do pay 1000 baht a day for 8 hrs on a Saturday but I don't do that in common with most non Asian staff. We get nobbled two days a year for Saturdays normally a seminar that's completely in Thai or some competition, I was actually looking for a clause that said we are hired to teach school students not teaching staff in the ministry of educations regulations.

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, jaffas21 said:

Ok, so our school has now instigated with no notice btw a English language course for our Thai colleagues from A0 all the way to B2 (cefr levels) for 12 hours. Is it legal under the laws of the kurusapha to make foreign  teachers teach their colleagues? There is nothing in the contract about it ( but that has lots of latitude anyway it's been getting more vague for years) I spoke to labour who said it was the under the kurusaphas control. Anyway do we have to do it or can we say no. Does anyone have any info from the kurusapha's laws for foreign teachers on the subject? My investigation is ongoing but I could use some help .thank you. Needless to say three teachers were let go last year and their workload transferred to others so some people are v busy now so this is adding to it all.

Don't worry too much. Play along 'cause I doubt it'll last long. The Thai teachers will simply stop going because they don't want to be there either and the whole thing will die a natural death. As for being obligated to do it under Thai labor laws I'm not sure but if you don't the school will find/manufacture/make up a reason to sack you.

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, jaffas21 said:

Is it legal under the laws of the kurusapha to make foreign  teachers teach their colleagues?

I believe it will be, if you are not forced to work overtime at the same time.

[HappyExpat57]

A school I taught at tried this once. The Thai teachers didn't want to be there any more than we did. We all played along for a few lessons then it just kinda died on the vine.

[Quentin Zen]

Come on, my guy......salaries are around 30,000 baht for a reason.  Non-Natives everywhere for a reason.  Almost no real teachers.  All fake backpackers playing the game.  Taking a good picture is everything.   Gate duty is more important than anything for a reason.....Don't you know how bad this job is?   Turnover is super crazy for a reason.  Nobody can work in Thailand and make enough to retire here (you need about 15 million baht).   There are so many red flags, but it's good to come here and vent.  

 

Labor will never help you.  If they contacted the school, you are doomed anyhow.  So, here's the plan.  Don't do it, get sick, or go in and do almost nothing.  They will not fire you for doing nothing until the end of the term.  I've seen the worst of the worst not get fired for doing absolutely nothing.  walks in class, sits down, turns on YouTube.   So do that......don't waste your energy there.  Also, don't work in the same province.  

 

Or, go back to Labor, file a report, get a court case in Bangkok, spend about 100k and fight this!!!  Everyone knows you won't and can't.

 

100% you are at a bad school, now it's up to you to see if you leave.  if not, I hope next semester they make you teach nights, weekends, 4 am and then it's really only yourself to blame.   

[blaze master]

On 6/14/2025 at 12:39 AM, jaffas21 said:

They do pay 1000 baht a day for 8 hrs on a Saturday

 

Ouch. That's about 4 or 5usd per hour.

[Quentin Zen]

7 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Ouch. That's about 4 or 5usd per hour.

It's even better when these backpackers sign for 30,000 baht and think it's 30,000 baht.  Oh, no!!!  12-month contract, but only get paid for 10.  I've seen it.   Make them come in at like 7:30 and leave at 4:30, and all this extra stuff.  I ran the numbers.  It was like $2.75 an hour for the year, and that's not factoring in paying for their visa trip, etc....   I was a sucker for almost two years at two different schools.  I can laugh about it now, but back then it was terrible.  

[Drumbuie]

7 hours ago, Quentin Zen said:

Come on, my guy......salaries are around 30,000 baht for a reason.  Non-Natives everywhere for a reason.  Almost no real teachers.  All fake backpackers playing the game.  Taking a good picture is everything.   Gate duty is more important than anything for a reason.....Don't you know how bad this job is?   Turnover is super crazy for a reason.  Nobody can work in Thailand and make enough to retire here (you need about 15 million baht).   There are so many red flags, but it's good to come here and vent.  

 

Labor will never help you.  If they contacted the school, you are doomed anyhow.  So, here's the plan.  Don't do it, get sick, or go in and do almost nothing.  They will not fire you for doing nothing until the end of the term.  I've seen the worst of the worst not get fired for doing absolutely nothing.  walks in class, sits down, turns on YouTube.   So do that......don't waste your energy there.  Also, don't work in the same province.  

 

Or, go back to Labor, file a report, get a court case in Bangkok, spend about 100k and fight this!!!  Everyone knows you won't and can't.

 

100% you are at a bad school, now it's up to you to see if you leave.  if not, I hope next semester they make you teach nights, weekends, 4 am and then it's really only yourself to blame.   

"Almost no real teachers" - really? All the ones I know - and that's a lot of teachers  - have good degrees with post-grad certification, are teaching at good schools and are earning a lot  more than 30,000 baht.