Renewal Without Tct Waiver?

[BruceMangosteen]

Sure it has been mentioned, however duty calls and no waiver. Phone calls to the TCT not answered. Emails not replied to. Is this outfit out of business, and if so, can you get an extention of your VISA and Work Permit with only a letter from the school director and copies of your contract, tax paid, that basically all? Or, are people actually being denied and forced to leave the country and therefore the programs being left without experienced teachers and in complete disaray?

[aidenai]

You might want to have a look on thailandteaching.asia. Loads of information about The Teachers' Council of Thailand.

Good luck.

[Scott]

It may very well depend on where you are living. There are rules and then there are exceptions; exceptions often being more frequent than the rule.

I have dealings with two areas; Samut Prakarn and Bangkok. In both areas, we need a copy of the waiver to get the Visa and Work Permit taken care of.

I can't answer your question about anybody being denied, but I do know that we have had who have told to come back when they have the waiver or License. In those cases, the application had been made, but the actual waiver/license had not come through.

At this point, the Administrative Assistant would not take anyone to get their visa extended without it.

Other poster's experience may differ.

[BruceMangosteen]

I can't answer your question about anybody being denied, but I do know that we have had who have told to come back when they have the waiver or License. In those cases, the application had been made, but the actual waiver/license had not come through.

Told to come back when present yourself and paperwork without, equates to being denied. Thanks for your kind reply.

That brings me to my next question, perahps someone in this section knows the answer. If you don't have a return air ticket to your home country, or "out of Thailand", stating you are, or actually being in a state of flux, looking for a new school who can get the waviers, is obtaining a Tourist VISA in Laos or Cambodia any "problem"? I'm also curious if the "free" Tourist Visa's are on offer through the end of March, or is it March 1st they start charging again? Sorry to be posting this in the Teaching section but you seem like a nice bunch of guys and gals and the general public in the big sections can be a bit crass and mean.

I'm also curious why enrollment contintues to exceed seats, yet, there is no concern about filling the teacher slots.

[Scott]

In the event you don't get an answer to your visa questions here, I'd take a look at the Visa section of the forum.

As far as filling all the vacancies is concerned, I think there is a push on to fill some positions with Thai Teachers. I know a school that has a small English component to their program and it has been filled by Filipino teachers in the past. Recently, the Director told me she was under instructions to fill those positions with Thai Teachers. Whether or not that is a government directive or not, I don't know. It may be internal, but it flies in the face of what the parents want.

PS: These positions are for subject teachers, such as math, science and social studies.

[Phatcharanan]

I think there is a push on to fill some positions with Thai Teachers.

Recently, the Director told me she was under instructions to fill those positions with Thai Teachers. Whether or not that is a government directive or not, I don't know.

There may be something to this. At the weekends, I teach IELTS 60 hour prep courses to Thai teachers at a VERY large school. This school has a large IEP and EP program. About 60 foreign teachers in total. Your typical mix of young(ish) Brits, Americans, Philipino's etc with typical TESOL and CELTA quals.

The school requires the Thai teachers to obtain 5.5 in IELTS. The Head of EP (Thai) said this was a MoE 'requirement'.

The Thai teachers (highly motivated it has to be said) informed me that should they pass with 5.5 and above............they will be replacing some of the foreign teachers in the EP program. They will receive increased salaries etc. Hence the motivation.

I also note that the school is currently recruiting as well but now stipulate Ed degrees or those with PGCE etc.

Changing times for sure. The school is private by the way.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Phatcharanan

[Ijustwannateach]

There really are too many EP programmes out there now, especially once a few of them were wildly successful financially (and a smaller number successful academically). The problem is that there really are not enough well-qualified native-speaking subject teachers (math, science, history, PE, music, etc.) for these programmes and probably, at the moment, not even enough Thai students who really, really are functional enough in English to justify their existence.

Leaving aside the issue of the basket case that is the TCT, I afraid I must make an uncharacteristic illiberal statement: when it comes to SUBJECT TEACHING OF CURRICULUM (*not TEFL*), I am firmly on the conservative side- without some form of real credentials in the subjects taught and/or education, and the ability to show they can deliver it to students, I do not think foreigners should arbitrarily be let into classrooms for the teaching of subjects like math, science, etc. (I continue to believe that the barrier for TEFL teaching should be much lower).

It is unsurprising that, to fill in the gaps, high-functioning Thai speakers of English are being hired. Whether that will really work in *English* (or will they constantly just resort to Thai?) remains to be seen. Also will the parents continue to perceive such programmes to be worth their considerable expense without the excuse of paying higher salaries and overhead for foreigners?

It is going to be interesting times for many of the schools, and with luck, the worst and most excessively greedy and most poorly executed will fail- but that's never a sure thing given the twisted economics here. For sure, teachers should keep a keen lookout and be ready and willing to jump for better and safer harbours when they can.

[Scott]

I agree with IJWT on these issues. About 10 years ago, we quit hiring native English speakers as subject teachers, unless they were qualified in the subject. Much above the 3rd or 4th grade level, the subject material can get rather challenging without a background in the subject. By the high school level, my guess is that unqualified people do more harm than good.

Thus far, we have had no problem with getting a waiver for non-education degree people with a qualification in the subject being taught. When this will change I don't know.

[BruceMangosteen]

Renewed recently, no TL, no waiver, no TEFL, no degree(presented), no criminal background check, went alone. The office was quite busy. WP renewed as well, office not busy, no questions, nobody cared about all this "stuff".

Conclusion: I'm hired help, nothing more, such as a "teacher" or civil service employee. You are hired by the Thai government because they make money off you. We, which includes me, need to stop thinking we actually matter to anyone except the students. As a native speaker from the west who keeps her hands to herself, I think we can make a difference.

I don't know anything about private schools. Maybe that where all this hassle coming from?

[Mario2008]

Where did you extend your stay?

It really depend on the immigration office you are dealing with. You were lucky, other immigration office will not extend with out TL or valid waiver.

[naboo]

My work permit was extended a full year (March '12). My visa was only extended until the date of end of waiver on the letter (October '11). Immigration told me to get TL to extend my visa to the end of February.

I've got a PGCE and QTS. I've taught in the UK. I've completed the culture course. Now to test my school's ability to do something with the paperwork..... Hahahahaha! I'm probably going to Vientiene in October. Though the 500B I promised someone if she could get me a TL might actually mean something will happen.

[Mario2008]

My work permit was extended a full year (March '12). My visa was only extended until the date of end of waiver on the letter (October '11). Immigration told me to get TL to extend my visa to the end of February.

I've got a PGCE and QTS. I've taught in the UK. I've completed the culture course. Now to test my school's ability to do something with the paperwork..... Hahahahaha! I'm probably going to Vientiene in October. Though the 500B I promised someone if she could get me a TL might actually mean something will happen.

Recent posts suggest there are some changes pending and the teachers council doesn't seem to be issuing waivers etc till the dust settles down. Guess it's gonna take a while, while many teachers will need a new waiver for immigration/labour office. Hope they sort it out soon.

[aidenai]

Where did you extend your stay?

It really depend on the immigration office you are dealing with. You were lucky, other immigration office will not extend with out TL or valid waiver.

Absolutely.

@Bruce, you can't pull this in Prachuap khiri Kan, Nonthaburi, Nan or Krabi to name a few.

[aidenai]

I've got a PGCE and QTS. I've taught in the UK.

With these credentials you qualify for a TCT Teacher License. As the application of a teacher license can take 3 to 6 months of even years, you should have been given a provisional teacher license based on "teacher license in progress". That type of provisional teacher license doesn't have a expiration date.

[Phatcharanan]

I've got a PGCE and QTS. I've taught in the UK.

With these credentials you qualify for a TCT Teacher License. As the application of a teacher license can take 3 to 6 months of even years, you should have been given a provisional teacher license based on "teacher license in progress". That type of provisional teacher license doesn't have a expiration date.

Agree.

Sounds like the teacher is not at one of the better internationals? They do all this stuff for you.

[aidenai]

@naboo, here's an example of the provisional teacher license for applicants who qualify for the TCT teacher license. Show it your administration.

Please note that in April 2008 when it all started, many applicants, qualified or not, were given such a document.