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. 

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

12 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

"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. 

 

I have always told anyone who asks about teaching in Thailand that it's a nice paid vacation for a year or two, but if you don't tap into the international school system then it's not a good career choice. The largest private school system in Southeast Asia will start you out at 35k/month (they used to pay 30k for non-degree holders but immigration put an end to that), give you little to no pay bumps, and should you stick it out long enough to get close to 50k/month. they kick you to the curb. International schools start about twice that and all the additional perks make it an actual career.

[Quentin Zen]

1 hour ago, Drumbuie said:

"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. 

 

 

Never fails.  These International "teachers" get all salty, but I talked to these "teachers," and they talk about corruption, terrible management, high turnover, and unprofessional behavior.  Not one person told me these schools were worth it.  I'm not buying this anymore.  Just look at the worldwide rankings for universities.  Thailand's best is about 350th in the world.  lol.   The education system is an absolute joke and disaster, but these fake teachers never blame themselves.    Good schools??????  LOL.  I needed a laugh.  

 

"The proof is in the pudding," should be followed by English literacy in Thailand is generally considered to be "very low," particularly when compared to other ASEAN countries and the global average. Thailand's English Proficiency Index (EPI) score is consistently in the "very low" category, ranking relatively low both globally and within the ASEAN region. While English is a compulsory subject in Thai schools, the level of proficiency varies significantly depending on location, school type, and individual circumstances

 

[jingjai9]

Foreign teachers have become passe over the last 4 or 5 years. The demand for native speakers has softened at many schools as it is cheaper to hire a Filiino teacher at a lower salary; moreover, the Filipinos do not complain or make demands on Thai magangement. This would also apply to government schools as the savings on salary will find a pocket somewhere. 

The pocketbook issue will outweigh the merits of having a native speaker. Please let me know if I am off base but I have been in Thailand awhile and this seems to be the case and I am convinced that what I say here is rule rather than exception.

I do make an exception of course for international schools or some of the elite  private schools where tuition is very high  (part of the expense is the cost of higher salaries for native speakers).

Contracts are merely a show piece presented to immigration officials for visa extension. There really isn't the issue of  "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." Many of the contracts are unclear and virtually enable the employer to do as he or she pleases. Finally, if you have a problem with a private school your embassy will usually not help you.

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, Quentin Zen said:

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.  

 I taught and even got a degree and can assure you I don't have a back pack.  Spending cash a job to add to your CV and giving back are all reasons to teach

[DezLez]

36 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 I taught and even got a degree and can assure you I don't have a back pack.  Spending cash a job to add to your CV and giving back are all reasons to teach

I hope your degree and/or teaching was not in English!