Volunteer Teachers Staying Away From Thailand

[kenhyde]

I run a project putting native English volunteers into schools in Phang Nga. These are schools that cannot afford to hire Native English Teachers. The volunteer teachers teach for nothing.

This week 1400 children will not receive lessons from English speakers.

The media portray Thailand as a seething cauldron of violence, so the volunteers are cancelling.

Do these children have a voice? No

Do they matter? Of course they do, they are the future.

I think the Americans call this 'collatoral damage', a euphenism for innocents affected by somebodies' actions. The term is a way of distancing one from the affect of one's actions.

I came here after the tsunami, gave up my home and college post in the UK, we were working for the recovery of the area following a natural disaster and it was the right thing to do. Now the teaching is being threatened by people's actions. I feel rather miffed.

[Mario2008]

Maybe a bit of topic, but do you provide the volunteers with a work permit?

[beano2274]

Maybe the teachers have the right to a safe working environment, can you supply that? I doubt it!!

They are taking notice of the warnings given by the Governments, and also thinking on Number 1, which I think is

a good idea. Maybe the kids need a teacher, but a teacher needs to feel safe and feel that he or she will complete

their volunteer work unscathed.

[Scott]

Thanks for informing us of the situation, but let's remember that this sub-forum is not for discussing politics, per se.

The effects of the current political situation is relevant to schools, teachers and education in general, but please exercise care in your approach to the discussion.

[losworld]

Thanks for informing us of the situation, but let's remember that this sub-forum is not for discussing politics, per se.

The effects of the current political situation is relevant to schools, teachers and education in general, but please exercise care in your approach to the discussion.

So you put teachers in with no funding whatsoever or do you receive gov't or foreign funds to do this?

Edited May 16, 2010 by losworld

[Atmos]

will this be impacting on the paid overseas teaching workforce also?

With the various travel warnings issued there may be problems with their insurance if they choose to come here. I see Bangkok schools are now closed another week, till 24 May. What an introduction for the teachers who have travelled here for the new school year.

[canadarider]

I know that people are staying away and it hurts the children. I am a teacher in Thailand and I also volunteer for poor children in Isaan. I teach on my own and pay for books etc myself. If you need volunteers let me know, but if you charge volunteers to teach for you, you can forget it.

[talk2sam]

Hi, I am in thailand presently on a student visa and actually studying, I am willing to volunteer, if it can help, I am not a Native speaker though, but If I can score 97 IBT on TOEFL, I think I can help, do reach me *email edited out* if there is anything, I can do to help these kids.

[Sisaketmike]

Maybe a bit of topic, but do you provide the volunteers with a work permit?

You do have to provide a work permit. I left Kao Lak short before the Tsunami and I remember that specialists from the German BKA were working there and made DNA tests to identify the bodies.

People from the government showed up and blamed them for working without a work permit. I'm talking about forensic specialists now and not about volunteers. Good luck, great idea.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Sisaketmike

[Scott]

E mail not allowed, so for one poster, use the PM function.

Work permits are required for volunteers. It's the law. It doesn't require a lot of discussion.

[jackdawson]

The volunteer teachers teach for nothing

i guess nothing isn't worth taking a bullet for

[Sisaketmike]

Thanks for informing us of the situation, but let's remember that this sub-forum is not for discussing politics, per se.

The effects of the current political situation is relevant to schools, teachers and education in general, but please exercise care in your approach to the discussion.

So you put teachers in with no funding whatsoever or do you receive gov't or foreign funds to do this?

'I run a project putting native English volunteers into schools in Phang Nga. These are schools that cannot afford to hire Native English Teachers. The volunteer teachers teach for nothing.'

"The volunteer teachers teach for nothing." Hope you're an honest person, trustworthy......

[richard10365]

Thanks for informing us of the situation, but let's remember that this sub-forum is not for discussing politics, per se.

The effects of the current political situation is relevant to schools, teachers and education in general, but please exercise care in your approach to the discussion.

So you put teachers in with no funding whatsoever or do you receive gov't or foreign funds to do this?

'I run a project putting native English volunteers into schools in Phang Nga. These are schools that cannot afford to hire Native English Teachers. The volunteer teachers teach for nothing.'

"The volunteer teachers teach for nothing." Hope you're an honest person, trustworthy......

Does the OP have a work permit?

[Loaded]

Thousands of people volunteer for good causes in Thailand without a work permit. Although required by law it's rarely enforced. I certainly have never heard of someone getting into trouble for volunteering without a wp.

To think that in a small Thai village the local authorities are going to lock up volunteers without a wp shows a gross lack of understanding of how Thailand works imo.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Loaded

[losworld]

Still nothing back indicating whether this is a true "volunteer" program or similar to some run in Thailand which collect money either from gov't or donations or both then get people to work for nothing similar to a middleman in a teacher's contract. Not stating this is the case but tell us more about the management and funding of this group or do you happen to be independently wealthy and just do this for something to do? If that is the case why not pay them a bit and you'll get a lot more teachers?