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Posted

Teachers' council to revoke licences after university scandal

By The Nation

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The Teachers Council of Thailand has decided to take drastic action by revoking the teaching licences it has granted this year to 535 graduates from Esarn University, which has been suspected of peddling fake certificates.

"From our ongoing investigation, most of the graduates did not buy the diplomas," TCT chairman Ongkorn Amornsirinan said yesterday.

More than 850 other Esarn graduates will also likely lose the chance to get a teaching licence.

The Khon Kaen university was found to have sold degrees, including graduate certificates in teaching, to people who did not complete the course.

The blanket approach was necessary because Esarn's University Council told the TCT by letter on April 18 that it had decided to take back all the teaching certificates it had awarded this year.

Earlier, the University Council said 1,387 of its students graduated in teaching in the 2010 academic year. Of them, 535 have received a teaching licence and many of them have also passed the government exam for new teachers.

Ongkorn said that after the cancellation, these graduates could reapply for licences later if and when the problem is resolved.

He urged all Esarn graduates to volunteer information. Those cooperating with the TCT will be considered witnesses.

"We will give one more week to others to contact us. Failure to come forward means they will be treated as accomplices," he said.

Esarn University had conducted many offcampus classes for the programme offering a certificate in teaching, but without a permit, he said.

Since these classes were considered unofficial, their students would also be in trouble, he added.

In the wake of the Esarn University scandal, the Higher Education Commission has resolved to stop the offering of offcampus courses across the country.

The commission has long been concerned about the quality of the satellite centres.

Associate Professor Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, deputy secretarygeneral of the Higher Education Commission, said the prohibition would not apply to preapproved courses now ongoing.

"Where necessary, offcampus courses can still be opened too," he said.

There is hardly any need to hold branch courses anyway, given that there are well over 100 universities in the country, Kamjorn said.

"There are enough universities to serve people across the country now."

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-- The Nation 2011-05-06

Posted (edited)

How about they carry out some hostorical reviews over many years of licenses given. I'm positive that my stepson's maths teacher is incompetent after seeing some of his teaching dogma.

Edited by Garry
Posted

HUH????

1. In the wake of the Esarn University scandal, the Higher Education Commission has resolved to stop the offering of off campus courses across the country.

2. Associate Professor Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, deputy secretarygeneral of the Higher Education Commission, said the prohibition would not apply to preapproved courses now ongoing.

3. "Where necessary, off campus courses can still be opened too," he said.

:ph34r:

Posted

I just have two questions about this, ones that I suspect are being asked by many Thais out there:

1. Where do I sign up to apply for my refund of fees from E-Sarn Univ.

2. What Thai govt. office can I then go to to get a list of the other universities where I can buy a degree to replace the old one I just lost...

B)

Posted

Very poorly written and confusing article.

'"From our ongoing investigation, most of the graduates did not buy the diplomas," TCT chairman Ongkorn Amornsirinan said yesterday.'

Then why are "most of the graduates" being penalized?

"More than 850 other Esarn graduates will also likely lose the chance to get a teaching licence."

Even those students who made an honorable effort to complete degree requirements will suffer from this? Seems to me that it's not really about the money. It's about spending four years of one's life on something, only to have it taken from them. That's criminal. And that, much more than the money, would seem more than sufficient grounds for 850+ lawsuits (as many as 1,387?) in most parts of the world. What is the cost of four (plus?) years of one's life? Far more than the lost monetary compensation. Might a fine or penalty of say, a million baht per legitimate student, help the Thai educational system get its act together? Not so much money, per individual, but 1,387,000 Baht might be enough to gain the attention of the educational system.

Again, very poorly written and confusing article. Perhaps I've misunderstood it. But I don't think so. And just one of many poor approaches to educational problems in Thailand. What a mess.

Posted

The OP says students who contact them will be regarded as witnesses. I'm not sure how though as the TCT never answers their phones or responds to emails.

Posted

Have you tried sending some modest monetary contribution along with your communication to the TCT... Perhaps that would help in obtaining some response... :whistling:

"From our ongoing investigation, most of the graduates did not buy the diplomas," TCT chairman Ongkorn Amornsirinan said yesterday.'

I'll certainly agree about the article being a mess... What I presumed they meant was....they weren't going to go back and try to mess with all the teaching certif graduates from PRIOR years.... but confine their sanctions to those from the 2010 class.... Could be wrong about that...but that was my guess...

Posted

Very poorly written and confusing article.

'"From our ongoing investigation, most of the graduates did not buy the diplomas," TCT chairman Ongkorn Amornsirinan said yesterday.'

Then why are "most of the graduates" being penalized?

"More than 850 other Esarn graduates will also likely lose the chance to get a teaching licence."

Even those students who made an honorable effort to complete degree requirements will suffer from this? Seems to me that it's not really about the money. It's about spending four years of one's life on something, only to have it taken from them. That's criminal. And that, much more than the money, would seem more than sufficient grounds for 850+ lawsuits (as many as 1,387?) in most parts of the world. What is the cost of four (plus?) years of one's life? Far more than the lost monetary compensation. Might a fine or penalty of say, a million baht per legitimate student, help the Thai educational system get its act together? Not so much money, per individual, but 1,387,000 Baht might be enough to gain the attention of the educational system.

Again, very poorly written and confusing article. Perhaps I've misunderstood it. But I don't think so. And just one of many poor approaches to educational problems in Thailand. What a mess.

I seem to have omitted three zeroes. Where's the edit button? Should read 1,387,000,000, as opposed to 1,387,000.

Posted

Very poorly written and confusing article.

'"From our ongoing investigation, most of the graduates did not buy the diplomas," TCT chairman Ongkorn Amornsirinan said yesterday.'

Then why are "most of the graduates" being penalized?

"More than 850 other Esarn graduates will also likely lose the chance to get a teaching licence."

Even those students who made an honorable effort to complete degree requirements will suffer from this? Seems to me that it's not really about the money. It's about spending four years of one's life on something, only to have it taken from them. That's criminal. And that, much more than the money, would seem more than sufficient grounds for 850+ lawsuits (as many as 1,387?) in most parts of the world. What is the cost of four (plus?) years of one's life? Far more than the lost monetary compensation. Might a fine or penalty of say, a million baht per legitimate student, help the Thai educational system get its act together? Not so much money, per individual, but 1,387,000 Baht might be enough to gain the attention of the educational system.

Again, very poorly written and confusing article. Perhaps I've misunderstood it. But I don't think so. And just one of many poor approaches to educational problems in Thailand. What a mess.

I seem to have omitted three zeroes. Where's the edit button? Should read 1,387,000,000, as opposed to 1,387,000.

Knew what you meant. B) Edit ability is for a limited time only, then the post is stuck in place

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