Teaching career is a dream for many youths in the deep South
By Somsak Hun-ngam
Despite the ever present danger of ambushes and bombing attacks confronted by teachers on almost daily basis in the restive deep South, teaching career has become a dream’s job for many young men and women in the region.
Associate Professor Krisda Kunthon, dean of the Faculty of Education of Ratchabhat University, Yala campus, attributed to the youths’ interest in teaching job to three factors.
- Shortage of teaching staff leaving more than 900 teaching vacancies to be filled up just for the 2009. The professor said that the shortage was due to the early retirement programme and the violence in the region resulting to several teachers being killed or injured or forced to leave to elsewhere. A recent survey shows that there are 57 teaching vacancies in Yala, 188 in Pattani and 714 in Narathiwat.
- The Education Ministry’s policy of supporting teaching career, especially the programme to produce a “new breed’’ of teachers which was first implemented in 2004. On the first year of the programme, 50 scholarships were granted to students of Ratchabhat University, Yala campus, to study under the five-year programme. After graduation, these students who took up teaching job have earned widespread praise of being knowledgeable and having ethics. The professor said that the Education Ministry had decided to carry on the “new breed” teachers programme for another two years – 2009 and 2010 and this time around students from Prince of Songkhla, Pattani campus, were selected to participate in addition to Ratchabhat University, Yala campus.
- The future prospect of teaching career. The professor disclosed that the Education Ministry was determined to promote teaching career by upgrading the status of teachers with a different pay scale to be separated from that of civil servants. This will hopefully enhance the prospect of teaching career, he said.
“These are the three reasons which I believe encourage youngsters in the region to become anxious to pursue a career in teaching,” said Prof Krisda, adding that a total of 4,700 students enrolled in teaching course last year. At Ratchabhat University of Yala campus, three courses are available namely education for children, Thai language and science and the most popular course is education for children which attracted 697 applicants but only 90 were accepted.
Another factor which should not be overlooked is that the low jobless rate among graduates in teaching career. A recent survey shows that 79 percent of the graduates were employed compared to 72 percent a year ago.
“The figures show that once graduation the students will be sure that they will be employed. This is very satisfactory especially under the present economic situation,” said the professor.
According to last December data about students covered by the basic education system, there are altogether 255,000 students from primary up to secondary levels of education as well as 14,600 teachers. The teachers are classified into three groups: teachers who are government officials; teachers who are government employees and teachers under the employment of privately-owned schools.
Ms Norihan bin Saha, a fourth-year student at Ratchabhat University, Yala campus, said that she has been studying to become a teacher because she loves the job. Even though one of the reasons prompting youths in the region to study teaching course is job security, she said that teaching career is also important to the future of the country.
Asked about the threats posed by insurgents, the student said she was not afraid, adding that every occupation has its risk.
“But being a teacher is merit making. Therefore, I am not afraid because what we have been doing is right,” said Ms Norihan.
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Thanks : Picture from web http://www.oknation.net/blog/chainews/2009/01/16/entry-1