APD | Filipino English teachers to be employed in Thailand

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA, Mar.14 (APD) – Education officials from the Philippines and Thailand met Tuesday to discuss the employment of Filipino teachers for the “English for All” project of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said the inter-agency meeting on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the government-to-government hiring of Filipino teachers was initiated by Dr. Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, Minister of Education of Thailand during a side meeting last October 2018 at the 10th ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Department of Education officials led by Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones (seated third from right) met with Thai counterparts at the Philippine International Convention Center to discuss the employment of Filipino teachers under the "English for All" project of the Kingdom of Thailand. (DEPED Photo)

The Memorandum of Understanding hopes to improve and promote the international professional exchanges between the two countries to espouse teachers’ protection and welfare and facilitate the recruitment, entry and exit of Filipino teachers to and from the Kingdom of Thailand according to existing laws of the two countries and the different agencies including the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“This is an existing situation, not a plan, it’s not a policy proposal,” thus said Secretary Briones in a statement released today.  She expressed optimism Thailand and the Philippines can agree “on a better way by which we can protect the Filipinos and at the same time, the Thai government, because it’s not able to keep track of all Filipinos who come (to Thailand).”

She said Filipino teachers come to Thailand to visit but end up teaching in many other places.  

Secretary Briones said with the Memorandum of Understanding, they can minimize opportunities for abuse.

The Secretary to the Minister of Education of Thailand M. L. Pariyada Diskul said they have big projects with teachers from the Philippines “who are very highly regarded.”

She went on to describe Filipino teachers as diligent and could easily blend with Thai culture.  Those recruited will be placed in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) government schools to upgrade the English competencies of Thai children in the area.

Secretary Briones expressed her appreciation for the initiatives set by Thailand to strengthen ties by helping Filipino teachers who are working and those planning to work abroad. 

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)