Teacher Qualification in Thailand

A Qualitative Study of Teacher Qualification in Thailand:

Is a Bachelor of Education Need for Being a Teacher?

Rinrada Chaovalit
English 10, section 1008
Advisor Miss Orana Meenongwha
June 17, 2016

Teacher Qualification in Thailand

Teacher qualification in Thailand: Is a Bachelor of Education need for being a teacher?

Abstract
The research aims to evaluate the necessity of a Bachelor of Education for being a teacher in
Thailand. The research instruments were two data collections including reviewing literatures and
interview. The data was analysed by content analysis and then presented by description. The
research findings found that a Bachelor of Education is needed for becoming a teacher as stated in
the Teaching Council Act B.E. 2546, Section 44. Faculty of Education teaches students to learn
about pedagogy, methodology and technique to provide them with inclusive knowledge of teaching.
Due to teacher scarcity, this can affect school system that some schools need to hire teachers who
did not graduate directly from Faculty of Education for teaching such a short period of time.
Notwithstanding, the Teachers' Council of Thailand still gives an opportunity for students who did
not graduate directly from Faculty of Education by practicing of teaching for 2 years and testing in
order to obtain a teaching license and later become a qualified teacher.

Introduction
The direct way to become teachers in schools needed a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) is the
most basic requirement especially in Thailand. In elementary school, many states require teacher to
major or minor in education, whereas secondary school teachers are often required to have a
Bachelors degree in the subject that they wish to teach such as biology and mathematics since a
Bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for licensure. Teachers will receive a license in their
states through one of two paths, both involving in teacher education programs to guide and prepare
qualified educators. To become a licensed teacher, undergraduate students must learn about
pedagogy, instruction and technique to provide them with a comprehensive knowledge of teaching.
Nevertheless, in some cases, a Bachelor of Education is not required to become a professor
in the university. For instance, in university level, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in any branches of
study can be a professor since the minimum level of education required for college professors is a
Master's degree. A doctoral degree is essentially required to work as a full-time, tenure-track
university professor. Therefore, there is a question whether a Bachelor of Education is necessary to
become a teacher or not.

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Literature Review
Our society has determined a teacher who has necessary skills and abilities to take on
perhaps the most important job that is to pass culture and knowledge on to the next generation
(Rick, 2003).
Firstly, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many elementary schools teachers
have gained a Bachelors education degree; moreover, most middle and secondary school teachers
also completed a degree in the specific subjects. These degrees prepare graduates to meet their
state's teacher certification requirements which often include graduating from an accredited teacher
education program, completing a student teaching experience, and passing pedagogy tests (U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d.).
Secondly, as reported by Prof. Dr. Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech (2014), the Ministry of
Education of Thailand, his viewpoint stated that qualified people from every faculties who want to
become a teacher need to test Graduate Diploma Program in Teaching Profession and earn
professional teacher license from the Secretariat of the Teachers Council of Thailand instantly
without graduating from a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and teaching experience that are stated in
the law. In addition, conforming to Prof. Dr. Paitoon Sinlarat, the president of the Teachers' Council
of Thailand, the Teachers' Council of Thailand received claims about earning professional teacher
license from 2 groups: 1) Students who did not graduate from a Bachelor of Education claimed the
Teachers' Council of Thailand to issue professional teacher license automatically. 2) Students who
graduated directly from a Bachelor of Education claimed the Teachers' Council of Thailand that if
those students receive the professional teacher licenses, they can apply jobs easier than students
who graduated directly. Next, Dr. Suthasri Wongsamarn, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of
Education, will collect essential data from institutes that affiliated by Ministry of Education to the
Teachers' Council of Thailand specifically information about demand of students who did not
graduate from a Bachelor of Education to become a teacher. The Teachers' Council of Thailand
assured that this petition cannot take action absolutely. However, there is still one way for students
who did not graduate directly from Faculty of Education that if they teach in school for 2 or more
years, they will have rights to test for the professional teacher licenses and even if they do not pass
for the first time, they can retest when they teach in full 4 years (Dailynews, 2014).
Thirdly, according to the Teaching Council Act B.E. 2546, Section 44, the qualifications of
people who want to obtain professional teacher licenses must complete minimum age of 20 years

Teacher Qualification in Thailand

and having teaching experience at least one year; hence, the idea of the Ministry of Education
cannot take action because of against the law. In addition, Dr. Ongkorn Amonsirinant, Secretary of
the Teachers Council of Thailand stated that professional teacher licenses are greatly important
because teachers are as highly valued as those who are in the medical profession. Every teacher
must be practised properly with our great culture, be mindful of morals and ethics, and particularly
having a professional teacher sole. From the study case has shown that a computer teacher molested
students and parents of these students made a complaint to the court. Officers from the Teachers'
Council of Thailand investigated and found that the teacher did not have professional teacher
license and did not graduate from Faculty of Education. From this situation, the Teachers Council of
Thailand will investigate immediately through many schools for improving school system.
(Manager, 2012)
Moreover, there was the news that Khon Kaen-based E-Sarn University was finally being
closed down after it was found that the University had sold professional teacher certificates to its
students last year. As a result, the Teachers Council of Thailand revoked several hundred of its
graduates' licences. The Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC) set up a panel to
investigate the certificate sale and purchase scandal and also took control of the university's
administration. Some graduates confessed to buy certificates; therefore, the panel decided to revoke
the university's licence and the these students will be transferred to other universities. The licence
revocation was mainly because the university failed to follow the law with its finances (Kamchorn,
2012).
Since one of the biggest problems in Thailand is education. From the statistic has occurred
that Thai education system is one of the worst in Southeast Asia and is worsening every year.
However, Thai government still uses the same curriculum and method for choosing teachers without
sustainable development. Therefore, selecting teachers from any branches of studies may be the
next best choice to improve Thai education system.

Methodology
The researcher want to find out whether it is necessary to acquire a Bachelor of Education
for being a teacher or not. The researcher interviewed a 52-year-old teacher who has a Masters
degree in education, Chulalongkorn University. The researcher chose this method of data collection
because it assumes that this method can obtain more valid data than making questionnaires could

Teacher Qualification in Thailand

obtain. This explanation appears reasonable, and also it provides to discuss between the interviewer
and literature reviews for soundness of the study's findings.

Results
Data from the interview showed that she believed strongly that Bachelor of Education need
for becoming a teacher because students who did not graduate from faculty of eduction need to test
Graduate Diploma in Teacher Profession for obtaining professional teacher licenses to become a
qualified teacher. But in some cases, teacher scarcity may affect school system that some schools
need to hire those teachers who did not graduate directly for teaching such a short period of time. In
her opinion, if those students have ability for becoming a teacher, we should accept them.
When asked about her opinion on the process of thinking between students from faculty of
education and students from other faculties, she replied that there are still some parts that are quite
the same such as logic and learning process which can adapt to teach in schools. In addition, she
also stated that students who graduated directly from a Bachelor of Education is better than students
who did not graduate directly because faculty of education is not only about subject areas but it also
includes the process of thinking and teaching.
Finally, she recommended that Thai education system should be improved since the basic of
learning which is called educational change. This reform is not success yet, although education
personnel try hard to solve this problem for many decades.

Discussion
Comparing between literature reviews and interview, the research found that reviewing
literatures suggest students who want to be a teacher should graduate from a Bachelor of Education
as stated in the Teaching Council Act even though there are some conflicts from students who did
not graduate directly from faculty of education and the Ministry of Education of Thailand supported
this point of view. In the case of interview, the research findings found that the interviewer went
along with the policy of the Teachers Council of Thailand. Nevertheless, she also gave an
information that if students from other faculties have ability enough for being a teacher, we should
accept them. She also recommended that educational change should be developed constantly since
the basic of learning for improving Thai education system.

Teacher Qualification in Thailand

Conclusion
As a consequence, students who want to be a teacher should study faculty of education and
test for obtaining professional teacher license to become a legal teacher. However, Thai government
and the Teachers Council of Thailand still give an opportunity for students from other Bachelors
degree to test for teaching licenses. Nowadays, Thai education system need to solve the problems of
educational framework and find the solution for Thai education for sustainable development.

Recommendations
As literature and data have shown, there are some difficulties of hiring process of teachers
due to teacher scarcity. In order to solve the problems, the researcher suggests those who involved
as follows:
Thai government and associated agencies such as the Teachers Council of Thailand and the
Ministry of Education should administrate systematically in terms of teacher selection and
education framework. In addition, school administrators and teachers ought to consult to improve
curriculum in each school for appropriate process of learning. Lastly, the researcher encourages and
supports future research to study in the area of evaluation of education system in Thailand involving
teaching process of teachers in different schools.

References
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university-sells-teacher-certificates-loses-license

James, C. (n.d.). Education in Thailand: A Terrible Failure. Retrieved May 20, 2016,
from http://www.inebnetwork.org/news-and-media/8-news/329-education-in-thailand-aterrible-failure

Riley, G. (n.d.). How to Become a Teacher When Your Bachelor's Degree Is Not in Education? | The
Classroom | Synonym. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://classroom.synonym.com/
become-teacher-bachelors-degree-not-education-1910.html

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(2011, September 26). Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
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U.S. Schools Face Teacher Scarcity | News | The Harvard Crimson. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016,
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