TCT denies licences to uni graduates

The Teachers’ Council of Thailand (TCT) insists the council is unable to grant professional licences to 125 teaching graduates from a university in Khon Kaen province because the curriculum is not approved.

TCT secretary-general Somsak Dolprasit said the agency cannot grant licences to teaching graduates of Rajabhat University’s education centre.

Its programmes are not certified by Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), he said.

His remark came after a group of graduates this week lodged a petition with the government asking it to step in.

Mr Somsak insisted the TCT did not abandon the graduates.

He eased their fears by saying they can obtain professional licences by applying for a teaching certificate which is valid for one year. Then, they would be eligible to apply for professional licences that will be valid for five years.

However, Mr Somsak admitted these graduates could miss out on job opportunities if they want to apply for teaching jobs because several schools demand only professional licences, not teaching certificates.

Montri Khansrinuan, who has just completed a five-year course and graduated in February, said this was the first he had heard of potential complications.

Now he worries he will lose opportunities as most schools accept only professional licences; teaching certificates do not meet these criteria.

He is among 125 graduates who completed their study in three fields: English, Thai, and computers for communications.

OHEC denied responsibility and insisted it has not been given the authority to intervene.

Kajorn Jitsukummongkol, deputy secretary-general of OHEC, said the commission was not responsible for evaluating the courses to determine if they meet academic requirements.

He said the university council is responsible for curriculum design and enrolment and should take responsibility.