Students with pierced ears, visible tattoos to be barred from vocational schools

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TATTOO
Students with pierced ears, visible tattoos to be barred
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM,
KANTAMANEE BAI-NGERN,
SIRIN SAMPAOTHIP
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- STUDENTS with wide ear-piercing and clearly visible tattoos will not be accepted for general study courses at public vocational schools in Bangkok and its outskirts next academic year.

The announcement of the policy has met with concern from National Human Rights Commission member Visa Benjamano, who said it would bar some students from receiving a chance to study, which was essential for their quality of life.

Adisorn Sinprasong, secretary of the Association of Private Technological and Vocational Education Colleges, said new students with large ear piercings would have to restore their ears to normal. Students with visible tattoos would have to study in the evening courses.

Adisorn said the agreement was made among the vocational colleges in Bangkok and its outskirts to ensure graduates of member schools have a good appearance and the opportunity for wide employment.

"Young people with large ear-piercings and tattoos are at risk of engaging in antisocial behaviour and violence," he claimed. "Many employers, such as official agencies and Japanese firms, do not accept this group to work with them. That is why we have to add this standard to student qualifications."

He said this student admission standard had been implemented by some schools for some time, but it was not widely publicised.

He added that most parents understood and approved of the decision, saying they were against body piercing and tattooing.

However, Visa criticised the new student-qualification standard as a violation of affected students' right to receive an education.

"All children have a right to education. They also have rights over their bodies. My stance is that body-piercing and tattoos are not an indication of antisocial behaviour and have no implication for the ability to study. They are just about fashion," she said.

"This new standard will cut the opportunity to be educated and improve the quality of life for some children, which will more likely to push them the wrong way. It would be better to let them study and give them a chance to choose the pathway for their lives."

Phatharapong Wongporn, the father of a Panyapiwat Institute of Management student, said he was satisfied with the policy.

"Tattooing serves a variety of purposes depending on individuals. It could be for cosmetic, spiritual, and fashion reasons," he said. "As a father, I conceive tattoos as a symbol of disobedience."

He said that although he was not against tattoos and untraditional piercings, he believed that some people still attached negative stereotypes to those being body-painted or having five holes in one ear.

A student at Bangkok Commercial Thonburi, Jutamas Promwong, also voiced support for the policy, saying such body art glorified aggression and violence.

"Even though tattoo wearers may view such displays as a way of self-expression, they are inevitably looked down on by other people. There is a high risk of them receiving negative evaluations from the vast majority of people. To me, visible tattoos and piercing are offensive and unprofessional," Jutamas said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Students-with-pierced-ears-visible-tattoos-to-be-b-30266021.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-06

[HLover]

Japan is deep in a recession, who cares if they won't hire people with tattoos?

[Bluespunk]

Stupid policy.

More and more I grow to respect the NHRC.

[daoyai]

Why not just initiate some anti discrimination policies so that foreign and Thai companies must hire on merit and ability instead of appearance? so that short people, with dark skin, northern accents or tats have an equal opportunity? oh wait, that would be progressive and democratic, never mind.

Edited August 5, 2015 by daoyai

[chrisinth]

I wonder if this ruling is going to be 'grandfathered' in, ie, will students already studying find that they will not be able to continue next year?

After all, it is a well known fact that tattoos make one really stupid and they probably shouldn't have been there in the first place.

What a load of bovine excrement.......................

[NongKhaiKid]

Now any youngster who's not interested in study knows what to do.

Sorry Dad the school wouldn't accept me.

[smedly]

This hairbrained piece of genius has nothing to do with the government, it is another misguided idea of some official that has to be heard to make him feel powerful, a common flaw amongst Thais that think themselves important, I would assume that someone with a bit of sense will step in and knock this on the head

[apetley]

Just combine it with the new alcohol ban.

Students with ear piercings or tatoos aren't allowed within 300 metres of a vocational college.

[Crazy chef 1]

Why not just initiate some anti discrimination policies so that foreign and Thai companies must hire on merit and ability instead of appearance? so that short people, with dark skin, northern accents or tats have an equal opportunity? oh wait, that would be progressive and democratic, never mind.

Or rather people who are real experts I their fields and know why they are doing....

[h90]

piercing and tattoo is important not IQ....how typical for Thailands education system

[arrowsdawdle]

Now any youngster who's not interested in study knows what to do.

Sorry Dad the school wouldn't accept me.

[arrowsdawdle]

When they wake up and realize that they have shoved Thais lower than blacks in Thai culture there will be a real smell the coffee moment and some serious backtracking.

[DM07]

I know what they mean!

I had me intalli...intelly...the brainy stuff tattoo'd out of me years agoo!

[thailand49]

I understand the decision but again the thinking is backwards time and time again. To attack the result instead of attacking the real problem before it happens. Just like the drinking shut everything down around the school like that is going to solve the problem. The educational system has failed their kids many are outcast at age 15, because the system just pushes along and then their High School do not allow them in because their scores are too low. These school are their only hope in life and that isn't much!

[Naam]

Japan is deep in a recession, who cares if they won't hire people with tattoos?

the Japanese companies in Thailand are not in a deep recession.

[halloween]

Now any youngster who's not interested in study knows what to do.

Sorry Dad the school wouldn't accept me.

If they're not interested in learning, their place can be taken by someone who is. Or do you think disinterested students unwilling to learn and forced to attend help others to achieve their goals.

[ikke]

This is called serving the Elite !

[NongKhaiKid]

When they wake up and realize that they have shoved Thais lower than blacks in Thai culture there will be a real smell the coffee moment and some serious backtracking.

Set up a committee to report in, say 6 months , on what visible tattoos might be acceptable.

What do they do with tattoos of a religious nature or expressing loyalty to the King, the nation etc. ?

[greenchair]

This is no different from saying.

You are fat, therefore you cannot enter the cafeteria at certain times.

You are poor, therefore you cannot mix with the rich kids.

You are black, therefore you cannot go to certain schools.

You are white, therefore you cannot study hip hop.

You are Muslim, therefore you cannot study in a budhist school.

The list goes on ,of excuses the private education can give to stop a person from learning or teaching.

The ministry of private education needs a crash course in the laws that are well above them. Namely, the constitutional right to learn and academic freedoms. National education madra 24 ( 6 ), among dozens of other education protection laws.

I hope these kids March right on down to the constitutional court and file a complaint against opec for interfering in a persons right to equal education.

[NongKhaiKid]

Now any youngster who's not interested in study knows what to do.

Sorry Dad the school wouldn't accept me.

If they're not interested in learning, their place can be taken by someone who is. Or do you think disinterested students unwilling to learn and forced to attend help others to achieve their goals.

You must know that some students are forced to attend classes, and that includes at uni level, by their family and yes they can be disruptive if they're able to exercise influence over others. I've had personal experience of this as has most who have taught / are teaching here.

[SussexExpat]

Makes perfect sense to me.

If your stupid enough to have tats your too stupid to be educated.

[DrTuner]

Next step, all to wear uniforms bearing the Army Jugend insignia.

[HLover]

And what if your too stupid to use the word "you're" and "your" correctly Einstein?

[halloween]

This is no different from saying.

You are fat, therefore you cannot enter the cafeteria at certain times.

You are poor, therefore you cannot mix with the rich kids.

You are black, therefore you cannot go to certain schools.

You are white, therefore you cannot study hip hop.

You are Muslim, therefore you cannot study in a budhist school.

The list goes on ,of excuses the private education can give to stop a person from learning or teaching.

The ministry of private education needs a crash course in the laws that are well above them. Namely, the constitutional right to learn and academic freedoms. National education madra 24 ( 6 ), among dozens of other education protection laws.

I hope these kids March right on down to the constitutional court and file a complaint against opec for interfering in a persons right to equal education.

Great rant, but how many barrels of oil should they be awarded?

The acronym you were seeking is APTVEC, and the P stands for Private. Which gives them considerable leeway over who they employ and the rules applied to their students.

BTW this is NOT the USA.

[Songhua]

lol. I'm sending a link of this to our son. He has a full sleeve tattoo and earrings, and is currently SELLING vocational & further education courses for a government-contracted agency in Australia. The company loves him and he does well BECAUSE his target market relates to him.

2015, Thailand .... get over it, it's what our future accountants and electricians look like.

[k9guy62]

Hmm....you know when the military junta first took over I thought to myself finally there will be some common sense decisions made for the welfare of the people, all the people. I have no idea where the rocket scientists that came up with the data that wide earring holes and tattoos automatically equals anti-social behaviour. Let's look at the corruption in every facet of government throughout the wonderful country of Thailand. Here's a news flash for the climate scientists responsible for the anti-social behaviour data. More corruption throughout Thailand gets committed by men & women with nice haircuts and nice suits.

The crimes these people perpetrate against the people of Thailand have cost the good people of Thailand millions of Baht and many their ways of life. Now along comes some brainiac that thinks that tattooed people and people with large earring holes will engage in antisocial behaviour. What a crock! There's a saying: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. How about the government keep its promises to the good people of Thailand and make Thailand a better place for all. The fact that a man or woman wants to go and is enrolled in vocational school already speaks volumes of the efforts of that person to want to better his life and make his country proud.

[gaijinsomchai]

And what if your too stupid to use the word "you're" and "your" correctly Einstein?

After chastising a poster for using your and you're incorrectly you go and do it Hlover. Ironic, isn't it?

[Bernard Flint]

I hope this ex general( cannot say PM), Does on good act and stops this silly decision, except where gang members are showing their group tatoos. Surely one decision is not beyond the realms of possibility EX GENERAL.

[Bernard Flint]

Hmm....you know when the military junta first took over I thought to myself finally there will be some common sense decisions made for the welfare of the people, all the people. I have no idea where the rocket scientists that came up with the data that wide earring holes and tattoos automatically equals anti-social behaviour. Let's look at the corruption in every facet of government throughout the wonderful country of Thailand. Here's a news flash for the climate scientists responsible for the anti-social behaviour data. More corruption throughout Thailand gets committed by men & women with nice haircuts and nice suits.

The crimes these people perpetrate against the people of Thailand have cost the good people of Thailand millions of Baht and many their ways of life. Now along comes some brainiac that thinks that tattooed people and people with large earring holes will engage in antisocial behaviour. What a crock! There's a saying: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. How about the government keep its promises to the good people of Thailand and make Thailand a better place for all. The fact that a man or woman wants to go and is enrolled in vocational school already speaks volumes of the efforts of that person to want to better his life and make his country proud.

This guy cannot make important decisions like the water shortage, dams in BK, etc etc.It is easy to make stupid laws, or trying to uphold existing laws, the man is an ex general, not a PM. Throw in a couple of nuclear submarines, and the spots are still not changing

[IamNoone88]

Call me old fashioned but I tend to agree with the Gov't.