Thread: Thai culture seminar

Does anyone have the latest news about the necessity of taking this supposed Thai Cultural Seminar (or whatever title it's got), to acclimate teachers to the Thai culture? Our school recently advised us we'd have to take this seminar within the next two years, but the validity of the info disbursed on such matters at our school troubles me. They handed us a copy of a MoE 'handout' [Volume 123 Special Part 83D Government Gazette] re' this seminar, but it was dated July 31,2006. Included in the 'handout' were several clauses indicating ways by which individuals could fulfill the requirements listed re' professional qualifications for eligibility to teach, but then there is a list of 20 hours of instruction re' Thai culture, for which there are no alternative methods of satisfying short of taking this seminar.

To wit:
Thai Society-----------------4 hours
Thai Language and Culture----6 hours
Thai Courtesy----------------2 hours
Thai Arts and Music-----------2 hours

Professional Ethics------------6 hours

Total:-----20 hours

...and all this is on a pass/fail basis!

I've been here since 2001, licensed to teach since 2002, married to a Thai since 2002, read the BKK Post every day, watch Thai TV news (with my wife translating) every day, and yet this 20 hours is going to acclimate me in some way which my life so far hasn't?

Does the MoE have some up-to-date edict re' the necessity of taking this thing? I'll do it if I must, but would like to be sure it's really required.

Do you have a couple of hours? Pull up a chair & start reading:

http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/paperwo...do-course.html

It is CONFIRMED - immigration will NOT extend any visas without it. However, they are making a few exceptions as the rule went into effect just last week. It is clear though, they will not extend any this March/April when the majority of us will be going through the annual process.

I don't know about this, or about the need for a 'waiver'.

I just had my visa renewed in late March. I've never taken this course. Myself and the other native speakers at our school all have Bachelor degrees in Education, and have had Thai teaching licenses for at least several years.

The people at the MoE, when my license was renewed for this year, never mentioned it, either.