How To Determine If A Tefl Course Is Moe Certified?

[gk10002000]

I am very close to taking a TEFL class in Thailand. However, after looking as carefully as I could to the websites of several TEFL schools/classes, I don't see any independent way to verify their claims that they are recognized or certified or approved by the Thai Ministry of Education (MOE). In fact, one school that wrote back to my email asking about it, showed an example of the diploma they give to graduates of their TEFL course as proof the school was MOE certified. Just because the diploma asserts MOE certification is not Proof!

I found three TEFL companies online that explicitly assert they are MOE certified or recognized. Is there anything such as MOE certificaiton for TEFL courses? If there is, is it required for anything? I would think the MOE would provide a list of currently certified TEFL places?

Thanks

[aidenai]

Several TEFL/ TESOL and CELTA educational centres are certified and licensed by The Ministry of Education to conduct TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA courses.

However, this doesn't mean that the holder of a TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA certificate is certified and licensed to teach in educational institutions falling under The Ministry of Education.

For teaching in primary and secondary schools, Thai and foreign teachers must hold a teacher license granted by The Teachers' Council of Thailand. Holding a TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA certificate is not one of the requirements. Holding a university degree, having more more than one year teaching experience and possess knowledge on the level of a degree in education or a Graduate Diploma in Education are. If a teacher doesn't possess the second and/ or third requirement, the teacher can apply for a provisional teaching permit.

Having said all this, it doesn't really matter whether the TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA course provider is licensed. After all it's the organisation and establishment that is MOE-certified. Not the content of the TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA course.

Edited March 12, 2013 by aidenai

[gk10002000]

I understand what Adenai said about Several TEFL/ TESOL and CELTA educational centres are certified and licensed by The Ministry of Education to conduct TEFL/ TESOL or CELTA courses.

My question is which ones and how do I verify that? I have asked several of the centers that make the certification claim but none have put forth any evidence, except the one center that just referenced the TEFL class completion certificate they issue to graduates of the course that says it is recognized by the MOE! Well, maybe, but just putting it on the diploma doesn't make it factual.

THanks

[Loaded]

If a school can provide paperwork for a non-immigrant B (for teaching) or ED (for Thai study) visa it is licensed by the Thai MoE.If it can't, it isn't licensed.

Also, they should publish a school license number on their website. Check accreditation pages. To check the number, you'll probably need to contact their local education office. Alternatively, you could ask them to scan and send to you a copy of the license. They might be reluctant to do this though because of fears of fraud.

The license applies to the school. However, there are license attachments for each course (English, Thai and TEFL etc.) the school runs. The license attachments are curriculum that have been approved and inspected by their provincial office of the Thai MoE. Again, you could request a scan to confirm but they may be reluctant to forward digital copies of school documents.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Loaded

[gk10002000]

If a school can provide paperwork for a non-immigrant B (for teaching) or ED (for Thai study) visa it is licensed by the Thai MoE.If it can't, it isn't licensed.

Also, they should publish a school license number on their website. Check accreditation pages. To check the number, you'll probably need to contact their local education office. Alternatively, you could ask them to scan and send to you a copy of the license. They might be reluctant to do this though because of fears of fraud.

The license applies to the school. However, there are license attachments for each course (English, Thai and TEFL etc.) the school runs. The license attachments are curriculum that have been approved and inspected by their provincial office of the Thai MoE. Again, you could request a scan to confirm but they may be reluctant to forward digital copies of school documents.

Not a bad idea, but most of the TEFL education facilities are not schools so I don't think they deal with work permits. Most have been extremely dodgy. Only one school has replied to me. The last email contained two documents written entirely in Thai so at the moment they aren't revealing much to me.

Surely, somebody besides me has asked for a TEFL teaching places' MOE certification proof or how to verify it? "SEE TEFL" advertises here on Thai Visa and they assert that they are MOE certified. Since Thai Visa allows their advertisement, does that add any credibility to SEE's claim?

[Loaded]

If a school can provide paperwork for a non-immigrant B (for teaching) or ED (for Thai study) visa it is licensed by the Thai MoE.If it can't, it isn't licensed.

Also, they should publish a school license number on their website. Check accreditation pages. To check the number, you'll probably need to contact their local education office. Alternatively, you could ask them to scan and send to you a copy of the license. They might be reluctant to do this though because of fears of fraud.

The license applies to the school. However, there are license attachments for each course (English, Thai and TEFL etc.) the school runs. The license attachments are curriculum that have been approved and inspected by their provincial office of the Thai MoE. Again, you could request a scan to confirm but they may be reluctant to forward digital copies of school documents.

Not a bad idea, but most of the TEFL education facilities are not schools so I don't think they deal with work permits. Most have been extremely dodgy. Only one school has replied to me. The last email contained two documents written entirely in Thai so at the moment they aren't revealing much to me.

Surely, somebody besides me has asked for a TEFL teaching places' MOE certification proof or how to verify it? "SEE TEFL" advertises here on Thai Visa and they assert that they are MOE certified. Since Thai Visa allows their advertisement, does that add any credibility to SEE's claim?

Thai government documents are written in Thai. If they were written in English, it would be suspicious.

Any organization that runs regular classes has to be registered with the MoE. Many aren't because there is very little enforcement of rules in Thailand. You see courses run from hotels, resorts and apartment rooms in Thailand. These are not 'schools' registered with the MoE. If an organization is licensed as a school, they can issue non-immigrant B visas and work permits for teachers.

Allowing an advertisement doesn't add credibility. However, as SEE can issue non-immigrant visas and they have a license number on their website that anyone can check independently, I would say these are good signs.

Edited March 15, 2013 by Loaded

[Scott]

Thaivisa does not have a formal vetting process, but you can rest assured that most of the sponsors are this board have been well vetted by the membership.

On a more personal note, I have hired teachers that attended the course offered by SEE Tefl. They definitely knew their stuff.

As noted, nearly all official documents from the Thai gov't, will be written in Thai. Oh, and by the way, forging a Thai document is very, very much frowned on. I know a young lady who did that and she got to spend some time in jail.

[isawasnake]

I would not worry about that MOE at all. In fact, I would not even worry about the certification, but that is another matter.