Lesson learned: Thailand issues recruitment scam alert for assistant teacher gigs

Education officials in Thailand urged people to be wary of potential scams linked to the recruitment of assistant teacher positions. This warning comes after the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) received complaints about attempts to extract benefits from the special selection process for assistant teachers.

The OCSC is currently refining the selection criteria, aiming for transparency, fairness, and an absence of position trading. Prawit Era-wan, the Secretary-General of the OCSC, shed light on the issue. He stated that the OCSC has recently received complaints about attempts to extract benefits from the special selection process for assistant teachers.

The OCSC has advised applicants preparing for the examination not to fall prey to such scams. They are in the process of refining the selection criteria to ensure fairness, transparency, and an absence of position trading.

In addition, the OCSC is working to resolve the issue of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) not teaching according to the specialist subjects that are in shortage, said Prawit.

“The OCSC is in the midst of refining these criteria. By refining these criteria, we are focusing on ensuring that the regional education area Civil Service Commission (CSC) conducts operations according to the criteria and methods set by the OCSC, adhering to the principles of good governance.

“However, the new criteria will have a system in place to strictly check the determination of majors this time. Do not allow them to open in branches that do not have a shortage. If it is found that there is corruption or actions that may lead to corruption, there will be strict action.”

Teacher selection criteria

Surin Manpraso, the Director of the OBEC’s Office of Personnel Management and Legal Affairs, stated that he was aware of the issue and echoed Prawit’s warning. He advised all candidates preparing to apply for the assistant teacher selection not to be deceived, as the OBEC and the OCSC are in the process of refining the selection criteria, reported KhaoSod.

Therefore, there is no examination calendar yet. Once the criteria are established and approved by the OCSC, applications are expected to be accepted in February 2024 said Surin.

“For the criteria and examination methods that will be adjusted this time, they will address issues of corruption and factionalism, which in the past have seen some regional areas conducting exams in subjects that are not in shortage to give opportunities to their own factions. However, the new criteria of the OBEC and the OCSC will set standards to prevent such issues, and there may be discussions on how to standardise the exams nationwide.

“This could include having the central body set the exams, instead of the regional CSCs, to prevent issues of standardisation and potential benefits for factions. Even though this only affects a small segment, it still creates injustice and is incorrect, which the OBEC does not accept. Therefore, this revision of the criteria will block such avenues, but must be done appropriately and carefully, not solving one problem and creating another.”

In related news, a former Thai sailor ran an auction scam which led to accusations from nearly 200 people for the losses of 3 million baht. To find out more, read HERE!