Rotten System Discourages Quality Teachers

[webfact]

CHALK TALK

Rotten system discourages quality teachers

By Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

There is an adage that the future of students lies in the hands of teachers. But what about teachers - in whose hands do their futures lie?

During the time students spend at school and institutions for higher degrees, teachers may be one of their sources of inspiration. They could also be inspired by their parents, as well as personal goals and their friends. But teachers are there to guide them towards the desired course.

Because of the guidance, a friend of mine, who finished her Mattayom 6 from a Khon Kaen school 25 years ago, still makes contact with one of her high-school teachers.

The teacher is nearly 20 years older, but she understands the nature and potential of all students. Thanks to her openness to new things, as obviously seen through her colourful costumes, she never criticised students' attitudes.

As my friend was quite rebellious and could not stand the strict dress code and other restrictions, this teacher who graduated from Chulalongkorn University strongly recommended her to go to Thammasat University. It was also the teacher who talked her to pursue another foreign language (that was Japanese at the time), after saying that French was a dying language.

Yes, she saw through the student, as she was the only teacher in the French language department. In a way, she had been with the students from Mattayom 4 to 6.

As my friend observed, in class, the teacher prepared her instructions well and she never told students to stay late at school. She never offered to provide a special tuition session after school in return for fees.

My friend recalled that when she was in Mattayom 6, the teacher surprised her by giving special training to two students from the province's most famous school. It felt like a kind of betrayal, my friend said. How could she do that when she never considered doing the same for students at her own school? More importantly, these students would become key rivals in an upcoming university entrance exam.

Only after that did my friend learn that the teacher received a special request from a younger schoolmate who taught at the leading school and considered that these two students deserved better tuition.

My friend had high praise for the teacher because of her decision to pursue another foreign language - German, over 10 years ago. As she said earlier, French is now spoken in fewer countries. She had to undergo an intensive course that spans two years to become a German language teacher. Notably, she had three small children then.

All that surprised my friend. After all these years, why is the teacher is still conducting foreign language classes at the same school? She earns a higher salary and has higher official ranking, but there is no sign she could one day become a school principal, as she is approaching retirement age.

During their recent conversation, the teacher revealed more details in a pained voice. She had passed the relevant test and had extensive experience, plus a Master's Degree, as required. But on seeking to become the principal of a school in the province, she was told she had to pay nearly Bt1 million to the people in charge of promotions.

She knew that those who paid such a sum could make money by admitting extra students to their schools, above the level specified by the Education Ministry. With that money, within a year, she could recoup the sum paid for the higher position.

But the professional teacher thought while she might benefit from this, students were at a disadvantage. We all know that with too many students, teachers have to work harder and efficiency drops. She opted instead to retire with pride than get a higher ranking she had to pay for.

She is disgruntled with the system, and we should feel the same. The system will go on and on, discouraging good but neglected teachers, if our society honours wealth and position above the quality of people.

As National Teachers' Day comes today, we should all think more about the future of our teachers.

Chularat Saengpassa

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

[KhunBJ]

Nice well written interesting piece, there are actually quite a few well qualified and motivated teachers out there, but the system unfortunately rolls over them again and again...but nice to read this story..good positive .

[Scott]

Interesting and well done.

[Reallush]

Nice well written interesting piece, there are actually quite a few well qualified and motivated teachers out there, but the system unfortunately rolls over them again and again...but nice to read this story..good positive .

totally agree with you, my gf who's a teacher said the same as she came to my village.

the kids don't get the full education what they should get.

it's not always the teacher.. it can be the school limiting the teacher as well.

[TheWalkingMan]

Interesting article and once again shows that money really is #1 in many places.

TheWalkingMan

[KKvampire]

The Recent OECD figures showed that Thailand students had the lowest standards of Literacy , numeracy and language skills in the region, Behind Vietnam , Malaysia.

Its a cultural problem mixed with a poor education program in Thailand and any young graduate of a good standard is unlikely to want to be a teacher when salaries are so low and the restrictions with changing from one public school to another if you are not happy at a school or want some promotion.

[pogal]

This is the norm for almost any occupation in Thailand. Corruption and money is the only way up.

The farang teacher's future is in the hands of fellow Thai teachers who often have problems with farang teachers and are jealous of their higher paid positions. How many of you teachers out there have problems with the Thai staff and bosses at your school?

Farang teacher's ideas on how to try and improve the (English language) education system are almost never heeded.

Clashes in culture and language always result in the farang teacher lucking out. This is why the English language remains so low here despite the large amount of time studying English.

[Loaded]

... The farang teacher's future is in the hands of fellow Thai teachers who often have problems with farang teachers and are jealous of their higher paid positions. How many of you teachers out there have problems with the Thai staff and bosses at your school?

Farang teacher's ideas on how to try and improve the (English language) education system are almost never heeded.

Clashes in culture and language always result in the farang teacher lucking out...

In my experience friction between foreign teachers and Thai staff is usually due to misunderstandings due to massive difference in cultures, expectations and behaviour and nothing to do with money.

All ideas have to be suitable for a Thai context, and if those ideas are unsolicited and presented in a way that bypasses respect for the hierarchy of the school, they will be ignored.

I don't think farangs 'luck out'. They just don't understand how things work and they often make little attempt to show respect for how Thais do things.

There is often an arrogance that surrounds farangs and their comments in Thailand IME.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Loaded

[a99az]

Never mind the quality feel the width. In this case the width of the wad.

Sadly I don't think things are going to change any time soon ether. I get the distinct feeling that there are a lot of schools making a bit on the side, with kick backs from people who provide food, builders and suppliers right the way up.

Very soon the teachers at my school will be tacking an all expenses, four day trip to Pataya, as one teacher put it, "for the teachers to relax 555" That money about 500,000 Bth, could be used to buy useful things like projectors and screens for the class rooms. I would not wish to say what school here but.........

[quandow]

I've been teaching in Thailand over four years now, and understand the frustration felt by all.

From the students' perspective: they will pass their courses whether they work or not. It is an All Pass System here, they cannot fail. And, even if they apply themselves and graduate from a Thai university, the best they can hope for (unless they have influential family connections) is a menial job that will pay top about 15k baht/month. As a result, why bother trying?

From the teachers' perspective: regardless how hard we work, we are not given positive recognition, we cannot let a student fail regardless of their effort or attitude, and their seems to be no logic to decisions made that affect both students and teachers. As a result, why bother trying?

See a recurring theme here?

It's heart-breaking to see the level of corruption at the principal level - 1 million baht to secure your position?!?!? I am surprised that this story has been allowed to venture onto the internet and wouldn't be surprised if it gets shut down.

[Tanaka]

Never mind the quality feel the width. In this case the width of the wad.

Sadly I don't think things are going to change any time soon ether. I get the distinct feeling that there are a lot of schools making a bit on the side, with kick backs from people who provide food, builders and suppliers right the way up.

Very soon the teachers at my school will be tacking an all expenses, four day trip to Pataya, as one teacher put it, "for the teachers to relax 555" That money about 500,000 Bth, could be used to buy useful things like projectors and screens for the class rooms. I would not wish to say what school here but.........

Why would you not say what school it is? It is not classified information but it might be interesting if any of the readers have children in said school. And where does the money for the trip come from? And who incited the trip? Maybe it is a yearly event?

[thaicbr]

quandrow............."the best they can hope for (unless they have influential family connections) is a menial job that will pay top about 15k baht/month."

Not really sure were you got this info from but i think it's very misleading.. 15k is pretty much the starting wage for a university graduate with an average score. BUT any student that has applied themselves can hope and find A LOT more... depending on what they studied.

(obviously if they got below average then they will get a lower wage)

Most will not earn a huge wage but 25-35 thou is common (and thats an OK wage here in Thailand) with many more earning much higher. As they progress through their careers.

[Loaded]

I always hear foreign teachers complain how everyone passes regardless of their test results. However, this is exactly the system that was in place when I went through the UK school system many years ago. You could fail every exam, not attend class but you progressed to the next year. It seems little different to the Thai system.

[Scott]

I have had one student years ago here in Thailand who was held back. He also failed, but he was a Prathom 1 student and his parents concurred. He just really wasn't mature enough for G. 1. He graduated last year and did relatively well. He had a strong 'B' average.

I think the problem comes in high school. The difficulty is that students can't fail a subject, such as Math, and repeat just that class. They would have to fail the whole year. A little like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[Scott]

A note to posters:

We don't allow 'naming and shaming' of schools, for legal reasons. The OP is a general article about the state of education and the condition of teachers. Please feel free to post on that, but specific schools are best left out of the discussion.

Thanks.

[KhaoNiaw]

I always hear foreign teachers complain how everyone passes regardless of their test results. However, this is exactly the system that was in place when I went through the UK school system many years ago. You could fail every exam, not attend class but you progressed to the next year. It seems little different to the Thai system.

True. It took a truly exceptional case for anybody to be held down a year in the UK when I was at school.

At the (private) university I work at here, there's no problem with failing students.

Edited January 10, 2011 by KhaoNiaw

[andiron]

There is a certainly a problem and not a small one.

My wife and I have placed our daughter (age 13) in a new local school that was supposed to have a good English program. The reality of it is that it is pitiful. Her days are often 12 hours long and her and other students often have to stay late. This makes her miss her bus.

The English program at this school has had a number of teachers, some foreign, but none have stayed. The quality of the English teaching is pathetic. I teach her at home and I do the same for math.

It is a shame as many of the students are eager to learn but are soon discouraged. There is no work ethic whatsoever. Homework consists of copying things verbatim from books and handing it it without understanding what they have done.

English, like it or not, is the business language of this world and it certainly is the premier technical and engineering language. Learning it is a skill that would have many practical benefits. The are many English speakers here who could be a great help for English classes, perhaps even as assistants or some other title that would appease those arrogant people who think all foreigners are unworthy lower forms of life.

I will have to move my daughter to a private school where she will actually be able to learn something.

Last but not least, a quality education is essential to the success of any nation or people.

[hungryhippo]

You hear these kind of stories over and over again however no one ever does anything about it.

We have political protests from two different groups yellow and red shirts about stupid things which don't matter. A temple on the cambodian border.. letting Taksin back into the country. Fact is the people deserve the government they get. No political party cares about the vast corruption of the system.

Maybe if people like this teacher can round up enough people of her own she might be able change the political agenda to more important topics rather then the current stupidness that infects the current parties and TV headlines.

Edited January 11, 2011 by hungryhippo

[Scott]

The quality of teachers is a function of multiple variables. First, is the amount of work given to the teachers and in Thailand there is a lot of extra and less than necessary tasks. There are stringent rules (at some schools) about checking notebooks, about making sure all students have completed all the copying, that every line is checked, that the handwriting is neat etc. etc. Second, there are some schools with very large classes that make all this work nearly impossible to do, not to mention the frustration of trying to teach such large classes.

Finally, there is the issue of educational level and pay. Many teachers who are fairly well educated are forced to teach a subject well outside their field of expertise. This is frustrating. And the pay level is rather low for the amount of work.

[Shock]

... The farang teacher's future is in the hands of fellow Thai teachers who often have problems with farang teachers and are jealous of their higher paid positions. How many of you teachers out there have problems with the Thai staff and bosses at your school?

Farang teacher's ideas on how to try and improve the (English language) education system are almost never heeded.

Clashes in culture and language always result in the farang teacher lucking out...

In my experience friction between foreign teachers and Thai staff is usually due to misunderstandings due to massive difference in cultures, expectations and behaviour and nothing to do with money.

All ideas have to be suitable for a Thai context, and if those ideas are unsolicited and presented in a way that bypasses respect for the hierarchy of the school, they will be ignored.

I don't think farangs 'luck out'. They just don't understand how things work and they often make little attempt to show respect for how Thais do things.

There is often an arrogance that surrounds farangs and their comments in Thailand IME.

I have constant problems with the Thai school administration as well as my fellow teachers.

They take great pleasure at 'spying' on the farang's classes - hanging around outside the glass door like bats, observing everything we do in class just so they can report it to the Assistant Director.

I have even gone outside the classroom and asked them to leave as their presence was causing a distraction for my students.

A fellow teacher just got hauled over the coals for an insignificant matter after the Thai teachers went to the director and 'told' on him.

It's not a question of respect - I and my fellow teachers adhere to school rules and Thai culture and show the necessary respect. But unfortunately some Thai teachers act more immature than my Mattayom students and we've been told in no uncertain terms by our Thai head teacher that it's because of jealousy over our pay grade.

[Scott]

In many years of working in administration for a Thai school, the issue of pay differences has not been mentioned as a point of contention. We have numerous foreign teachers married to Thai Teachers and it would come up if it were a serious problem.

The single biggest factor that I have seen is when there is not mutual respect between Thai and foreign teachers. We have a few Thai teachers who simply do not like foreigners. They can't squeak out a good morning, they don't smile and their physical demeanor toward foreign teachers is one of distance and dislike. Interestingly, those Thai teachers have the lowest functioning students in English and the most behavioral problems for foreign teachers. There personal prejudices outweigh their desire to have their students learn.

Of course this cuts both ways, but foreigners who have this problem will usually find themselves out of a job.