Witnesses in cheating case face threats
Supinda na Mahachai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Key witnesses in the case related to cheating in the recruitment exams for assistant teachers have complained that they are facing threats and intimidation.

"They will need protection," the Education Ministry's inspector general Pisanu Tulsuk said yesterday.

He hoped the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) would give the case special status so witness-protection measures can be introduced.

The DSI found evidence showing several officials involved in the scheme, including two high-ranking ones at the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec).

Due to solid evidence of cheating, the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission will decide today on whether to invalidate the exam results. The DSI has recommended invalidation in four to five educational service areas where there is clear evidence of cheating.

The Education Ministry, however, believes only those who cheated should be disqualified.

Pisanu also believes that the cheating did not just take place in a handful of educational service areas.

"Available evidence suggests that the cheating might have taken place in as many as 129 educational service areas," he said.

The Education Ministry suspected that the cheating might have plagued the recruitment exams for assistant teachers after more than 500 test takers scored unusually high marks.

Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat said his office would set up another five fact-finding committees to investigate the alleged cheating in 10 more educational service areas.

"For the sake of transparency, we will appoint outsiders to the committees," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

los hub of dishonestly

Brings to mind "the Simpsons" episode Cape Feare where the FBI is protecting the family from Sideshow Bob but Homers not wearing his usual sleeveless White shirt-instead he's got a T-shirt with FEDERAL WITNESS PROGRAM emblazoned across it!

Thai Witless protection indeed..

Looks like exam cheating is a good business that needs protection.

Hey those PTP appointees have to make the big money some way. No rice in the school department

this is why "Crime Rules" because when a crime is uncovered, there is so much publicised that it gives the criminal time to counter act.

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

Of course those witnesses face danger, those in power in the ministry are totally inept and of course the exposure of those officials would cause them to lose face , however the loss of their current money making sinecure is the real danger problem.

Just think in a few short words the high and mighty pseudo official are exposed for what they in reality are illiterate full of animal cunning sly self protective self enriching manipulators who are bleeding the system for as much money as possible and short changing the schoolchildren and older students of Thailand thus further damaging the county's future development..

If these witness people can identify these shady characters issuing threats , these people should be put in the can ,It's just a gut feeling , I think there's more involvement from the so called top end of town, of course DSI will never be able to catch this lot.

so where are the pics of the witnesses, they usually put up pics of everyone else, how are those protesting going to find out who to blame if the papers do not name them

Why do they even bother to announce that they have found the cheating, have to have a massive enquiry, etc etc.

Just suspend those accused instantly, have the enquiry asap, and fire people if needed. It is this endless blabbing to the public about what is going on that puts the witnesses at risk.

The DSI found evidence showing several officials involved in the scheme, including two high-ranking ones at the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec).

Does it need to to have such a specific statement.

Could someone please tell me what an assistant teacher does? What their job actually is? I have taught in both Prathom and Mattayum schools and never came across one.

Not to worry.

If the DSI and Tarit get involved the fault will all be down to Abhisit, Suthep and the Democrats.

It couldn't be anyone else now, could it?

A recent poll did say that most Thais were comfortable with bribery and corruption and now it appears this form of Thainess has even spread into education.

You reap what you sow.

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

In short they are going to get the same quality of teachers as they do police and most other Gov. posts which are brought or gained not through ones ability to undertake the work but through the 'old boys' net work or family ties.

Sad thing is if resent polls are anything to go by the majority of the population are happy (albeit through stupidity) to accept corruption at all levels so things will not change.

the education system and most other services are so corrupt from top to bottom, how they think they will even fix this problem when it starts with education ....

glad that 75% of the people agree here with corruption IF it benefits them

nice mentality for the next 50 - 100 years

only a big megaflood can clean up this shit

He hoped the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) would give the case special status so witness-protection measures can be introduced.

Tarit is a good example, he gives "special status" to himself and what ever government is in power.

Several officials & two very high ranking officers involved, obviously they've worked out who did what so just name & shame them, what's the problem ??

As to the exam results, void them all & everyone has to sit them again..

Send the bill to the minister of education.

Words, words, words. There is no tea money in words. Make a big noise about overcoming corruption, and then go back to collecting the tea money.

Someone asked what an assistant teacher is. It is someone who doesn't meet the education standard to be a teacher. But they pass a test and maybe get something like TEFL. Then they are hired as an assistant English teacher, usually in a rural school. They just happen to be the only one closer than the moon who knows and can teach English, so they actually teach the class while a real Thai teacher who doesn't know English is in charge of the class.

Of course before long, the real teacher evaporates an the assistant continues to teach the class.

In all fairness, considered the need for NES teachers, and that the kids have no other way of having any English NES teacher at all, someone who has passed the proficiency exams and is a NES, and likes to teach is better than no teacher.

Not everyone who is certified as a teacher is willing to live in Sakon Nowhere and teach for peanuts. The Assistants fill the gap.

An example of how an assistant can be an asset is a school in southern Isaan. It is a small school where students come from 3 villages and stay in a dorm during the week. There is no one on staff proficient in English, and the classes were being taught by a Thai who's English was poor to say the least.

In that case, an NES who can pass a test is a big improvement, even if not up to par with a certified teacher.

In Thai culture, cheating on test is accepted as normal. I seen many Thai teachers help, or let students cheat on national test.

Thai government teachers/schools, will let students pass even when they fail.

Many Thai schools are a big joke!

Now you know why people here just site back an take it ..

or should I say bend over ....

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

Good ones if, TV Posters are to be believed. Most posts are about corruption and cheating so, these teachers can teach the next generation?

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

The entire society at all levels is based upon cheating and corruption. The teachers produced compliment the rest that society produces. Think about it.

Just put a broom through them all. No loss.

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

Good ones if, TV Posters are to be believed. Most posts are about corruption and cheating so, these teachers can teach the next generation?

If they need to cheat on a basic knowledge exam, what exactly would they teach when they do not know much themselves

So you do not believe TV Posters? or what exactly are you trying to say?

So if most of the employees have got fake qualifications (even those with worthless degree papers earned from being at uni for 4 years) then I dont see a problem with foreigners having dodgy papers

Brings to mind "the Simpsons" episode Cape Feare where the FBI is protecting the family from Sideshow Bob but Homers not wearing his usual sleeveless White shirt-instead he's got a T-shirt with FEDERAL WITNESS PROGRAM emblazoned across it!

Thai Witless protection indeed..

No it doesn't, there's no similarity at all. Why "Thai Witless" protection? Unless you're refering to yourself.

los hub of dishonestly

Original.

Hey those PTP appointees have to make the big money some way. No rice in the school department

?

I am not sure what they even need to think about.

If people are willing to cheat to pass an assistant teacher exam, what kind of teachers are they going to make?!

Maybe some of them could actually be better teachers than those totally unqualified "native English speakers" here masquerading as real teachers to the detriment of our children.

They may even have the goal of being a teacher from the start as opposed to being one as a desperate last resort in order to stay in Thailand.