Please try to explain the current regulations regarding Thai people going back to school to get a teaching certificate.

Apparently there is a program with classes on weekends to get a teaching certificate in two years - if someone already has a bachelor's degree.

My son-in-law is so lazy he can't be bothered to change a light bulb.

Now he says he wants to be a teacher; how appropriate.

He has a bachelor's degree (only took 6+ years), and has been working as entry level staff at a local Thai school for a couple of years (no degree required).

Confusion and loud arguing reign around the house as he hasn't done anything toward this goal for the past year or so, but the explanation is just so convoluted it might be true.

He says that you can only enter this program if you have been hired as a teacher... i.e. you have to be hired by a Thai school as a teacher (get hired as a teacher although you don't have certificate), and then you can enter the teacher certification program.

It seems absolutely ridiculous, but that doesn't mean it isn't true...

What we're being told is that if a Thai person wants to be a teacher, you either have to get a bachelor's in education (5 year program) or get hired as a teacher and then enter the certification program. But of course, how many people are being hired as teachers if they aren't certified to be a teacher...

Appreciate any insight into this,

sign me stranger in a strange land

Yep he's correct, you have to already be teaching in order to apply. I wanted to apply for one of these courses so I could get my licence + improve my Thai, but won't have my letter etc from Krusapa before applications close, so will have to wait til next year.

The qualification is usually referred to as "Bor-Ban-Dit", although I think it's actually a graduate diploma, and is only offered by Rajabhat Universities (In the past these were teacher's training colleges or technical colleges) and I think should should take 1 year (not 2).

In order to get a job teaching, your brother in law can get a 2 year provisional teacher's licence, which can be obtained by anyone with a bachelor degree (provided a school sponsors the licence). This allows people to work as a teacher while still working towards a full licence.

Krusapa also offers seminars which, when all 9 have been completed, provide a full teacher's licence (Thai only). You need to be teaching in order to do the seminars.

thank you, that is helpful

thank you, that is helpful

Good info from Sly. Believe me there are large numbers of Thai teachers teaching without the right qualifications, especially in private schools. A number of them are in my school, and they are getting pushed to do courses/pass exams. I would think 1 year would be something equivalent to a GradDipEd and 2 years would qualify one for a masters. This is Thailand, though, so I could be wrong:)