Topic: KIS & KAS Education Centre

[ajarnsarah]

                                KAS, KIS and Corruption-to-the-Core
             
                   Please investigate further if you think this is false information!

I have worked for KAS Education Centre, at both the KIS International School location in Huay Kwang, Bangkok, (most corrupt situation) and at their Nonthaburi branch, also in Bangkok.

I have never worked for a more unprofessional group in my life, and I have worked in several countries including my home country (Australia). I am certain the Farang owners, my bosses, have no qualifications in education. They brag of being home-schooled which I believe due to their ignorance of how to administer an education centre or a lack of any substantial knowledge that a simple Bachelors of Education would render.

The KAS Education Centre is owned by the two above mentioned Farangs as well as a two key share-holders; yes, the former-PM-in-Exile-Thaksin's very own cousin and TRT's former Minister of Transportation (corruption to the core).

KAS Education Centre operates under the guise of KIS International School only because Thaksin's cousin is the licensee of the school and the former TRT-Minister-of-Transportation is the owner of KIS International School (nothing against KIS accept that they let corruption tarnish their reputation by allowing unqualified people to operate inside their school under the guise of KAS Education Centre). These four criminals are using their undeserved power to reap in the benefits as share holders by charging international school prices for language center quality.

KAS Education Center actually charges top money while alluding that they have certified teachers when they certainly do not (corruption to the core). A customer paying 1,200 baht/hour for EAL instruction expects certified teachers or at least a CELTA qualified teacher, but KAS Education Centre actually have uncertified teachers working at both KIS International School and their other branches as well (not to mention hiring non-native speakers in order to exploit both customer and employee to the highest degree). The owners/share holders are completely void of any teaching qualification, including even a simple TEFL.

KIS International School has come under fire recently by many of the wealthy parents, and it is too bad because KIS International School is a decent institution; however, KAS Education Centre is damaging the school's integrity very seriously each day it remains the administer of the E.A.L. and S.E.A.L. program at KIS International School.

If you are a quality teacher or a paying customer, I warn strongly against working for or obtaining services from these cheats; they may have nice smiles, but they are only looking to exploit you as much as they can -you will see... Fair warning to all those professionals and loving parents who deserve better.

[RobRoy]

Professionalism, the quality of teachers are subjective here in the LoS.  I understand that you seem very upset, but to compare an organization in Thailand that professes to have "professional" teachers compared to a western school is comparing apples and oranges.

Please cite explicit examples not just general statements.  Just because someone thats related to the ex PM doesn't make the organization corrupt, specific abuses do. 

Lastly, I don't work at the place so I don't really care to investigate it...its your job, as a member to the forum, to praise or critize an organization.  Get other teachers where you work to post, cite examples of abuses, etc.

[ajarnsarah]

Dear RobRoy,                                                                                                                                                                     I was not comparing western schools with Thai organizations (that is like comparing two different things; perhaps not as simplistic as apples and oranges, but I get your point). I am simply complaining that it is connections and not qualifications and experience that allow these two farangs to co-own a business that is responsible for running the EAL and SEAL programs at KIS International School (co-owned along with the previously mentioned Thaksin family member or former government official: TRT Minister of Education). The corruption I am accusing them is just what I said in the original post (perhaps you missed the point or perhaps I stated in poorly). I do not need to investigate further; I am reporting the facts. I was challenging those who may think this is just hype. I never meant to suggest for anyone to do my research; I am well informed on the matter at hand. As far as other teachers posting from my school, well, I hope they do; however, I am not going on an open campaign and losing my job (I just think KAS and KIS is a rip off and I wish for teachers and parents alike to know my thoughts). If I was not clear enough in my first letter, I am sorry, but perhaps it is partly you who did not grasp the details.

[los_teacher]

Sarah,

I guess the point is that the kinds of corruption you are discussing - nepotism and favoritism coupled with duping customers by hiring semi-qualified and unqualified teachers - these are commonplace and occur at some level or other in nearly every educational institution in the country.

Rob Roy was merely looking for specific abuses by management on the teachers themselves.  This is a site that supports teachers.  It is a source of information about which places not to work for and why.  Suggestions are offered to folks who find themselves victims of any number of offenses.  Nobody likes having their bonus canceled or their last paycheck withheld.   Not necessary to get snippy with rob roy for trying to clarify the situation....   

[RobRoy]

As LT mentioned....we need details to help you out....specific abuses, not generalizations.  And no, I didn't get your point because you made no specific complaints about the place other than you are less than happy with them.  Details, details......

If you can say...."Oh a Thai teacher was kept on the staff after inappropriately touching another teacher because he is Taksins 2nd cousin twice removed", then you have given us specific details...

We here are a group of people, that for the most part have experienced the best and worst that working in Thailand can offer.  We are here to support, help and advise each other to make life just a bit easier.  We are here to support each other and make sense of out life in Thailand.

Lastly, when you post on here, you've gone on an active campaign.  How long do you think it will take your coworkers and then the Thai/farang admin to figure out who is posting?  When you post here, you are on an active campaign.  Thats the idea of this site, actively supporting teachers and letting schools know when they have done less than good for their teachers.   

[ajarnsarah]

Too LoS and Robroy,  If you two are the administration on this site, then please spell out what the standard is to be accepted in this discussion forum and how that is to be written; if you are not, then why the condescending attitude about what and how one can and can not post? KIS is a top international school in Bangkok and there are a lot of people who do not like a current situation of a separate-company (KAS Education Center) operating inside a top internatioanl school under the guise of KIS International School; it is a scam and if other teachers at KIS or KAS read this forum, then maybe they will post. I am certainly not going to run my mouth at KIS and be singled out. I am making a general complaint and a general warning. The details are not important; we all know what unprofessional administration adds up to -you sighted a few examples yourself. Lastly, I will get snippy with anyone I want until the TEFL.watch administration approaches me themselves; you two boys can go on trying to intimidate anyone you want, but until the TEFL.watch crew themselves tells me that my post is not to standard, I will continue to post at will. You sound like wanna-be know-it-alls who do not know much about international schools and are confusing Thai Sschool, language centre and international school life. Nevertheless, write another off the topic post and ask a bunch of meaningless questions; I really can't wait.     

[los_teacher]

why are you so aggressive?  nobody is attacking you - quite the reverse.

[anyonefortennis]

Hey Sarah, take a chill pill girl. 

I reckon RR & LT were only trying to point you in the right direction regarding giving more details, no need to fly off on one.

So, you gonna get all snippy with me now............I can hardly wait

[bomha]

Ajarn Sarah,

I am only a lowly moderator here, but let me see if I can help you by giving you questions to answer:

a. You say that the school hires unqualified teachers.  Do they have bachelor degrees, or TEFL certifications?  Anyway, that in itself (from the point of view of some teachers) does not prove they are lousy teachers.

b. What wages, hours, classes, etc., did they promise, and how did they follow through on that?

c. Are any resources given to the staff, such as access to photocopiers and internet; sufficient relevant textbooks?

d. Are the students reasonably classified by ability?  What are the class sizes?

e. Is this a language center or an agency for phrathom/matoyom schools, or a private full time school?

f. Have they made any promises that were flagrantly violated?

g. Did you sign and receive a contract in English, signed by the owner?

[ajarnsarah]

Dear Bomha,

To answer your questions:


a. You say that the school hires unqualified teachers.  Do they have bachelor degrees, or TEFL certifications?  Anyway, that in itself (from the point of view of some teachers) does not prove they are lousy teachers.

The owners of KAS (the ones who run the S.E.A.L and E.A.L programs at KIS International School); well, 100% of the teachers at KIS International School are more qualified that the owners of KAS, but they could never run a business inside KIS as they are not politically/socially/economically connected in Thailand. The owners have one BA in, I think, computer-science between them (hubby has a BA; wife has a home-schooling, high-school-degree from her mom and is clueless about most subjects, especially education). The teachers hired by KAS are not qualified to work at international schools, yet, they often get better contracts that we, those who have teacher certification and masters degrees, get at KIS (I am talking about corruption due to nepotism here). The teachers they hire are fine (one guy is exceptional), but they are allowed access to international school kids whose parents pay for and expect teachers with degrees in education and certification from our home countries: USA, OZ, N.Z., UK, etc

b. What wages, hours, classes, etc., did they promise, and how did they follow through on that?

They have shafted people who worked for them by canceling contracts early as well as nickel-and-dime stuff, but I would have to go and interview the teachers in the SEAL and EAL programs to get the nitty-gritty on this line of questioning, and then I would be exposed… I have, however, heard a lot of grumbling from one guy who teaches at KAS; he hates working for Mr. D and Mrs. T. (hubby and wife owners who have one BA in computers between them and no high school degrees).

c. Are any resources given to the staff, such as access to photocopiers and internet; sufficient relevant textbooks?

I have heard grumbling on this matter too; one teacher said he was never shown the resource-room and was given a rude lecturing because he was not using resources from this particular room. Mr D. claimed to be too busy to show the teacher the resource-room despite it being maybe 15 feet from his office and the KAS headquarters.

d. Are the students reasonably classified by ability?  What are the class sizes?

The class size is small; these are the richest kids in BKK.

e. Is this a language center or an agency for phrathom/matoyom schools, or a private full time school?

KAS is a language center, but administering the SEAL and EAL programs at KIS International School; we KIS teachers are wishing them gone for many reasons. They are not the professionals who we want "up-grading" (or attempting anyway) our students already poor English ability; KIS’s biggest set-back as a top school is that our students' English level is very low.

f. Have they made any promises that were flagrantly violated?

I would have to investigate and I can’t due to my desire to remain anonymous, but I have heard grumblings on this matter too. 

g. Did you sign and receive a contract in English, signed by the owner?

They give contracts, but once it is signed, it is never seen again by the one hired. This is a big complaint from the teachers at KAS. The only see their contracts at signing time and they they are kept from the teachers.

Lastly, I wish I could be clearer; however, due to my undercover status and the fact that my intent was just to provide an open warning rather than do a detailed report on KAS; nevertheless, thank you for the questions lacking the superiority-complex and pejorative-intent that these forums-replies often contain. Respectfully, Ajarn Sarah

[los_teacher]

That's the spirit ajarnsarah!

It sounds like a poorly run international school. 

1) Very wealthy kids - parents probably friends of the Thaksin group - with too much influence in school policies and procedures.

2) Supplemental English programs given by TEFL folks that would be best served by TESOL qualified individuals.

3) Incompetent management.  Unqualified owners that don't hire properly qualified school administrators.

4) Potential contract shenanigans.

All in all it sounds like they hire professionals to do a job and then clip their wings.  The students suffer.   

[Good2b-happy]

I worked at KAS for 6 months and then had to leave at short notice on health grounds. My experience at KAS differs to that of the poster of this thread. I found the management helpful and understanding with regard to both personal and professional needs. But, hey, everyones experience is subjective.
I would happily recomend KAS to anyone.
G

[anyonefortennis]

G2b, did you work for KAS at KIS? from what AS posted this seems to be where a lot of the problems stem from.

[bettyboo]

Caught wind of the rattlin's @ the KAS in KIS scenario and feel compelled to write as I worked for KAS for a few years.  I have a few questions for ASara, as in my opinion she may need a bit of help in the vocab/definition area:
1) She called KAS a scam?  A scam is, by definition is, "a swindle, a fraud" - altho KAS had it's weak areas, as any institution, business or endeavor has, it was NOT a scam, but well-intentioned, well-trained-in-local-business-folks who saw a need (English at an affordable level for kids who are not from the local "elite" and couldn't afford KIS) and they met the need by purchasing top-quality language materials for their students, hiring qualified teachers (not saying that all qualified teacher are good teachers, or are culturally sensitive: an essential ingredient in a culturally intrenched society like Thailand) and opened a successful service/business with positive results: kids learning English!
2) In my opinion the background and education of administrators is not indicative of the quality of the education or business - success story after success story of folks with vision, influence, and "guts" and seemingly "unqualified" have taken the challenge and met the demand by hiring and empowering those with the education to do the job - looks like ASara has some jealousy issues after persuing her/his idea of "qualifications", whether that included huge debt and obviously time investment) only to realize that others can succeed without this!  Whoops!
3) If there are issues of standards (KAS in KIS) within a respected institution like KIS - this is an issue to be discussed within the organization with the proper folks.  Resorting to a discussion forum to vent frustrations is not indicative of the professionalism of any organization.
Maybe AS should look a bit deeper & beyond emotions at the results of kids being able to learn English & the positive ripple of offering language classes to kids outside of KIS.... or parents frustrated by huge tuition investments, but their kids basic language skills still underpar.  FYI - professionals talk in terms of solutions & have usually outgrown the "blame game" or "emotional ping-pong".

[RobRoy]

Nice summary BB......thats what we are all here for!