| Q |
Doug, you’re joining us
as something of a Rajabhat expert. For those of us that are still confused
(and that includes me), what is a Rajabhat by definition? |
| A |
A 'Rajabhat" is an ISO certified,
government-sponsored learning institute, open to all Thai nationals. It is a
place for higher learning for those who cannot afford the tuition of a
private university. At my Rajabhat we offer, just like any other university,
BA, MA, and MEd degrees, plus many certificates in technology and hotel
management. We even operate our own tourist resort, and have an excellent
culinary school. |
| Q |
“Rajabhats are for
students who can’t get into any other kind of university”. I forget who said
that to me but does it ring true? |
| A |
I don't think that's true. A majority of my
students are highly intelligent and have bright futures ahead of them in
many diverse fields. I think that misconseption came about because of the
low tuition costs and the many programs the government offers to help
students pay for their education (such as a work/study program). I have
students majoring in nursing, chemestry, English, and tourism, and in my
classes, as well as others that I have seen, these students work very hard. |
| Q |
How many Rajabhat
institutes are there dotted around
Thailand? |
| A |
I believe there are approximately 45
Rajabhats throughout Thailand. There are Rajabhats in almost every province,
and several throughout Bangkok. |
| Q |
In your initial email to
me, you said that you LOVE teaching there. What Rajabhat are you at and
what’s so great about it? |
| A |
I am at the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University
in Bangkok. It has the highest buget of all the Rajabhats. This university
spends a lot of money on NEW textbooks and other educational materials, as
well as educational facilities. I also receive a lot of support from the
Thai staff here. This support includes all materials I need for teaching
(provided to me at no cost). I have immediate computer and internet access,
an air-conditioned office, etc etc. |
| Q |
Many of us will be
familiar with the Rajabhat ads on ajarn.com. Why is it
that the same half a dozen institutes can’t seem to keep farang
teaching staff for shit? |
| A |
I obtained my job from ajarn.com, but let's
face it - some schools are better than others. I believe that some Rajabhats
have problems maintaining staff because of location and probably through
management. Plus, many people do not want to work for the standard
government contract. |
| Q |
OK, Let’s talk about the
wedge. It’s a standard government contract of about 17,000 baht plus a
housing allowance of 8,000. Surely, every teacher needs to earn more than
that? |
| A |
Of course! That's why I have a second job
on the weekends. But at my university, there are many ways to augment your
base pay. Evening and weekend classes can be taught on an hourly rate, plus
there is opportunities to lecture at other colleges and institutions. I just
finished a gig lecturing to Royal Thai Army nurses - three hours of work
that gets me 2,000 baht, and they even provided transportation and food.
Between the extra work I do for my university plus my weekend job, I do
quite well. |
| Q |
I’ve always felt that the
housing allowance is totally disproportionate to the salary. If I go and
work out in the sticks and they find me a place for 8,000 baht, I’d expect
fountains in the front garden and a golf cart to get from one end of the
house to the other. If it’s a bog standard rabbit hutch that they find you,
then someone must be seriously on the make here? |
| A |
The contract allows you an option: either
take the provided housing OR a flat, 8,000 baht payment per month to find
your own housing. I took the cash, and have a nice apartment 15 minutes walk
from the university (and I stay within the 8,000 baht allowance).
Personally, I think only an idiot would opt for the provided housing. I
laughed at your comment about people on the make - no, no one is on the
make, except for the school budget, since it saves 8,000 baht/month for
those who take the provided housing. |
| Q |
How are the teacher’s
room relations between farang and Thai teaching staff? |
| A |
In my department, they are excellent. I
have had no problems with any of the Thai teaching staff. |
| Q |
Share your current work
schedule with us? |
| A |
Ah, now you will see one of the
advantages of a Rajabhat job! I teach from 11:30-2:30 on Monday, from
8:00-11:00 on Tuesday, and from 11:30-5:30 on Thursday. The rest of the time
is "teacher preparation" time. We use that time as we see fit, whether it's
on-campus prep work, or for other off-campus "duties." |
| Q |
Sounds cushy to me, so
what do you Rajabhat farangs all do together when you have all this free
time? |
| A |
There are only about 10 farangs here, and
we all have different schedules and leaving times. Some of us meet
occationally for lunch, but we never get together after work, as a whole.
Personally, I go home to the girlfriend after work. |
| Q |
At a typical Rajabhat, is
there any teacher development or does the word ‘workshop’
have everyone running for cover? |
| A |
I do not know about the other Rajabhats,
but at Suan Dusit there is a teacher meeting/development day every month.
The powers that be even feed us. Basically, the development meetings are to
inform teachers about changes in educational policies and new classes or
procedures that will occur in the next semester. They are also a chance for
teachers to address the top administrators with their concerns and problems.
Some people skip the meetings, but there is usually a huge turnout. |
| Q |
I always imagined a
storeroom full of crappy textbooks, all put together by someone with a PhD,
and loaded with grammatical errors and sentences like “would you like to
partake of tea with me on the front lawn?” Is it pretty much
use your own material or risk boring the students
to death? |
| A |
Like I said in the answer to an earlier
question, I cannot speak for other Rajabhats, only mine. For the classes I
currently teach, students use new books supplemented with my own personal
material. From what I have seen in other departments, students seems to have
good books that are recently published. I did take a peek into one of the
textbook storerooms, and found it full of new books and materials. Our
bookstore also sells new books and materials to the students. |
| Q |
On the other hand, I’m
guessing that the Rajjies have good relationships with the immigration and
labor departments. I bet your passport doesn’t go missing for three months? |
| A |
Not at all. In fact, they keep very current
on the stamps, visas, and work permits. They make sure you are where you
need to be to stay legal. |
| Q |
Any compulsory
requirements for teachers to attend field trips and to judge egg and spoon
races? |
| A |
Unlike private institutions, I do not have
to monitor or judge superfluous activities. I always chuckle at the thought
of some teacher with a string of degrees and TOIC/TOEFL/TESL certificates
behind his/her name, judging a sack race at an elementary school. I can just
imagine what is going through their mind. |
| Q |
You’ve personally taught
in other countries and probably had better paying jobs. Are you now a
Rajabhat man for life? |
| A |
I don't know about "for life," but I am not
planning on leaving for a while. I have alot of freedom in this job, and
many opportunities to make additional money. My students are not
snotty-nosed little brats who HAVE to be in my class. They are here because
they WANT to be here. Plus, I am finally teaching at the university level,
which is something I've wanted to do for a while. So I'll stick around Suan
Dusit for a few. |
| |
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