Shortage of teachers bad in Bangkok
The national shortage of teachers is most serious in Bangkok and adjacent provinces, according to a study by Chulalongkorn University lecturers.
"This is because there are so many large schools in these provinces," Assoc Prof Chanita Rakponmuang said yesterday. Chanita has taught at CU's Faculty of Education. "Countries that are successful in tackling the shortage of teachers are those which put this issue on the national agenda," she said. According to the study conducted by Chanita and colleagues, state schools need 478,186 teachers for efficient educational services. However, there are now only 396,507 government teachers across the country. Primary schools required 30,000 more teachers, the study said. Secondary schools needed up to 32,000 more teachers. "We have collected information from 29,503 schools," Chanita said. The teacher shortage was most serious in maths, science, technology and foreign-language subjects. She said the government's policy to restrict the number of civil servants, and the teaching profession's less prestigious image were factors behind the shortage. Teaching today is often associated with low pay and inadequate welfare.
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