How welcome are the new teacher visa regulations in Thailand?

The new teacher visa regulations in Thailand are surely going to create a mess and devastating effect on the foreign teachers in Thailand. With already heightened visa regulations from earlier this year, immigration will (most likely) require teachers to:

1. Teachers with Bachelor of Education or higher to attend a ‘Foreign Teacher Thai Culture Training Program,’ on top of a Non-immigrant and work visa.

2. Teachers with Bachelors (not in Education) will have to complete a 30 credit, one year, ‘Teachers Licensing Course’ with the ‘Foreign Teacher Thai Culture Training Program.’  The 30 credit course is to cost an exorbitant 60000 Baht (about $1800 US) which for many is well over a month’s salary.  Teachers do have the option to challenge the course by taking a four-part exam to receive.

3. Teachers without Bachelor degrees may do away with these regulations only if the principal at their respective school can vouch that their teaching abilities are ‘fantastic’ and that the school really needs the services of the teacher concerned.

Teachers in the Kingdom are frustrated and upset over the changes as there are teachers who have been in Thailand for many years and can speak Thai and probably know Thai culture better than most Thais. Also, the instructors who wish to teach in Thailand must be dedicated and committed to teach. The new regulations which are supposed to take place in the beginning of 2009 will do nothing but fill in the pockets of visa-officials and consume the valuable time and energy of some fine teachers.

Gary Glitter deported to Hong Kong from Thailand

Thailand deported and convicted British pedophile Gary Glitter to Hong Kong when he refused to board a plane to the U.K. 64 year-old Glitter’s real name is Paul Francis Gadd. Glitter had served a 33-month prison term in Vietnam for sexually abusing two girls, age 11 and 12. His sentence called for his deportation upon release. Glitter had earlier expressed his desire said in an interview from prison with a Vietnamese newspaper that he wanted to record a new album and did not want to return to the U.K. Instead, he preferred to move to Hong Kong or Singapore.

Glitter arrived in Thailand last night and refused to board a flight to the U.K. Convicted sex offenders arriving in Britain are met at the airport by police officers who interview them and apply for a court order instructing them to sign the Sex Offenders Register, according to the Home Office.

U.K. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said yesterday that Glitter would be “controlled” if he returned to the U.K. and that she didn’t want him to be able to travel abroad.