Graduates In Uni Scandal Appealing Licence Loss

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Graduates in uni scandal appealing licence loss

By Panyaporn Saitong

The Nation

As many as 231 graduates from Esarn University, Khon Kaen province, have lodged complaints with authorities after the university's degreeselling scandal that has resulted in the cancellation of their teaching licences.

Many complainants had already been recruited as teachers, a complaint centre's director Sontaya Chathamma said yesterday.

"Without the teaching licences, their careers are endangered," he pointed out.

Sontaya said many other complainants had registered for tests that would give them teaching jobs if they were successful. Now that their teaching licences are cancelled, they have lost the right to sit the tests.

Last month, Esarn University's council decided to revoke the graduation of more than 1,000 graduates in courses for the graduate diploma for teaching. Its decision came after the university was found to have sold degrees and diplomas to many people. Some graduates had clearly not sat in any class but had been allowed to graduate.

After the cancellation, many graduates had seen their teaching licences revoked too.

Sontaya said yesterday that his centre, which reports to the Office of the Higher Education Commission, would receive complaints until May 31.

"We will review each complaint and supporting documents. For those who have really completed the courses, we will ask Esarn University's council to consider giving diplomas back to them. After that, they should be able to reclaim their teaching licences," he said.

Apart from Sontaya's centre, the Teachers Council of Thailand has received complaints from other institutes' graduates running into trouble because of the Esarn University scandal. For now, the council has only accepted complaints until May 2.

-- The Nation 2011-05-11