Topic: Niva International School - good, bad or indifferent

[goo]

Anyone got any info on Niva International School on Lat Phrao? Anything good or bad, I just want to know the lowdown.

Thanks

Simon

[ladyteacher]

I had the great misfortune to work there some time ago, the school owner /principal is a total religious greaseball freak who despises most Europeans . The school staff are probably the most insular surly bunch of wanna bee's one could ever wish to meet .

In many cases (the staff) are totally unqualified and indeed vicious rumour mongering backstabbing scum intent on preserving their own self interests .

Bibles in one hand dicks (if the've got them ) in the other hand to shaft the unsuspecting employees and fellow staff members,native English speakers are indeed in the minority open arms to the rejects of Europe who are unable to find gainful employment elsewhere .

Religious indoctrination, mis-managment and lies, that is Niva International School for you, I was indeed the happiest person alive when I shook the dust from my feet upon leaving Niva .

[admin]

in the interest of transparency, I am posting a PM I received from the school in question. I have asked them to come on the forum to state their own opinion. Ladyteacher seems to have a lot of problems with former schools and I might have been inclined to clean up the post, but I will not delete as requested by the school. This PM should show that the school is upset with the post made and hopefully they can come on here and fully state their opinion, but until they do, this is the only word from them:

Site Administrator
www.teflwatch.org

To Whom It May Concern:

We just want to inform you that some forum contents as found on the link below:

http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php?topic=444.msg2892#msg2892

seems to be inappropriate and considered defamatory to Niva International School.

Such content should not be allowed in any forum and should be deleted immediately before legal actions are put into place against the posters and site owners.

If you have any information regarding the complete names of the posters, please coordinate with us.

Thank you very much for your immediate response.

ENGR. EDAN BOY A. PEDRAGOSA
IT MANAGER
NIVA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Greetings!

I found your forum interesting, however may I request you to delete the following post which is against the forum rules I belive. Please delete the following post in your message board >>>>>> http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php?topic=444.msg2892#msg2892 which is  totally defamatory. Please refer to additional post she made >>>>> http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=147;sa=showPosts. That will show the user behind the username doesn't understand how to properly post in a forum. I respect her personal opinion however I am a member of the organization she is referring to and I find it very offensive. To qoute her

 " The school staff are probably the most insular surly bunch of wanna bee's one could ever wish to meet Big Cry.
In many cases (the staff) are totally unqualified and indeed vicious rumour mongering backstabbing scum intent on preserving their own self interests Jerkoff.

Bibles in one hand dicks (if the've got them ) in the other hand to shaft the unsuspecting employees and fellow staff members,native English speakers are indeed in the minority open arms to the rejects of Europe who are unable to find gainful employment elsewhere Beatnik.
Religious indoctrination, mis-managment and lies, that is Niva International School for you".

These are baseless accusations if ever she has a problem with the management and being educated as she thinks she is complains should be taken to the court and not on a public forum.

Please delete those post. Thank You Very Much!

[Bangkok Phil]

I'm not taking sides but ladyteacher isn't doing the cause any good at all.
'religious greaseball freak'
'bibles in one hand dicks (if they've got them) in the other'
'backstabbing scum'

Come on man. Can't you write something better than that?
I'm surprised myself that this has been allowed to stay.

[Uncle Che]

And the funny thing was that it was due to be deleted because ladyteacher seems to have problems with other schools and this didn't seem to fit the definition of valid complaint for the forum. If Boy and Ephraim had not threatened the site and instead said "hey this post isn't nice, can you look at it as it is not a constructive post" then I would have cleaned up the post at the very least.

Of course threatening the site with legal action, asking for the real names of posters, and asking me delete it immediately will not work. In fact because of the messages sent to me by the two Filipinos, Ladyteacher's comments will stay since changing or deleting them now can be seen as kowtowing to a school.

The unfortunate thing is that the mere threat is more negative publicity about the school than Ladyteacher's posts. In fact, I was concerned that the threats were coming from a rival school and verified that the ip address of both Filipinos matched up with Niva International School's site.

[Shatapon]

These are baseless accusations if ever she has a problem with the management and being educated as she thinks she is complains should be taken to the court and not on a public forum.

Tee hee.

At least the second poster/threatener has a dry and ironic sense of humor! 

[NamTok]

   I voted to overnight express Niva International School to the Hall of  Shame. Additionally, I believe Uncle Che makes the excellent point that allowing the postings to stand as they are self-exposes Niva.

   If and when schools can succeed---and none have or I'm sure shall---in muzzling or intimidating TeflWatch then TeflWatch would have lost all of its considerable and increasing effectiveness. The same would become true of any similar website. This threat to sue anyone who posts regarding Niva IS cannot be allowed to stand without consequence.

   So I believe these two courses of action are the most effective way by which TeflWatch can deal with this first threat. Express routing to the Hall and leave the postings as they are.

   As to Ladyteacher, I think she can write up a storm! I sort of like her colorful and direct language, especially her concluding statement about shaking the dust off her feet with great relief as she left Niva. I respect that some can find her strident language offensive but, I would also remind everyone that we're all grownups here. Nonetheless, I think we can see that there are two strong forces butting heads here. At sites such as TeflWatch the one who wants to sue is always the bad guy. And dangerous enough to merit immediate and forceful consequence and support.

   To the Hall with you, Niva! Retain all postings on the thread, please.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Hello NamTok   


The fact that nobody (so far) has corroborated the OP's comments

makes me just a tad suspicious that the post may have been

an act of retaliation or a vendetta of some kind.


i.e., I'm not willing to draw conclusions

based on the comments of 1 person.

[Mods-Rockers]

Whilst I am appalled at the silly threats made to this service, I tend to agree with Kent on this, the OP has not been corroborated and I believe admin was going to move it to sour gripes if not for the threats.

My own take on the threats is that they come from two silly teachers trying to ingratiate themselves to the school, of course it could also be that they are merely patsies for the school who have been told to pass on the threats. Either way I believe that they are in a catch 22 position. as the threats have clearly failed it tends to make the school look bad and thus their positions may well be in danger because they made the school look a lot worse than it may be, the flip side is that if the school did set it up they can now claim ignorance of the plan and again the two teachers positions are in danger.
Seems to me now that if it were the latter scenario and I was one of those teachers I would be doing some major damage limitation, if the school did use them as patsies but they made it public before any sacking theen the school would look like a real big sack of doodoo and truely deserve the hall. if the school was innocent then they, should punish the teachers but not sack them. but hey this is thailand and back stabbing is a national pasttime.

[Mods-Rockers]

I hope that made sense, I am the wrong side of too many hot rum toddies trying to shift a cold. In the morning when i read it i will most likely think i am a fool.

[Dumbo]

Yeah I know that, Kent. No one else has corroborated the OP. Only one thing though, I personally wouldn't want to work for a school that threatens a lawsuit against any teacher who opposes them. It sounds like the other Hall of Shame school, EF Chiang Mai(?). These guys are asking for full names of the teachers in order to file a lawsuit against them.

 

ModsRocker: I never thought of that one. Maybe it is and aren't we supposed to be pro-teacher, even if the teachers  are scabs? Maybe we should just see how this plays out and maybe these two guys will do what admin had suggested and post about the school. I sure would like to see an honest report about the school.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Agreed, Dumbo


No disrespect to the OP intended. 


If 2 or 3 people jump in & support the assertions made above,

I'll glady eat my post, do 10 Hail Marys and confess my sins.


Kidding aside; my gutt feeling is that the threat of legal action

was more of a knee-jerk reaction than a serious challenge,

especially since it was a PM rather than a public post.

[Mods-Rockers]

Yes Dumbo we are pro teacher, the problems occur when we have teacher against teacher as it appears to be in this case.

[snottgoblin]

An interesting post regarding " Niva International School " I actually worked there some time ago (about a year and a half back as I recollect). Sad to say the opinions posted by " Lady Teacher " are all rather similar to mine and other departed teaching staff experiences.

One needs to work there (Niva) to understand the complexity of the Philipino Mafia and the delight they take in being spiteful and malovent to others not of their religious and racial persuasion.This is all done with the tacit approval of the school owner, prayers prior to staff meetings come now is this the criteria for a balanced school management team I ask ? The religious cant in and out of the school can best be described as "rabid", this applies from the top to the bottom of the school hierarchy regardless of whatever religious views one may hold if any.

I would make an educated guess and suggest that the threating post were made at the behest of the school owner who has been described as a somewhat unpleasant person .I do agree with that description,the amount of staff that have passed through this particular school is indeed amazing,however the school keep the staff turnover covered by recruiting from within the psuedo Philipino religious mafia network both here and from the Phillipines.

In short.Yes, Lady teacher may be accused of having an attitude, yet the threats that have been made to the forum and the original poster I feel reinforce and back up the comments made by the original poster in this matter.

I ask that the operators of this forum keep up their good work, I feel that if the school carry on rattling their sabres they will soon break, perhaps the fact that a number of the school teaching staff are not able to
prove their qualifications or are not in possession of a valid work permits or the correct visa catergories may well come to light as the result of any implied action by Niva !!

Being Burmese, Indian Vietnamese etc in Thailand is not a wonderful choice especially if they are bending the rules surrounding working here, People in glass houses should not throw stones.

[NukeThemSlowly]

I think anyone stupid enough to send threats such as those to a site with a purpose like that of this one deserves to be humiliated, laughed at, and then fired, after taking the blame.  I have no patience at all for such despicable behavior, whether or not their boss asked them to do it.  Perhaps it will teach the other flunkies to let the boss do his own dirty work.   

I also agree the thread should stand and the school should be shamed, mainly because the threats were sent.  A strong example needs to be set for other schools who may try the same sort of doodoo.

[NamTok]

snottgoblin et al,

   Thanks for a well-written and well-reasoned verification to us of the slam-bang posting by Ladyteacher. Ladyteacher perhaps might be as rabid against Niva as Niva is in their own ways and actions, but Ladyteacher makes her point vividly, if stridently.

   What struck me first and foremost in this controversy is the immediate reaction of Niva to sue (apparently everyone and anyone). Niva did act to seek a remedy by using the law, which in principle is generally a good thing.

   However, the laws of libel and slander etc in Thailand are heavily weighted in favor of the plaintiff (Niva). In fact, the Acting (Caretaker) Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra just the other day filed a libel etc civil suit against a prominent academic on the faculty of a university in Bangkok. So, frankly, the immediate move by Niva to sue is hardly commendable, nor does it merit respect or praise.

   As I stated in an earlier posting, anyone who seeks to sue TeflWatch or any site like it always is the bad guy. Niva is seeking the information from TeflWatch to sue TeflWatch et al on the basis of one posting. That alone provides reason enough to consider Niva to be an intemperate and imperious operation. Which is why I voted to express route Niva to the TeflWatch Hall of Shame.

   Equally as important is to support TeflWatch in such a situation. In supporting TeflWatch we each and all support ourselves. This "First Threat" is a precedent that all schools and all farang teachers are watching closely. So it indeed is necessary for TeflWatch to make public the threat and actions by Niva.

   Further, it sounds from your posting that there are quite a few farang former Niva teachers out there who could choose to come forward if they wished.

[Due Diligence]

When I first arrived in Thailand I saw a NIVA advert and was tempted as all a newbee might be.  However a Thai friend informed me it wasn't good school. She didn;t give more details but well if a Thai says it sucks then it must suck. They say its safe to drink Bangkok water. So why don't Thais drink it? They must know something..................

[Parent]

As a parent of children who study at Niva International School I feel compelled to write.
My first reaction will be towards ‘Lady teacher’, she implies that all teachers and the administrator are religious freaks, something that is echoed later in this threat. I have spoken to several of the teachers of Niva, and never have they tried to push the conversation towards religion, something that I would expect of a religious freak.

It was also said in this threat that (many ) teachers did not have qualifications. I have not encountered this.
According to some contributors of this thread, a Filipino mafia controls the school. It is true that there are some Filipino teachers, but there are also teachers from the USA, England, France, The Netherlands and some other countries. To me it sounds, and looks like a TRUE International school, most like other schools that call themselves international, but re actually American schools.

Many of the teachers, if not all, are very approachable. Take the IT teacher for instance. He teaches in a fun way according to my children, and they are very happy with him, even though he is not a native English speaker. He helps all students with all problems they have, not only IT problems. He teaches the students English, values, something that is very important, and that ‘Ladyteacher’ does not seem to have much of, looking at her vocabulary, and is well liked by staff and students alike.

The office staff is also very friendly, and will go out of their way to help you. I have absolute no idea why ‘Ladyteacher’  hat wrote she wrote. I can only conclude that is a mentally sick person who does not know manners, and shows what she really is. I am very happy that she is no longer at Niva and cannot poison my children with here disturbing attitude. I also hope for her sake she seeks professional help soon.

[Mods-Rockers]

I hazard a guess as to the IP address this post came from.
I assume Parent that you are a qualified medical practicioner, seeing as how you can make a diagnosis as above, and yet if that were true you would also be a hypocrite for breaking the oath.
Your manners are also exemplary when you castigate the mental health of someone while saying they have no manners.
TransPARENT is a word that comes to mind here.

[samvimes]

Too many non native like expressions with some Americanisms and a few grammar errors, I'd warrant this post came from a Filipino member of staff. In any case it's not articulate enough for someone who can afford to send their child to a real international school and it's not written by a native speaker.

[Mods-Rockers]

tend to agree, as I said transPARENT.

[admin]

My only comment is that it is quite funny that the teacher who is held up as a great example, one of the IT teachers, is one of the teachers who threatened the site and any who posts against Niva with a lawsuit.

Anyways, IT teachers know better than to use easily tracked IP address so we will never know who parent really is.

News I can report on this thread, Niva has escaped from a blacklisting as the attack came only from two IT teachers who say they were acting on their own behalf and not at the suggestion of the school administration. So unless something major comes along in the next 24 to 36 hours, I am going to cut some posts out of here into the Sour Gripes and lock up the thread for a few days while things calm down. Not now, in 24 to 36 hours. For now the thread is still open.

[Ronaldo]

I believe it is fair to say IMO there seems to be an internal fight going on at NIVA, which has spilt over on to the board, which naturally we all look forward to reading and commenting on, however. NIVA International School has not done itself any favours by suggesting that it is going to sue either individual members or the board, which is in itself very doubtful but it does allow us the opportunity to point out the apparent inadequacy of a draconian law roundly condemned by lawmakers worldwide.

Moreover, it highlights the tendency to use Thai law in a spurious fashion as illustrated by the criminal defamation law that has in recent years been condemned globally as offensive to basic rights of free expression and publication. Many countries have recognised that criminal defamation is obsolete, and have removed it from the statute books. Unfortunately, Thailand is not among them.

Here, a person convicted under section 328 of the Penal Code may be subject to a fine of 200,000 Thai baht and two years’ imprisonment. This is an extremely backward provision entirely out of place in a modern and democratic society, and out of step with developments in international law. It is also contrary to the both the letter and spirit of the 1997 Constitution, which guarantees unrestricted freedom of expression. 

The reasons that criminal defamation has been rendered obsolete are many. They have been articulated in great detail through documents issued over some years by the UN Human Rights Committee—which oversees the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is a party—the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, and prominent rights groups such as Article XIX. Among the principle reasons, first, criminal defamation cases stifle free speech by intimidating others from speaking openly and directly about matters of public interest. Secondly, they improperly shift the burden of proof onto a criminal defendant. Thirdly, criminal defamation is unnecessary when civil defamation exists as an alternative.

As for civil defamation, there are also many international standards that should be considered by the courts in these cases. Among these, first, the purpose of a defamation suit should be limited to protecting a person or legal entity from public ridicule or hatred; not, by contrast, to stifle legitimate criticism of public bodies, corporations or persons, particularly where this is done in the public interest.

Secondly, a civil defamation suit should be granted only in cases where the offending statement is demonstrably false, with the burden of proof resting with the complainant. Thirdly, any remedy granted in a civil defamation suit should be with the purpose of redressing the harm caused to the complainant, not punishing the person or persons responsible for the defamation. Where the remedy granted involves payment of compensation, the amount must be proportionate to the harm done, and should take into account other factors, such as the overall negative effect on free speech that may be felt as a consequence.

[Parent]

Mods-Rockers and Samvimes both stopped talking about the issue, and attacked me. That is why I write now back in non-perfect English.

Rocker, your grammar may be perfect, today, but it shows that you do not know much about English, a language that constantly changes, but your comprehension still lacks a little. As far as I remember I never said that 'Ladyteacher' was my patient, so I cannot break my oath. However, you are observant enough to see that I am a medical practicioner, and you should know that they have their own kind of langauge, which might differ a little from your English.

Sam, I make enough to send my children to an true international school, and I might even learn some English form them. What you said, might be understood that only an elite group of people is allowed to send their children to a true international school, and they must speak and write your English.

I only hope that my children will not have to study with the likes of you two. You only try to stir the emotion pot, and make people unhappy. You do not look at facts, instead hear a rumor, and immediatly look at the negative side to try to make it worse.

Administrator, you claim that your site is so in favor of 'Free Speech', why then do you say you will dumb some, not all, but some of the postings? Sounds rather 'Big Brother' to me. There goes your free speech. Either stop this provocative non-grounded speculation, or let all stand.

I will not react to any postings that this mail may start. The reason for that is that I know that all of you are right, 

But I am happy. I hope you might find happiness sometime in this life.

[monkey woods]

I hope you might find happiness sometime in this life.

Aww...that's nice of you.   

[Mods-Rockers]

Its ironic that transparent made his/her posting and admits to being a medic and also admits to making public a diagnosis of lady teacher imediately after a rarther long posting on the defamation laws as they pertain to Thailand. I hope you are reading this ladyteacher and it has given you food for thought. Remember even if its now proved that you are as nutty as a fruitcake you can still sue his or her ass all over bangkok and effectively retire.

Oh yes I do find so much happiness in life.

[NamTok]

Ronaldo,

   It's a pleasure to read your brief, ie, your legal analysis of freedom of speech. You point out with great effectiveness a major way by which the Thai elites protect themseves and preserve their elite positions and status in Thai society (the same is true of many other societies). Owners of schools in Thailand seem incresingly interested in considering this approach, ie, civil defamation suits, so we have to get on their case immediately, as you well did.

   I would add, if I might, that Thailand needs to adopt the principle of law that the truth is a valid defense. That is, if what you say is true, then you are not guilty of any violation of law, whether civil or criminal. Pesently Thai law only looks at harm. If harm is done, then the teller of truth is guilty of harming the one who is actually guilty. This principle of law is among the many areas of jurisprudence in which Thailand is backward (upside-down and inside-out too).

   Admin,
                      Glad to learn that Niva is not about to sue, that the threat was not made by the school but, rather, by two teachers. Good news indeed, to include for Niva. (As with a good cold one, we all together got to the bottom of this in rather short order, eh?) 

[hippo]

Sorry but I don't think parent is any type of medical person, he says "However, you are observant enough to see that I am a medical practicioner, and you should know that they have their own kind of langauge, which might differ a little from your English." If he were in the profession, surely he would say "we" and "our". There are terms and expressions used in all professions, it is called jargon and you can usually tell a person's profession or interest/hobby by it. It is like a secret handshake. If someone says to me that they have an 11-19 corncob with a 52/42 then I know what they are interested and I would probably counter that with "I can't push anything that high.
That's beside the point. How many doctors will publicise the fact that they are doctors? How many doctors send their children to NIVA? Looking at the style of the letter suggest that the author is a Filipino especially the ending which reminds me of the "More power to you" school.

[Ronaldo]

Admin,

Apologies for the rather long post, but I do believe it to be valuable to at least post the state-of-play regarding this issue in Thailand.

NamTok,

Thanks for the kind comments.

What you added goes to heart of the matter as it now pertains in Thailand and recent political event bear witness to this misdirected process.

However, coming back to the initial comments by Ladyteacher, it still strikes me as an internal dispute writ-large on the 'board' and will surely die a death of a thousand cuts and be over in a jiffy.

[Thai Me Up]

Where is Ladyteacher?  Now that various posters have weighed in, both to support her and to damn her, I'd like to hear a response by the OP.  Ladyteacher can corroborate or add further comment, but at this point, the thread really needs some new info from her to make this discussion productive (or at the very least, more amusing).  C'mon Ladyteacher, speak!

[mabel]

What's interesting about Niva is that...they love to hire Filipinos and they prefer if they are newcomers here in the Land of Smile because they can pay them as low as 6,000-8,000 Baht  but if you are woman with a pretty face (chubby or not)  ...they're willing to pay approximately 12,000-13,000 Baht  - - - the working time is from 7 or 8am until 6pm (correct me if I'm wrong) because during the time that I applied there this is what they told me....and lastly, I just walked in there and asked for interview and they give me the job right away without any teaching demonstration... by the way, I'm a Filipina  .

Luckily, a friend of mine who once worked there told me that I should look for another school than work at Niva.There'a lot of things to say but I don't want this organization to be in trouble. Just try guessing....   

[Ronaldo]

There'a lot of things to say but I don't want this organization to be in trouble. Just try guessing....   

You don't want to get this organisation in trouble and we should try guessing, well I for one would like you to explain.

 

[certified]

I was interviewed by the director of the school. He told me he was a Catholic, and he started questioning me on what I thought of Seventh Day Adventists. I just told him that in general from the Christian mainstream, the SDA's had their own beliefs which differed from the majority of Christians. Then he wanted me to ellaborate on the differences, which I did in a careful way not to look prejudiced. Then all of a sudden he says, "I am a seventh Day Adventist, I wanted to see what you thought of my faith." 

[bomha]

I was interviewed by the director of the school. He told me he was a Catholic, and he started questioning me on what I thought of Seventh Day Adventists. I just told him that in general from the Christian mainstream, the SDA's had their own beliefs which differed from the majority of Christians. Then he wanted me to ellaborate on the differences, which I did in a careful way not to look prejudiced. Then all of a sudden he says, "I am a seventh Day Adventist, I wanted to see what you thought of my faith." 

Then you could have replied, "Well, I understand that Adventists are very strict about obeying the Ten Commandments.  Why did you bear false witness to me about your faith?  Now I need to go have sex with my boyfriend and his dog...."

[goo]

Well, what can I say? I started this thread, took a job at the school and now must give my verdict. I can state that one of my reasons for actually joining this school was the crass negativity of 'Ladyteacher'. I figured (incorrectly) that any school that got rid of such a person was going to be ok. How wrong can a person be?

I will start with the really bad contractual stuff that went on.

They seem incapable of paying on time. There are no excuses given for late payment, when you question it you are told that essentially you should butt out and wait. Late payment happened to me on 3 occasions whilst I was at the school. I was abused verbally by the owner for asking for my pay (which was late) and told that I should be grateful for having a job. Apparently there were 100's of lucky souls waiting to take my position (I put this to the test when leaving). I should be grateful to him for giving me the position and I should shut up and wait for my cash.

They lie about their insurance. They say you are covered by the school scheme and then you find out that they have been lying to you - the owner/director is the one telling direct lies to you here. When asked about this he directly blamed 'the Thai staff, you know how they all lie'. No coverage was forthcoming in my first 3 months at the school - and no payments to cover you under the Thai 30 Baht scheme. Morally, ethically and, in the spirit of their claimed christian faith, unacceptable. The lies are the things that really get you here, not just incompetence.

Your working hours are increased without notice. You have a high workload anyway, they see fit to increase this on a whim. I worked over 31 hours a week (NOT including prep/marking time). I was told I would recieve payment for all hours worked over 28 (apparently the school average - yikes!). This happened for 2 months, then not again. All teachers are treated like slaves in the manner. They are TOLD to come in on Sundays, no asking, no thank you, and certainly no positive feedback for your efforts. I stress that all the teachers are in the same boat here and most (if not all) feel the same on this point. The negativity of the admin is a major concern. There is no praise for individuals or goups, just do it.

The issuing of contracts seems to be a problem for the owner. You should have one on day one, I was only given one when there was an imminent visit from the MoE (who were going to talk to staff.....). The contract, when it does materialise, is not worth the paper (like most in Thailand I have to say). The owner seems to think that he superseeds Thai labour laws. The contract is comical. An example of this is the 'one semester' probation period with immediate termination. (Dear Owner, read Thai labour laws will you?)

Ok, thats the contractual stuff, now some of the multitude of issues/incidents and plain daft stuff that occurs. On my first day (I really should have walked out after this) we were treated to an assembly where the owner claimed he could cast out the devil from people via mobile phone. We were emplored to put the phone to childrens ears (if they were possesed by the devil) and he would cast them out from whatever location he was at. Jesus Christ is alive and working at Niva. What a guy!

On other occasions we were told that the reason that people were homeless and slept in cardboard boxes in the world was because they didnt believe in the SDA (their) god. The owner said that he was gods rep on earth (or at the very least, Niva) and that he was on a mission of salvation to the Thai people. Thank fucking god for that. I thought we were in trouble for a minute! The religious stuff was bad, the kids were subjected to this barrage also. Documents circulated amongst the SDA's about the best methods of converting the Buddhists to their religion (cult).

The owner (Malaysian), who really has some personal issues with paranoia, insecurity and inferiority, is unaware of how his particular (lack) of personality affects the kids and the staff. He has the personality of a rotting carcus and the humour of a sapping stomach wound on a kid after a car wreck. This, in itself, maybe shouldn't be highlighted and might seem a little too personal, however his issues manifest themselves in abuse of staff and students (verbally) for no reason. He threatened violence toward me directly once when I wouldn't do as he wanted. The number of staff that receive verbal abuse by this man in huge. This probably accounts for 90% of the huge turnover of staff that the school has (I will come back to the turnover later). This situation of direct verbal abuse (and complete lack of people skills) is exascerbated by the Academic Director, a man who also lacks personality and charm (again, in itself, not an issue for complaint on this forum - but read on!). This man has some serious anger issues and uses bullying tactics to acheive his (and the owners) goals. He gets angry one on one, sometimes to the level of the staff (and students) feeling personally threatened.

Now anger, insecurity, paranoia and an inferiority complex might not be large issues, I would like to stress that the problem is how they manifest themselves. These two jokers bully, threaten, rant, rave and abuse the staff and kids. I witnessed an incident where the owner cleared everything off his desk and started banging his fist into his hand in a gesture I haven't really seen since I was in the school playground. Many other teachers have been threatened verbally  in this manner and have been on the receiving end of these idiots.

The kids don't get off lightly either. One student was given 10 detentions in a row for talking in Thai in the home room time, a 7 year old was given a detention for being late when his mother drove him to school and on and on...

Now, let me talk about how they run the school. They are trying to achieve accreditation from CIS/WASC. This is in line with most international schools in Thailand. However they do this and they don't even bother to read CIS standards. One is that the actually educate the kids. This is ignored (with an alarming regularity) by the owner and his personality devoid sidekick. The students don't actually have to turn up to school. They are allowed (by the Academic Director no less) to miss school for some of the most superficial reasons I have ever witnessed. Some of the kids (15 year olds) were even given school permission to go to Pattaya, by themselves, to look for the dining facilities in the resort they were staying in so they could tell the other kids when they arrived the next day for camp - despite it being pointed out that there was probably adequate signage in the resort! They missed a whole day of school, 5 15 year olds in Pattaya by themselves for a night!!!!! Some teachers refused to acknowledge this time off and eventually the school made other arrangements, but it highlights their mentality. If you are a student and you don't want to attend school and still graduate, Niva is the place for you. If you are a teacher who wants to actually see the kids in class, then definitely stay away from Niva.

There is no curriculum at Niva. This is despite telling the MoE and CIS that they had adpted a curriculum from Mississippi. I was given some of that all too familiar abuse for daring not to cover the whole text books in the subjects I was teaching. The reason, when I asked, for apparently having to cover the whole texts books is that that is the curriculum. What about the Mississippi one I cried? Massive swathes of it are irrelevant. Parents beware. Your kids are not receiving anything like a proper international school education because the idiots in charge cannot even get a curriculum in place!

I will finish on staff turnover. Here it is huge. Even during the year. People leave when they are abused by the owner, when they are shouted at by his sidekick, when they realise the hypocracy of these so-called religious people, they leave when they have had enough of the massive workload, they leave because they feel depressed, they leave because they cannot educate the kids properly and they leave because they are sick of the mad, mad person who runs this place. Turnover must be the highest of any international school in Thailand (ok, Siam may be up there also) and the holidays are the lowest. Work here if you are an SDA, you won't like it, but at least you will be amongst bretheren when the work makes you feel bad. If you are not an SDA steer clear. It ain't worth it. If you do go work there please re-read this after you quit and see if it makes sense.

To all those who suffer at the hands of the owner of this place, I am thinking of you. May God help you - the proper god, not his fucked up jesus complex god that appears in his paranoid and insecure mind. Oh, he really does hate white folk as well. He wants so badly to be white that this manifests itself as hatred against all the fair skinned people. He also hates Asians (but for other reasons) and just about anyone who crosses the threshhold of the school. There are some really good, kind-hearted people who work at this place, to you I say 'god bless'.

[Thighlander]

Sounds like BCC, but maybe a different flavor.

[RobRoy]

I've had the "pleasure" of meeting one of these gentlemen.  He was invited to my wedding by a mutual friend as a potential "networking" source.   At the end of the evening after wrapping things up, this gentleman went to all the tables and collected all the unemptied whiskey bottles to take home with him.  All I could do is laugh and remind myself that if this person came to my wedding, not knowing me and my wife and decided to help us out by relieving us of the burden of the leftover whiskey it would be someone I would never work for.  Its almost 9 months later and I'm still in awe he did that.  So the bottom line is if he'll steal your whiskey, he'll steal your money.

[ladyteacher]

Well folks you sometimes have a pop at me and I enjoy it too, but I have been around a long time inThailand.

I know the schools and all I can say is I "told you so"

However goo you did the right thing,you gave it a try,advice given is always biased by the giver rightly or wrongly

Indeed I do hope all goes well for you in the future.There are many good employers and good schools in Thailand just tread carefully my friend.

Yes I prefer to be proactive to protect or forewarn my fellow teachers either newbees or old hand.

This site fills our need Keep it up Andy we need protection and networking too
Thanks.

[Nemesis]

Remember, it was two teachers from this school that threatened TEFLWatch with a lawsuit if we didn't divulge names. Maybe a trip to the Hall of Shame is in order?

[goo]

Definitely a Hall of Shame school, I've worked at a few Thai schools and this one is worse - by a long way. Words cannot describe adequately just how bad it is. The owner makes you feel terrible, miserable and depressed. This wasn't just me either, this is most of the teachers at the school. Some stay because they can't find other jobs, some stay because they feel a bit better with their SDA support group, others stay because they are waiting to leave. All in all this is a terrible place, made bad by only 2 things, the paranoid, insecure owner and his personality devoid sidekick. The turnover is the key to what I am saying. No good school has a turnover his high.

The owner is actually a failed teacher btw. His sidekick is from that other failing school Siam International. This are 2 gentlemen who claim to be christian, but fall well short of the mark and, for the first time in my life, I can say they are truely terrible human beings. They are incompetent, angry, aggressive and unfair. Unchristian as it gets. They even seem to revel in their wickedness and evil! The threat of abuse hangs over the whole faculty all the time.

Students get a raw deal here as well. They do not receive a proper international standard of education because of the clowns in-charge.

I am glad I have moved on, I am actually glad I am moving to a different country to be well away from this place and these 2 gentlemen.

[certified]

Can anyone explain who this sidekick is?

[ponder]

I had an interview there about two years ago. I was interviewed by a Welsh guy. Is he still there? He seemed okay (even though he did not give me the job).

Just curious.

[airpuka]

Oh my god this school sounds horrible, DEFINiTILY hALL OF SHAME

[ajarn1970]

Goo and Lady teacher.

Thanks for the advice. I've been invited for an interview at Niva this week but all this smacks of a disaster I had at an equally bad (actually not that bad) school last year and alarm bells are ringing so I'll have to withdraw my application at Niva. 

Anybody want to take my place? 

Cheers all....back to the drawing board! 

[anyonefortennis]

1970, if you're not too busy any chance you could pop along to the interview and then relay your thoughts on this thread, it may offer some interesting insights 

I'm interested to know how the portray themselves at interview, butter wouldn't melt or jack asses.

[ajarn1970]

Unfortunately tennis, I've already cancelled my appointment and it would have involved a bit of travelling anyway.....sorry dude 

Them's the breaks.

Are there any good international schools in this country? 

[anyonefortennis]

no worries fella, just an idea.

Patana's pretty good out on Sukhumvit 105. I've never seen them advertising, maybe you should just walk in and tell em how damn good you are - drop me a PM if you want the Executive Directors contact details - might as well go right to the top! 

By the way it's a British curriculum school so I'd imagine those from the UK with GCSE teaching experience are looked at favourably.

[hero]

There are several very good international schools here I believe.  The top ones (like Pattana mentioned above) probably try and do most of their recruiting from abroad, job fairs and the like.  I'm sure they can't always achieve this, however.  A well-written letter to the big cheese might get you a foot in the door.  They usually like qualifications from back home and minimum of a couple of years experience with either the UK national curriculum or an American education system (depending upon their academic orientation) as the very minimum requirements - again this isn't always the case, I know at least one guy who landed a plum international school gig with neither (kind of through a family connection though) although he did have post-grad education qualifications.

[goo]

I am speaking personally, but I would love someone from the school admin to come on to this site and respond to some of the issues raised. Granted my own posting a couple of months back was a bit emotional (and reading back a bit unintelligable), but there are a few issues that this school should be responding to:-

1) why is the staff turnover so high

2) why is the owner still bullying people (including making female teachers cry on a regular basis)

3) why are the students allowed to come and go at will (even encouraged by the admin who actively authorize insane absences)

4) why are there flagrant breaches of Thai Immigration law (obtaining working visas through fraudulent information etc.)

5) why are there breaches of Thai (MoL and MoE) Law and regulations (I know about the fake degrees (encouraged by the school), the violation of the working locations from the work permits, 'teachers' working as adminstration staff etc.)

I would like to stress that I am fully supportive of every person working at the school, which ever religion they follow or not, from any country they come from, apart from the 2 clowns who actually run this place.

The owner needs to explain how he reconciles his obvious anger and hatred (and downright illegal practices) with his religion and how his (American) sidekick justifies some of his crass stupidity. I know I am not bringing anything new to this forum, just a plea for the admin of this place to come on here and justify some of the issues raised - defend if you can, I am reasonable and can have a reasonable debate with anyone (I tried with you in your own school).

[retiredstillteaching]

Clearly, the onus is on the owner and/or managers of this school to respond to a reasonable and fair request by a reasonable sounding teacher. The teacher deserves support in his request as the matters he itemizes are all too familiar to so many of us who teach at schools in Thailand.

A response would be welcome and might lend some credit to the school.

[preceptor]

I was recently hit from behind by a taxi while riding my motorcycle from teaching at Niva.  The incident sent me sailing into a concrete lightpost and into Ladprao General Hospital.  All of my 12th grade class showed up to bring me presents and offer me support in this unfortunate situation.  The administration at Niva fired me.  They said they were having difficulty getting my teaching license.  I know that to be bogus.  The visa officer just weeks before believed there would be no problems.  They let him go too. 

I received very high marks from one of my department heads after being reviewed.  The owner and administrator said I was a great teacher and would only get better.  All of my students loved me and couldn't wait for me to get back.  So what does this administration do to someone who just spent a week in the hospital.  The fire them.

Niva really isn't that great of a place to work.  The students are great, and the teaching staff is really good too, but they work you like a machine and get upset if you ask questions or need support.  The teaching load is rediculous.  At last count I spent 26 periods in the classroom and then had other responsibilities they contributed to my already heavy load.  On top of that, they are going through accreditation and teachers are required to do that work as well.

The administration is downright unpleasant.  I had the unfortunate experience to watch them get worse as the months passed.  The top administrator exploaded in a 45 minute rant at one meeting because he perceived something someone said to be rude.  He talked about maintaining professionalism.  I never saw it from him.

If you want to be overworked, rediculed, treated poorly and be unappreciated, Niva International is the place for you.

Good luck!

[preceptor]

I was recently hit from behind by a taxi while riding my motorcycle from teaching at Niva.  The incident sent me sailing into a concrete lightpost and into Ladprao General Hospital.  All of my 12th grade class showed up to bring me presents and offer me support in this unfortunate situation.  The administration at Niva fired me.  They said they were having difficulty getting my teaching license.  I know that to be bogus.  The visa officer just weeks before believed there would be no problems.  They let him go too. 

I received very high marks from one of my department heads after being reviewed.  The owner and administrator said I was a great teacher and would only get better.  All of my students loved me and couldn't wait for me to get back.  So what does this administration do to someone who just spent a week in the hospital.  The fire them.

Niva really isn't that great of a place to work.  The students are great, and the teaching staff is good too, but they work you like a machine and get upset if you ask questions or need support.  The teaching load is rediculous.  At last count I spent 26 periods in the classroom and then had other responsibilities they contributed to my already heavy load.  Other teachers have a heavier load than me.  On top of that, they are going through accreditation and teachers are required to do that work as well.

The administration is downright unpleasant.  I had the unfortunate experience to watch them get worse as the months passed.  The top administrator exploaded in a 45 minute rant at one meeting because he perceived something someone said to be rude.  He talked about maintaining professionalism.  I never saw it from him.  This man's propensity for nastiness is profound.

If you want to be overworked, rediculed, treated poorly and be unappreciated, Niva International is the place for you.

Good luck!

[ajarn1970]

These wankers should be exposed for the morons they truly are. They offered me a job earlier this year and I told them I'd heard the place had problems.

This top admin twat you speak of fired off at me about coming to "his" country. I mean last time I met a Thai guy his name was Thanaporn or Somchai, but this guy had a western name.

But then again where else can this guy work but an ego pit where he feels like he's worth more than roach crap. Professionalism? How about humility first!

Get a life NIVA you pack of unprofessional slugs......  

Bloody 7th dayers! 

[tony]

I'll bet money the side kicks name is Steve.  He slimes into a new school every couple of years.   

[ajarn1970]

Actually I can't remember his name off hand AND I won't attempt to in case I misfire and someone innocent gets hit. All I remember is that he is definitiely NOT Thai but refers to all us dirty foreigners coming to HIS country as scoundrels attempting to only take and not give.

Some people are just outright wankers and this guy gets the Golden Globe for it 

There is apparently another dude who recruits and is reportedly OK.
I've since deleted the e-mail he (side kick) sent but I would have loved to have kept it and posted it here.....it was hilarious to say the least.
I'm sure this guy was toilet trained by the Taliban!

[ladyteacher]

As I posted earlier in this thread I had the grave misfortune to work at Niva, the owner is from I think Sri Lanka or possibly Colombo.He hates white people and despises the Thai's. He claims a Masters Degree in some vague area of education but never could name the university he earned his degree from.An overbearing power freak who gets very close to certain people in the school in the final years grades too.Terrorises his staff who sadly in many cases are not able to gain employment elsewhere due to their lack of English language skills and in his eyes they are cheap labour
This from a person who professes to be a devout Christian person (God Help Us)

[ajarn1970]

They should team up with that horrific joint B.E.S.T Burapa in Pattaya (or WORST) more appropriately to make a collosal spank joint. They can teach fundamentals of ego (EGO 101) and tell everyone how good they are whilst keeping quiet to all parents that the place makes a terrorist training camp look like a bridge meet.

Some people just boil my blood 

You correct you on ethnicity, the guy's apparently Malaysian but there's good and bad in every race as we all know. Most Malaysians I meet are actually very friendly, courteous and professional people.