A primary school in Kalasin province has drawn widespread criticism after advertising a temporary English teaching position with a monthly salary of just 5,500 baht. Ban Non Yang School in Kuchinarai district, under the Kalasin Primary Educational Service Area Office 3, published the recruitment notice on 1 July 2026.

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The school is seeking one temporary employee to work as an assistant teacher and English teacher. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in English, while the advertised salary is fixed at 5,500 baht per month.

Applications are being accepted in person at the school’s personnel office from 1 to 7 July 2026, between 09:00 and 15:00. The school said applications would be accepted throughout the period, including weekends and public holidays.

The recruitment notice quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread debate over the level of pay being offered. Many users questioned whether the salary would be enough to support even a basic standard of living.

Commenters calculated that the monthly salary equates to around 275 baht per day based on a 20-day working month. Several argued that this is lower than the earnings of many daily labourers, while others said food delivery riders working only a few hours each day could earn more.

Some social media users also questioned whether the advertised wage complies with Thailand’s labour laws. The discussion has renewed attention on the pay and employment conditions of temporary teachers in the country’s public education system.

The advertisement has also reignited wider debate over funding for public education and the reliance on temporary teaching positions with relatively low salaries. While criticism has focused on the advertised pay, the recruitment notice itself remains open to applicants under the published conditions.

Khaosod reported that there has been no response from the school or the Kalasin Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 about the announcement. Applications will continue until 7 July 2026, after which the school is expected to proceed with its recruitment process for the temporary position.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 3 July 2026

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"Pay peanuts, get monkeys"

Seems English is not high on the list of priorities at the Ban Non Yang School!

It is just a shame that someone with a bachelors degree is offered 5.500 THB a month for 20 working days. We all know that there are multiple activities outside the working hours and the working hours in Thailand are probably from 7.00 to 17.00 every day. There should be an investigation of what is done with the money the Thai Education Ministry is given for a teacher.. That is not much too but surely much more than the 5.500. I don't understand that people are not ashamed to offer such low salaries while the official day wage is 400 THB a day which is also too low for a teacher. And than the Government is worried about the economy.. How can people spend money if they can't earn enough to buy food. Or is Thailand only for the rich and famous and all other people they don't care about???

I really hope that Thailand will change to a monthly salary system with a minimum salary of 12k/14k a month for not more than max 6 working days and max 45 hrs a week. than all holidays are being paid and so are days off...

6 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I really hope that Thailand will change to a monthly salary system with a minimum salary of 12k/14k a month for not more than max 6 working days and max 45 hrs a week. than all holidays are being paid and so are days off...

Thailand standard work hours as stipulated under the Labour Protection Act is 48hrs a week, 8 hrs a day.

There are many administrative and legal reasons jobs are offered but the employer has no intention of employing any applicants.

Perhaps the administrators who are offering this position should try living on 5500 a month for a while.

17 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

There are many administrative and legal reasons jobs are offered but the employer has no intention of employing any applicants.

Golly, I wonder where the assigned salary goes in that case.

51 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

It is just a shame that someone with a bachelors degree is offered 5.500 THB a month for 20 working days. We all know that there are multiple activities outside the working hours and the working hours in Thailand are probably from 7.00 to 17.00 every day. There should be an investigation of what is done with the money the Thai Education Ministry is given for a teacher.. That is not much too but surely much more than the 5.500. I don't understand that people are not ashamed to offer such low salaries while the official day wage is 400 THB a day which is also too low for a teacher. And than the Government is worried about the economy.. How can people spend money if they can't earn enough to buy food. Or is Thailand only for the rich and famous and all other people they don't care about???

I really hope that Thailand will change to a monthly salary system with a minimum salary of 12k/14k a month for not more than max 6 working days and max 45 hrs a week. than all holidays are being paid and so are days off...

I'm forever blowing bubbles.......

57 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Thailand standard work hours as stipulated under the Labour Protection Act is 48hrs a week, 8 hrs a day.

never worked in school i suppose

Last school I was in teacher had to be in school 7 am to 17.00 and even on Saturday and Sunday, for meetings, preparing for celebrations, camps etc etc.. which was in fact every Saturday and 2 Sundays in a month

So they are basically saying we don't want to find an English teacher. Yes, failing to properly educate children can only hurt them when they are preparing to enter the working world.

The school is basically saying we don't truly value your child's future we just value the parents ability to pay the school fees

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

It is just a shame that someone with a bachelors degree is offered 5.500 THB a month for 20 working days. We all know that there are multiple activities outside working hours, and the working hours in Thailand are probably from 7.00 to 17.00 every day. There should be an investigation of what is done with the money the Thai Education Ministry is given for a teacher.. That is not much too but surely much more than the 5.500. I don't understand that people are not ashamed to offer such low salaries while the official day wage is 400 THB a day which is also too low for a teacher. And than the Government is worried about the economy.. How can people spend money if they can't earn enough to buy food. Or is Thailand only for the rich and famous and all other people they don't care about???

I really hope that Thailand will change to a monthly salary system with a minimum salary of 12k/14k a month for not more than max 6 working days and max 45 hrs a week. than all holidays are being paid and so are days off...

One other thing not mentioned is that even a temp must have a permit to work in Thailand. That, I am sure, costs more than 5500

If it is a couple of hours a day, then it might ot be a good gig for a retired person to pop in, teach for a few minutes, then go about their retired lives. If that was the case, hell, if it was closer, it might be something I would be interested in just to get out and about.

That's not even minimum wage in Thailand.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is just a shame that someone with a bachelors degree is offered 5.500 THB a month for 20 working days. We all know that there are multiple activities outside the working hours and the working hours in Thailand are probably from 7.00 to 17.00 every day. There should be an investigation of what is done with the money the Thai Education Ministry is given for a teacher.. That is not much too but surely much more than the 5.500. I don't understand that people are not ashamed to offer such low salaries while the official day wage is 400 THB a day which is also too low for a teacher. And than the Government is worried about the economy.. How can people spend money if they can't earn enough to buy food. Or is Thailand only for the rich and famous and all other people they don't care about???

I really hope that Thailand will change to a monthly salary system with a minimum salary of 12k/14k a month for not more than max 6 working days and max 45 hrs a week. than all holidays are being paid and so are days off...

It's not a full time position..but even pro rated would still be only just over 20k a month

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps the administrators who are offering this position should try living on 5500 a month for a while.

I am sure they will be inundated with wonderful applicants!

Teacher gets 5500 baht...the school admin gets the rest.... it's Thailand..😧😧😧

51 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

One other thing not mentioned is that even a temp must have a permit to work in Thailand. That, I am sure, costs more than 5500

Work permit cost Bt.3100.00 for 1yr.

1 hour ago, kingstonkid said:

One other thing not mentioned is that even a temp must have a permit to work in Thailand. That, I am sure, costs more than 5500

There's no suggestion that they're looking to fill the position with a non-Thai.

22 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Work permit cost Bt.3100.00 for 1yr.

Thai citizens don't need a work permit.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

while the official day wage is 400 THB a day

B349 in Kalasin for teaching positions, not B400.

That should be headline news around the world. It just shows how little the government and schools care about their children and teachers. They should be able to get another number 1 position in Thailand’s education rankings.

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Are you saying iam not correct with the cost of a work permit ?

No.

I've no idea what the official government fee is for work permits but, by doing some simple checking, it does appear that you are way off. As always, I stand to be corrected with accurate information and the source.

I know some Thai girls who won't get

out of bed for 5000 baht !

3 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Pay peanuts, get monkeys

We have a few monkeys here, i reckon they'll be bombarded with applicants

29 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

There's no suggestion that they're looking to fill the position with a non-Thai.

No none high in the right mind would accept that measly salary. Most people I know that have taught ESL for Thai schools have made between 25,000and 35,000 a month.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A primary school in Kalasin province has drawn widespread criticism after advertising a temporary English teaching position with a monthly salary of just 5,500 baht.

Anyone who has a degree, a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate, and a Non-B visa would be a fool to even consider it. Which means that the person they finally hire probably is working illegally.
That's just absurd.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

never worked in school i suppose

Last school I was in teacher had to be in school 7 am to 17.00 and even on Saturday and Sunday, for meetings, preparing for celebrations, camps etc etc.. which was in fact every Saturday and 2 Sundays in a month

Which is why I only worked for private English schools targeting adults and teenagers in a private setting.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

never worked in school i suppose

Last school I was in teacher had to be in school 7 am to 17.00 and even on Saturday and Sunday, for meetings, preparing for celebrations, camps etc etc.. which was in fact every Saturday and 2 Sundays in a month

The holidays are good though….

Troll posts removed.

3 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

The holidays are good though….

yes of course especially if they claim that no work is no payment for foreign teachers....so summer holidays no income

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

yes of course especially if they claim that no work is no payment for foreign teachers....so summer holidays no income

We don’t really know the ins and outs do we.

This may even be a part time position as well as temporary. In which case the salary might be ok as it would be less working hours.

Without seeing the actual advert it’s hard to say. And even then it assumes the advert is accurate and that a mistake hasn’t been made.

But never mind, social media is in full flow