Teacher Licence Requirement Dropped

[Loaded]

At Sor Tor 02115/1072

(Mins of Edu document number)

Ministry of Education

Bangkok 10300

August 5, 2009

Re: Teacher License for Foreign Teachers

To: Licensed Private Schools

Reference is made to the government’s approval for foreign teaches to work

in Thailand. The teachers who do not pass the government’s assessments and

requirements after the first two years, they are to pass the requirements of the

governments. Thai government announce as per following:

1/ Education Council allow foreign teachers who do not meet the

qualifications to continue teaching and allow the schools to

continue their employments.(consideration to be made on the

case by case basis)

2/ After the first two years of license approval from the Council, schools

are able to continue hiring their foreign teachers legally. The schools

must submit their statements stating their needs and their necessities to

employ their teachers. The Council will consider as per schools’ requests..

This is to announce for all concern.

Respectfully yours,

Mr. Bundit Sripuntangkoon

Director

The Private Education Commission

Schools under special policy

Tel 0 2282 9598

Fax 0 2282 9634

The original Thai version (scanned copy):

sheet__scan.doc

[elkangorito]

At Sor Tor 02115/1072

(Mins of Edu document number)

Ministry of Education

Bangkok 10300

August 5, 2009

Re: Teacher License for Foreign Teachers

To: Licensed Private Schools

Reference is.......

The original Thai version (scanned copy):

sheet__scan.doc

See above bolded, italicised & underlined.

[gosompoi]

Very good news if true!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Are they still asking for police clearances ?

[backsoon]

At Sor Tor 02115/1072

(Mins of Edu document number)

Ministry of Education

Bangkok 10300

August 5, 2009

Re: Teacher License for Foreign Teachers

To: Licensed Private Schools

Reference is made to the government's approval for foreign teaches to work

in Thailand. The teachers who do not pass the government's assessments and

requirements after the first two years, they are to pass the requirements of the

governments. Thai government announce as per following:

1/ Education Council allow foreign teachers who do not meet the

qualifications to continue teaching and allow the schools to

continue their employments.(consideration to be made on the

case by case basis)

2/ After the first two years of license approval from the Council, schools

are able to continue hiring their foreign teachers legally. The schools

must submit their statements stating their needs and their necessities to

employ their teachers. The Council will consider as per schools' requests..

This is to announce for all concern.

Respectfully yours,

Mr. Bundit Sripuntangkoon

Director

The Private Education Commission

Schools under special policy

Tel 0 2282 9598

Fax 0 2282 9634

The original Thai version (scanned copy):

sheet__scan.doc

Looking at the language of this document, the authors apparently learned their english from those unqualified teachers.

Looking at the content,- it gets more scary. What they are actually saying, is this:

'One must be qualified to teach. But if one is not qualified, he/she still can teach.

And the employers of such teachers do nothing wrong'...

GREAT! So why to hel_l bother with the document???

[Loaded]

Looking at the language of this document, the authors apparently learned their english from those unqualified teachers.

Looking at the content,- it gets more scary. What they are actually saying, is this:

'One must be qualified to teach. But if one is not qualified, he/she still can teach.

And the employers of such teachers do nothing wrong'...

GREAT! So why to hel_l bother with the document???

In Thailand it's called a face-saving 'compromise'.

[PeaceBlondie]

Are they still asking for police clearances ?

I don't think so if by "they" you mean the Thai police, education or labour officials.

[lectito]

I interpret it a little differently - normally you would need to be qualified, however if special circumstances exist an exemption can be applied for "(consideration to be made on the case by case basis)".

[Mario2008]

Are they still asking for police clearances ?

I don't think so if by "they" you mean the Thai police, education or labour officials.

Only some ambassies still seem to require a police check if you apply for a visa because you want to start working as a teacher.

[jfchandler]

And so...now...what would the same requirements be for government schools, as opposed to private licensed schools? Same situation (relaxed) or different requirements???

[Loaded]

I interpret it a little differently - normally you would need to be qualified, however if special circumstances exist an exemption can be applied for "(consideration to be made on the case by case basis)".

It's a face-saving 'compromise' Thai style for the TCT from the MoE.

Yes, you need the TL from the TCT, but if you don't have after your two-years waiver, you can still work legally and the school won't be punished for employing you.

There's a 20-hour culture course running at the Phucome Hotel in Chiang Mai today and tomorrow. It seems this 'certificate' will be as useful as a glass hammer

Edited August 16, 2009 by sbk

[twschw]

The school won't be punished but what about the teacher? It has been reported here on ThaiVisa that certain Immigration offices are not extending teachers visas without a teachers license. What effect will this announcement have on this problem?

[Mario2008]

The school won't be punished but what about the teacher? It has been reported here on ThaiVisa that certain Immigration offices are not extending teachers visas without a teachers license. What effect will this announcement have on this problem?

The TL was and still is only required for teachers at government schools, not including universities, at these immigration offices.

[skybluestu]

The school won't be punished but what about the teacher? It has been reported here on ThaiVisa that certain Immigration offices are not extending teachers visas without a teachers license. What effect will this announcement have on this problem?

The TL was and still is only required for teachers at government schools, not including universities, at these immigration offices.

I'm not sure that is 100% correct. Myself and three other foreign teachers needed a TL or waiver for our visa extension this year and we work at a private school. This latest announcement from the MOE re the TL seems to be applicable only to private schools though!

[Mario2008]

You could be right, I'm not sure of all the immigraiton offices that require the TL.

[gosompoi]

My Thai who works for the Thai Goverment education system verified this now up to the school if a TL is required but this does not mean immgration has changed the rules as to what is required for a visa.

[Ijustwannateach]

The certificates are certainly worthless, and will probably be dropped soon as the current and/or future governments find their own group of favoured MOE types to design their *own* 'courses'. In any case, avoid if possible; all reports show that these 'courses' are mediocre at best and at worst insulting, offensive, and unprofessional. A transparent fee-collection scheme of the highest order by many of those involved, though apparently some of the providers are at least not entirely despicable.

[elkangorito]

My place of work is still in the dark about all of this.

I have already indicated that I will not pay for any such license until the law is clear & final. This comment was met with a resounding "I agree". The only problem is Thai Immigration, who seem to be a law unto themselves. Even my Thai colleagues can't understand how people are treated differently according to the immigration office they attend.

In a nutshell, they have agreed with me saying that "this is silly".

Edited August 16, 2009 by elkangorito

[noahvail]

My place of work is still in the dark about all of this.

I have already indicated that I will not pay for any such license until the law is clear & final. This comment was met with a resounding "I agree". The only problem is Thai Immigration, who seem to be a law unto themselves. Even my Thai colleagues can't understand how people are treated differently according to the immigration office they attend.

In a nutshell, they have agreed with me saying that "this is silly".

Until the law is clear and final...until the change it again and make it as clear as mud!