Teaching job applicants to undergo fingerprint checks

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok: – Job applicants for the position of assistant teacher would be required to go through body search and fingerprint scan in order to prevent cheats on teaching professional competency testing.

Applicants for state-run schools have to pass the tests before winning the job contracts to fill limited and highly-competitive vacant positions.

The stringent test monitor is designed to foil any attempts by the applicants to hire imposters with falsified IDs to take the tests for them.

Basic Education Commission secretary-general KamolRodklai yesterday inspected a test centre, located at Phya Thai School.

Kamol voiced optimism that the introduction of the new monitor system would ensure a fair testing outcome free from cheats.

Some 25,535 applicants took the tests to compete for 5,430 vacant positions.

Of the total vacant positions, 305 winning applicants would serve in the strife-torn southernmost provinces.

The competency of applicants would be evaluated from scores of two written tests and an interview.

One written test was on the general knowledge and understanding of teaching professionals and another on specialised knowledge required for each position.

Each applicant would be required to choose one of 66 core subjects to teach.

The job interview is scheduled for today. And the outcome of the application test and review will be announced on March 6.

Each of 226 education zone is authorised to conduct the tests to screen applicants in order to ensure the credentials and qualifications specifically required in each zone.

Of the top five openings for assistant teachers, some 551 vacant positions are for teaching the social studies, followed by 547 for mathematics, 524 for English, 429 for primary education and 428 for computer courses.

[lust]

"305 "winning" applicants will work in the strife-torn south"

People are competing for these positions where schools are bombed, teachers are shot, students are shot? Do they know this? Interesting. Chok dee.

[Mister Fixit]

I do assume this is for Thai teachers?

If they took fingerprints of foreign teachers, there may be a few surprises ...

[nottocus]

Body search....is that a full cavity search?

I could help with that.

[Pib]

Hey, in order to allow you to endanger your life by teaching in a dangerous civil strife area we require you to undergo a body search and fingerprint scan before taking the teacher's proficiency test. Outstanding job recruitment approach.

[Ianatlarge]

The only real way to ensure that teachers (or anyone else) is competent is by personal verification. In other words, their lecturers and fellow teachers assess them as they study. Personal observation to check ID. In other words lecturers make the effort to appear at the exam venue, say hello and offer their best wishes to their students, this for several reasons.

[Ianatlarge]

I do get the feeling that the entire Thai education system is moving in the wrong direction.

[Lupatria]

I do get the feeling that the entire Thai education system is moving in the wrong direction.

Does it mean you still believe in that they are aware of any dircetion?

[razer]

They brought this upon themselves. A high percentage of teachers failed exams (implemented by the government) in their own field of teaching. How can they deliver any kind of quality education to the kids?

Edited March 1, 2015 by razer

[jamhar]

My email subject read

Crackdown on Bangkok street stalls; Farang teachers to undergo fingerprint checks; ThaiTech: This week's most talked about topics

So i was thinking, Great! more jobs for me!

But then i read the story and realized I had been HAD........... AGAIN, by the TV writers!

Gotta give'em high marks on creativity! I didn't see that one coming!

[andrewrooney]

They brought this upon themselves. A high percentage of teachers failed exams (implemented by the government) in their own field of teaching. How can they deliver any kind of quality education to the kids?

Do you think that reflects on the teachers, or on the people writing the exams? If the exams are anything like the standardized tests students take, or the test to get a driver's license, they could well be full of ridiculous, irrelevant, unclear questions.

[Suradit69]

The only real way to ensure that teachers (or anyone else) is competent is by personal verification. In other words, their lecturers and fellow teachers assess them as they study. Personal observation to check ID. In other words lecturers make the effort to appear at the exam venue, say hello and offer their best wishes to their students, this for several reasons.

"Personal observation to check ID."

When I was on the women's campus at a university in the UAE we sometimes had end of term exams with hundreds of students in an exam hall many of whom looked like this and some with not even their eyes exposed. Checking of IDs and faces could only be done by women and many teachers had never even seen the faces of some the students we taught. Quite an undertaking. Virtually impossible when giving tests during normal classes. And not difficult for a student to be connected by mobile phone to the outside world for "assistance."

It used to amuse me when a student came to my office totally covered in black and she would be somewhat surprised that I didn't instantly recognize her.

[SuwadeeS]

They let Thais teach English, who even can not have a small conversation with a foreigner. Or even speak properly. They should test these skills by native English speakers, and nobody would pass the test. Sick system.

Edited March 1, 2015 by SuwadeeS

[Jim walker]

we don't want cheats in Thailand what sort of example would this be to children being taught by a cheat

[bbbbooboo]

Another cunning plan by LOS to enhance teaching standards?

[rct99q]

Almost believed this was going to apply to Western Teachers thought to myself, great! Finally. Remember doing a training class in Bangkok with SINE. next to me was a guy from Phuket or Pattaya seemed okay. Had some different views of Thailand but hey. Gets posted just outside of Udon Thani. Next thing I know see his mug shot n Thaivisa as the main suspect in the killing of his girlfriend. The one in the upstairs apartment who was going to a party without him. Thought to myself good vetting of a prospective teacher with this group. But guess they were so desperate for teachers they took this guy and others under qualified.

But alas does not appear to apply for every teacher coming into contact with Thai children.

[soalbundy]

Body search....is that a full cavity search?

I could help with that.

I don't think that a lot of the male teachers would like that

[soalbundy]

The finger prints are necessary to identify your blown to pieces body after the first three months of duty.

[bkkcanuck8]

I do assume this is for Thai teachers?

If they took fingerprints of foreign teachers, there may be a few surprises ...

Yes, the surprise would be they have fingers..... seriously.... fingerprinting foreign teachers would be consistent since many employees get fingerprinted in Thailand but the database they would be matching to would be the Thai one.... which would not have any record of foreigners generally unless they have a record here... which would prevent them from entering the country anyways.

[bkkcanuck8]

"305 "winning" applicants will work in the strife-torn south"

People are competing for these positions where schools are bombed, teachers are shot, students are shot? Do they know this? Interesting. Chok dee.

Not a surprise, there will always be people dedicated enough to do their professions that you will always typically have competition for even the most war torn of areas. Foreign postings to the embassies in the green zone in Iraq when the country was completely insecure and mortars were falling daily.... always had competition for those positions. Some people are just dedicated to their professions.

[geoffP]

Never mind the quality, feel the width: "Each applicant would be required to choose one of 66 core subjects to teach."

And there are perhaps forty lesson-periods in each week. Can't help but wonder how many teachers, Thai or otherwise, who specialise in the twenty core subjects that there just isn't any time for?

[Suradit69]

They let Thais teach English, who even can not have a small conversation with a foreigner. Or even speak properly. They should test these skills by native English speakers, and nobody would pass the test. Sick system.

"They should test these skills by native English speakers ..."

If you're talking about testing the skills of "native English speakers" who want to teach in Thailand, I agree that quite a few would do miserably ... but do you understand who is called a "native speaker of English?"

A "native speaker of English" refers to someone who has learned and used English from early childhood. It does not necessarily mean that it is the speaker's only language, but it means it is and has been the primary means of concept formation and communication..

[26vinny]

nothing a few Baht cant sort out

[soalbundy]

A native speaker of English, i always thought that that referred to an Indian

[soalbundy]

what genius is going to check the finger prints ? they don't seem to check for finger prints at crime scenes even, so i should imagine the experts are thin on the ground.

[somchaismith]

I love the Thaivisa troll headline,

I bet there was a flurry of activity to get a look at this thread .

Edited March 1, 2015 by somchaismith

[DrTuner]

Deep cavity body search, that'll teach you!

[Doc46]

Hey, in order to allow you to endanger your life by teaching in a dangerous civil strife area we require you to undergo a body search and fingerprint scan before taking the teacher's proficiency test. Outstanding job recruitment approach.

This is so they can ID you when they find you body

[Thailess]

Really really really amazing thailand I loveee thailand ....a peaceful country of new laws generated every week in total of 130 new laws in 90 days...amazing I think this for only thai teachers though cos if farangs are suppose to check into that ...it would be awesome yet the educational system in Thailand look and sounds scary where by if a student fails is teachers fault and if a teacher fails student the teacher is bad and his contract as to be terminated .and yet biesides that the student only take few subject serious as most been learning english language and can't write simply my self essay...so I guess they should look into that because changing teachers every semester affect the student in so many ways ....

[crazydrummerpauly]

"305 "winning" applicants will work in the strife-torn south"

People are competing for these positions where schools are bombed, teachers are shot, students are shot? Do they know this? Interesting. Chok dee.

You are mistaken - the Thai system involves a national test for teaching positions and the successful entrants are sent to wherever the need is - the idea that Thai teachers get a CHOICE in where they teach at first is completely wrong. Later in their career they may request a change of location, but even then, there is huge corruption involved with cash flying under tables to get a bureaucrat to sign the permission-to-move document. Preference is given to those asking to move to an area where they already have relatives.