Topic: The Agency Decision:

[SusanRichardson]

Several schools I know about are not finding "suitable" teachers and are considering the agency route.

These schools have always attempted to recruit and hired directly.

My limited experience with "agents" is negative. I found they didn't have teachers, they just got contracts and looked/posted job ads and away they went. The results were obvioulsy what you would expect, the bottom of the barrell. I've seen them actually set up in garages and at taxi stands, and those were the ones who actually had an office.

There is one school in particular, NOT MINE, where I sort of like the department head. She asked for my advice on this and I told here I would make an inquiry on the internet. I don't see a topic here and don't want to post on the arse licking forum. Anyone who has experiences, especially GOOD ones using an agent please let me know.

Perhaps this has been discussed, but I trust you guys and girls more here where honestly prevails and censorship and the rest is not an issue.

Basically, short and sweet, tell me what to tell her...I know my own opinion....I may be wrong...I want to know and and am open to learing I have the wrong or skewed opinion..no long stories, just the facts. Thanks.

Susan

[sabai_sabai]

For international schools that pay a good wage (and others that also pay well) there are a few international agencies.  These agencies deal with teachers that have teaching qualifications from their home countries and are pricey (I'm not sure of the fee) for schools to hire. 

As far as local Thai agencies, even the ones run by Westerners have never struck me as professional.  One agent left me sitting at a Starbucks for an hour before calling to say that he couldn't meet me and another tried to take 20% of my salary AND have me work the school holidays at their day care center.  I don't imagine they treat the schools any better.

[Topper]

My experiences has also been negative.  My personal opinion is that I would advise any administrator to shy away using an agency.

The agencies are primarily paid by placing bodies in classrooms with little regard to experience, qualifications, etc.  I've seen this personally, first hand as one of three direct employees at a school needing about a dozen farangs.  And notice I said agencies...3 or 4 I think were involved.

Having said that, using an agency also relieves the school of those tiresome little details like providing WP's, checking documents, etc as all of that is expected to be done by the agency.  The agency gets paid, a good teacher is screwed, a bad teacher pisses off the school, but at the end of the day, the agency just throws another body on the floor and everyone is happy again.

Now, I'm absolutely sure there are reputable agencies out there.  I hope to hear about some positive experience from posters using agencies! 

[7baht]

susan,


BKK is slap full of all kinds of teachers and hiring one is a snap.

Professional teachers in BKK know the shady schools and Agencies.

If your friend at this school cant find a good teacher, Im wondering why?

[SusanRichardson]

susan,


BKK is slap full of all kinds of teachers and hiring one is a snap.

Professional teachers in BKK know the shady schools and Agencies.

If your friend at this school cant find a good teacher, Im wondering why?

She pays peanuts but expects "professional teachers". As you know, peanuts only attracts monkeys. I was wondering myself how she could afford to pay an agency and not teachers but again, I'm only a guest and not in charge of logic. I assumed the agent would get something like 45000-50000baht a month then pay the teacher as little as possible. If she would offer the teachersthe 50000baht, well,never mind, it remains beyond me.

Thanks for the replies. Not reading anything positive yet...Susan

[Topper]

susan,

BKK is slap full of all kinds of teachers and hiring one is a snap.

Then why don't you start an agency and provide QUALITY teachers.  You could make money and after all...its a snap!

Professional teachers in BKK know the shady schools and Agencies.

Professional teachers or teachers experienced with shady schools and agencies?  Or a combination! And if all the teachers know, then why do people post on this site, as well as others? 

If your friend at this school cant find a good teacher, Im wondering why?

The only decent question you've asked.  But I think Susan answered it.