794 graduate licences revoked | Bangkok Post: learning

TEACHING SCAM

The Teacher's Council of Thailand has revoked the licences of 794 graduates from the Khon Kaen-based E-Sarn University.

The private university is facing an investigation by the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec) after it was found to have sold professional teacher certificates to graduates. At least 15 graduates have allegedly confessed they bought diplomas at between 35,000 and 50,000 baht.

A total of 1,387 E-Sarn University graduates have used the diplomas to apply for teaching licences from the TCT. Of this number, 794 of them have received the licences.

The TCT's professional standards committee yesterday resolved to nullify all of the licences granted to the university's graduates, said the TCT secretary-general Ongkorn Amornsirinant.

"I have to accept the truth," said one of the graduates whose teaching licence was revoked. She was about to begin teaching at the end of this month.

The graduate, who declined to be named, insisted that she studied the one-year teaching programme at the university's Yasothon campus.

She said the TCT should investigate whether all graduates bought the certificate instead of just revoking all of them at once.

The licences should still be valid until the investigation is completed.

The Ohec has now taken over the university's management.

Mr Ongkorn said affected graduates could reapply for teaching licences after the university guarantees their studies and graduation.

The TCT would then look into the matter on a case-by-case basis to see if the graduates completed their studies and training courses as required by the standard teacher diploma programme, he said.

Investigators would also inspect about 20 university campuses to see if they met Education Ministry requirements.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat yesterday sought cabinet approval to set up a special committee to crack down on the selling and buying of education certificates to maintain the country's university education standards.

"The committee will extend the investigation into selling and buying education certificates to other private and governmental universities," he said.