A number of public and private vocational and technical institutions in Bangkok are being probed for providing unauthorised off-campus courses, authorities said.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the problem.
The Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) has set up a panel to probe the colleges, which it says are offering courses that do not meet required standards.
TIPPED OFF
Secretary-general Chaipreuk Sereerak said on April 5 that OVEC had been tipped off about vocational and technical schools in Bangkok providing sub-standard training courses outside their main campuses.
According to the reports, students who enrol in these courses, usually set up in department stores and small commercial buildings, are told they can obtain vocational or high vocational certificates in just one year.
NO SHORTCUTS
OVEC said it had found the courses do not meet requirements.
"I can confirm these one-year courses do not comply with our regulations and also fail to meet quality standards. OVEC has no policy to allow the operation of makeshift campuses in department stores," Chaipreuk said.
Authorised vocational courses typically take two to three years and are more expensive, he said, adding that there are no shortcuts.
HANDS-ON TRAINING
Chaipreuk said all institutes must have qualified staff and basic facilities, such as learning and instructional devices and laboratories, so vocational students can receive hands-on training. There is no way courses offered at department stores or small commercial buildings can meet those requirements, he pointed out.
It is not known how widespread the problem is in provinces outside Bangkok, or how many students stand to be affected if OVEC ultimately refuses to recognise their degrees. OVEC has identified the number of vocational and technical schools which had violated its guidelines and found there were currently about 10 such institutions in Bangkok offering poor quality education through remote campuses.
FORCED CLOSURE
OVEC has set up a panel to investigate and if the investigation finds irregularities, it will order disciplinary action against the colleges concerned.
During the investigation, directors of the 10 colleges will be transferred to ensure transparency, Chaipreuk added. However, he declined to disclose the names of the colleges.
"All sub-standard illegal campuses will be forced to close as soon as possible," he said.
EXERCISES
Read through the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. About 10 educational institutions across Thailand are being probed for providing unauthorised off-campus courses. ………….
2. According to Chaipreuk, OVEC officially allows the operation of makeshift campuses in department stores. ………….
3. OVEC stands for the Office of the Vocational Education Commission ………….
4. Chaipreuk Sereerak is OVEC’s secretary-general. ………….
ANSWERS
EXERCISES
1. False.
2. False.
3. True.
4. True.
probe (v): to ask questions in order to find out secret or hidden information about somebody or something
makeshift (adj): used temporarily for a particular purpose because the real thing is not available
irregularity (n): an activity or a practice which is not according to the usual rules, or not normal
