The Thai Civil Service

[wangsuda]

Thai teachers employed by government schools and universities are uniform-wearing members of the Thai Civil Service. Yup, in addition to those great looking uniforms, Thai teachers get other great benefits that we, as excluded foreigners, do not get. In fact, many of these benefits are comparable to those offered to professional teachers in the US:

1. Kick-ass health insurance; much better than the standard government-issued health care offered to foreign teachers.

2. A vested pension after only ONE YEAR (better than the US) and payable in only 15 years (better than the US). OK, the amount is small, but it does take less time to get. PLUS, if you leave the teaching profession, you can claim your entire contributed amount WITHOUT penalty (better than the US).

3. Excellent credit opportunities for buying property and other big-ticket items.

4. Tenure. Just try to fire a Thai teacher.

5. The ability to transfer to other schools and locations WITHOUT losing seniority, benefits, or pay.

Now what if we could join? What if, after all the Thai culture classes and the TCT tests, the carrot at the end of the stick was being allowed to join the civil service? Would you do it? Yes or no? Why or why not?

[Briggsy]

Speak to most Thais and the majority would love to get a full-time civil service job, or state enterprise/government agency job with similar benefits.

People often focus on the salary which is often not much to write home about. But the benefits are often fabulous.

For example, staff at the NHA (National Housing Authority) were recently given the opportunity to take out loans of up to one million baht at 1% interest. Many simply borrowed it and reinvested it at a profit at the same bank that they borrowed it from.

[otherstuff1957]

I voted yes, but I would really have to brush up on some of my basic civil servant skills... like sleeping on the bus, sleeping in the office, etc...

[TerryLH]

"1. Kick-ass health insurance; much better than the standard government-issued health care offered to foreign teachers."

Other than it's for your whole family, what is better about this?

Coverage wise I don't see much difference between the civil service program and social security, which is what I assume you're referring to.

[Briggsy]

Don't forget the tea money, prestige & social status and some immunity from prosecution.

You don't need to trust me, just ask most Thais

a ) Why they don't work full-time for the govt?

b ) Would they like to?

Answers will probably be a ) can't get in/don't know anybody who can get me in & b ) Yes.

[PeaceBlondie]

I am confused. Recently on one of our countless threads that went on and on about all those Thai govt. teachers on salaries of 10K and 13K, I was told that my experiences (Thai officers making 28K to 68K, plus all those fabulous benefits) were the old guard, the middle-aged teachers. In contrast, most of the younger teachers do not get civil service, tan uniform-wearing status with the huge salaries after 10 years going up the ladder.

Wangsuda, I retired from civil service after 26 years of very difficult work, most of it overworked and underpaid. Not all civil service jobs are gravy trains. But I doubt we - who have increasingly more trouble even being legal - will be granted citizenship, etc. About the only near-civil service position farang that I know of are the university lecturers who are not even tenured.

Is the teacher's civil service corps even increasing, or are they a dying, retiring breed?

[wangsuda]

"1. Kick-ass health insurance; much better than the standard government-issued health care offered to foreign teachers."

Other than it's for your whole family, what is better about this?

Coverage wise I don't see much difference between the civil service program and social security, which is what I assume you're referring to.

Seems better than the BUPA plan I currently get. Definitely lower deductibles, too. OK, so maybe this one isn't all that great, but for those who have families it is.

[wangsuda]

I am confused. Recently on one of our countless threads that went on and on about all those Thai govt. teachers on salaries of 10K and 13K, I was told that my experiences (Thai officers making 28K to 68K, plus all those fabulous benefits) were the old guard, the middle-aged teachers. In contrast, most of the younger teachers do not get civil service, tan uniform-wearing status with the huge salaries after 10 years going up the ladder.

Then I guess I'm just dreaming. Sure would be nice to have some sort of light at the end of the tunnel.

Wangsuda, I retired from civil service after 26 years of very difficult work, most of it overworked and underpaid. Not all civil service jobs are gravy trains. But I doubt we - who have increasingly more trouble even being legal - will be granted citizenship, etc. About the only near-civil service position farang that I know of are the university lecturers who are not even tenured.

I, too, did the civil service bit as a teacher in California. And I agree, it is hard work with low pay. But once again, some of the benefits can outweigh the negatives (insurance, retirement, etc).

Is the teacher's civil service corps even increasing, or are they a dying, retiring breed?

Probably. IMO, the teaching profession is dying out world-wide. No one seems to want education. People can learn everything they need from telescreens . . . oops, I mean computers.

[Ijustwannateach]

I wouldn't mind it, but I don't think they could find uniforms that would fit me!

[PeaceBlondie]

I wouldn't mind it, but I don't think they could find uniforms that would fit me!

Surely, they do. My 11-year old student Note, who in Matayom 1 was far less than five foot tall, is now a strapping 15.7 years old and might have something to fit you. But even back then, Note preferred dresses. Steven, you would not look good in a size 7 dress.

[Ijustwannateach]

What about a 14?

[Naam]

Now what if we could join? What if, after all the Thai culture classes and the TCT tests, the carrot at the end of the stick was being allowed to join the civil service? Would you do it? Yes or no? Why or why not?

would you advice that i become a teacher teaching german in Thailand, be bored to death (as you obviously are) and ask silly questions whether anybody would like to be a retired headhunter drawing a pension from the government of Papua New Guinea? yes or no? why or why not? rain or shine? war or peace?

[ilyushin]

Yes! Where do I sign!?! Sounds great!

Forgot I'm already a G-man.

Foreigners can be under contract or memeber to the Royal Thai Government. Gotta be a specialist though.

[Xangsamhua]

Do farang teachers really get a chance to join the civil service nowadays? Years ago when teaching in the provinces I had a civil servant ID card, but it didn't make a scrap of difference to my rights and entitlements. There were no benefits that I can remember and, because I was a "civil servant" I had to do like my Thai karatchakarn colleagues and get permission from the Governor any time I wanted to leave the province (it was during a period of martial law, and in fact we only had to sign a register).

[ilyushin]

Do farang teachers really get a chance to join the civil service nowadays? Years ago when teaching in the provinces I had a civil servant ID card, but it didn't make a scrap of difference to my rights and entitlements. There were no benefits that I can remember and, because I was a "civil servant" I had to do like my Thai karatchakarn colleagues and get permission from the Governor any time I wanted to leave the province (it was during a period of martial law, and in fact we only had to sign a register).

Hello Xangsamhua,

You may have been under the National Economic and Social Development Board. The governors are direcly involved in such projects.

One of my previous government positions was with Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Office of the Prime Minister. You may have been part of DTEC.

FYI there are also other projects and programs where you get official military ranks (depending on qualifications) such as Captain in the Royal Thai Navy or Royal Thai Air Force as an official language instuctor or a Lt. Col under the Defense Energy Department (DED).

[Xangsamhua]

Do farang teachers really get a chance to join the civil service nowadays? Years ago when teaching in the provinces I had a civil servant ID card, but it didn't make a scrap of difference to my rights and entitlements. There were no benefits that I can remember and, because I was a "civil servant" I had to do like my Thai karatchakarn colleagues and get permission from the Governor any time I wanted to leave the province (it was during a period of martial law, and in fact we only had to sign a register).

Hello Xangsamhua,

You may have been under the National Economic and Social Development Board. The governors are direcly involved in such projects.

One of my previous government positions was with Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Office of the Prime Minister. You may have been part of DTEC.

FYI there are also other projects and programs where you get official military ranks (depending on qualifications) such as Captain in the Royal Thai Navy or Royal Thai Air Force as an official language instuctor or a Lt. Col under the Defense Energy Department (DED).

Very interesting, Ilyushin. Thank you. I didn't know about those things.

I was part of a joint project between the British Council and the Ministry of Education. It was in the early 70s.

[ilyushin]

Do farang teachers really get a chance to join the civil service nowadays? Years ago when teaching in the provinces I had a civil servant ID card, but it didn't make a scrap of difference to my rights and entitlements. There were no benefits that I can remember and, because I was a "civil servant" I had to do like my Thai karatchakarn colleagues and get permission from the Governor any time I wanted to leave the province (it was during a period of martial law, and in fact we only had to sign a register).

Hello Xangsamhua,

You may have been under the National Economic and Social Development Board. The governors are direcly involved in such projects.

One of my previous government positions was with Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Office of the Prime Minister. You may have been part of DTEC.

FYI there are also other projects and programs where you get official military ranks (depending on qualifications) such as Captain in the Royal Thai Navy or Royal Thai Air Force as an official language instuctor or a Lt. Col under the Defense Energy Department (DED).

Very interesting, Ilyushin. Thank you. I didn't know about those things.

I was part of a joint project between the British Council and the Ministry of Education. It was in the early 70s.

Xangsamhua any time. Many more government teaching jobs at various departments which are G2G or Thai G only.

Must have been cool program back in mid 70s. I was with ODP early 80s and that was great time. The ordely departure program has longs since departed. All kinds of positions in language, culture, admin, etc....

DED under the MOD Defense Industry and Energy Center have/had some really great programs for in-house teaching. I saw the program when I was working on a mobile oil rig for DED. All supported by the US Armed Forces. Language material were excellent and lesson plans a bonus.

Good luck.

ilyushin