MY 5 CENTS on the Teacher’s Training by PSTAT at Montfort College

by Gigi Narrido

The 20-hour training course required by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a teaching license requirement has raised a lot of foreign eyebrows in Thailand. Coming from a school with 65% Pinoys in its foreign faculty, the issue has caused concern and raised questions yet to be answered by MOE and PSTAT.

Surprisingly, that our own administration knew little about it, although it is a government school. The first reaction I got from our school admin was that we should not worry because the school is government-run and it will protect its people. Hmm… protect us from what, though?

Anyway, a number of Pinoys in our school took the course by choice. The Caucasian farangs opted not to, stating that it’s either a big scam (by a handful of higher-ups) to con money out of ‘richer than average Thai teacher’ farangs or that it’s just a big waste of time because the ‘law’ will eventually change and die on its own.

This training received sneers and criticism even before it started. After reading  enough negative comments from various blog post predominantly written by Caucasian farangs, I was a bit skeptical myself. But then again the Pinoy mentality to wait things out until the last minute is not something I’m used to, and I don’t think that it’s a good idea for any Pinoy working abroad. So I mentally prepared myself for nothing but a 20 hours of boredom, a good waste of 4,000 baht and my precious weekend. I’m so glad I was proven entirely wrong!

The first two days of the training were a crash course on Thai culture and society. As a person who loves history, it was very informative and at times entertaining. Miss Puthachad ‘Sheena’ Sucharitakul did an amazing job explaining Thai cultural uniqueness, differences, and nuances that baffle the average farang like me. She even touched a bit on what I would call “Thai Psychology” – the way of thinking that is distinctly and unmistakably Thai, making them entirely different from other closely related Asian cultures like the Philippines. There were times that I even found myself saying, “Oh, okay” and “So that’s why” to my delight. If there had been a course like this offered when we arrived in this country, life and adjustment for the first 3 months would have been drastically different for us. Even so, the crash course made me realize my growing interest in Thailand’s history and psychology.

The third and last day of the course was handled by Mr. Abel Cadias, a kababayan whom I personally know and have worked with for 2 summers at his former high school’s EEP Camp. Abel laid out the facts about the license requirements to the teachers as a law that was passed in 2003. Odd huh, that they are implementing it only after 5 years? Well, this is Thailand! Better late than never, I guess.

As expected, there was a barrage of questions from the participating teachers that Abel answered to the best of his knowledge. He remained professional and witty while ‘under fire’.  It just so happened that he is the bringer of ‘good news’ to a bunch of inconvenienced people, most especially to the Caucasians of whom only a handful are education graduates or at least of related background. That’s why there just such a big fuss about it. The issue is undeniably controversial and may be the subject of many talks in schools and faculty lounges (if such room do exist in your school, because we don’t have any at ours!). The training did end in a good note with PSTAT President Dr. Usira Anomasiri promising that the organization will continue to help provide teachers the training, materials and assistance that we need to comply to the law. Now that is something that we should all watch for.

The bottom line is, this is Thailand and we are the farangs. It is a fact that we are living in their land, helping educate their children and get paid in their currency. Therefore we should follow their laws and rules, whether we are inconvenienced or not.

It is better to be good Pinoy citizens and follow our host country’s rules than lose the privilege that we enjoy in this country as their children’s educators.

Pinoy groups hard at work on the group presentation

jing lo! from bottom left, Norman Sinsuan, Anzle Narrido, Rowena Bolledo, Ruth Poja, Marge Espina, Eric Dilig and Minda Elbinias

PSTAT President Dr. Usira and training coordinator, Abel Cadias

Teachers having breakfast before the training

PSTAT training coordinator Abel Cadias with AFT-NRC officers, president Art Elbinias, secretary Gigi Narrido and Teacher's Rep. Dominic Cuales

Maria Odessa of Chiang Rai together with Anzle Narrido of Anubaan Chiangmai School

teachers relishing the afternoon snack time

big smiles

AFT Teacher's Rep. Dominic Cuales (middle) together with new comers, Nathan Mumar and Arlene Adeza

Alfhy Garcia and the rest of the Montfort gang

PSTAT Speaker and kababayan, Abel Cadias answering questions from the participants

(At the back) Navamin teachers, Norman Sinsuan and Minda Elbinias with PSTAT and Montfort higher-ups

PSTAT's Dr. Usira awarding the certificate to Minda Elbinias

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