Pinoy English teachers increasing in Thailand

Filipino English teachers now make up the largest category of Filipino migrant workers in Thailand, according to the Philippine embassy in Bangkok.

"Known for their proficiency, Filipino teachers are now estimated to number more than 5,000," Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez said.

Filipino English teachers generally are paid between $400 and $800, about equal or higher than their local counterparts’ salaries but half of those received by American, Australian and British teachers, Rodriguez said.

Thai Ministry of Education head Songsri Wannasen said the pay scale difference is due to standards set by the schools.

The Thai government refrains from interfering in policies set by schools in determining the salaries of foreign English teachers but it does encourage them to give higher pay, she said, adding that it is up to the teachers to negotiate for better pay and terms.

The Philippines is the only English-speaking country in Asia, a legacy of the American colonial period that ended in 1946, right after World War II.

English is the language in business and government transactions as well in the judiciary.

One of the advantages Filipino overseas workers have over migrant workers from other countries is their fluency in English.

However, Filipinos’ fluency has largely deteriorated in the past years, which analysts have largely blamed on the country’s educational system and the government’s policy of promoting the use of Filipino.