Kajonkietsuksa School Thailand

tafy on Mon, 23rd Apr 2007 1:01 am 



Well where do I start… I should start by agreeing with the above comments as they are correct!

The facilities in the school are just pathetic, no pool no sports ground nothing! Every sports lesson the kids go down to the undercover playground area and play “pass the ball”.

The person that “Observes” you to “help you” is nothing more than a spy, I had 3 of these and I thought as I am a new teacher I would get some help…. What the observations actually are is a test, if your lesson didnt go very well then you are fired.

I had 3 observations, on the third I got observed for my 2nd Maths lesson ever. I am the first to admit that the lesson went down badly, I did a real bad job! I was fired that same day.

Kajornkietsuksa is a business and they are out to make all the money they can, they want qualified (Bed or PGCE) and they want it for 35,000 baht. If you only have a normal degree then you better hope to pass their test or get fired withing the month.

If your a new teacher think twice about this school, if your experienced and or qualified then do you really want to work in a place like this for 35,000 baht?

davilge on Thu, 3rd May 2007 4:50 pm 



Here is the rub, at Kajonkiet foreign teachers are entrusted with academic quality control. Hence, when a teacher is not suitable or is doing a poor job it will be duly noted and reported as such. Is this spying? Well that comes down to perspective.

This is not one of those schools where all the foreigners stick together because they are all “farang” and are just tokens. This is a school where many teachers take their jobs very seriously. Hence they have teachers who have been there for 3/4/5/6 years!! Show that to me in many others schools in Thailand. These people care for the kids and as such will not tolerate people who do a poor job or who dont give a damn.

1) Is Kajonkiet perfect? No.

2) Is it an International school? (for you Dan) No.

3) A…l (Smitty), get off your high horse, I love you very much but you left the years ago! Get over it. Both you and the person concerned
dealt with things in a less than proper way.

4) Kajonkiet, unlike many other schools, actually has weekly meetings with all the coordinators (foreigners) and discusses problems, issues and concerns. Nazi admin? I think not.

Bottom line if you are not serious dont come to Kajonkiet. If you want to make “serious money” dont come to Thailand.

Andy says: So serious teachers shouldn’t come to Thailand? Professionals are paid professionally, dude.

Hle on Sat, 5th May 2007 10:23 am 



Actually I have to agree with davilge.
Having not been at Kajonkiet long I found the staff there pleasant and friendly and the
observations (though I hate being observed) were constructive and helpful. I feel that if you show that you want to do a good job and teach well then the management pretty much let you get on with the job once they know you are capable. Like above said - they want people who are serious about teaching and that’s good - for the kids and staff.

Motorbility on Tue, 8th May 2007 12:54 am 



Hle - The point is that if you want to do a good job and want to learn then a managment that sack you with little reason is not a good place to learn. Many bad teachers can get on at this school if they make it into the ‘in crowd’ and many good teachers are told to leave as soon as the summer school need dries up. The observations would be a good idea if they were about constuctively advancing the subject and his/her teaching. It does not seem this way at this school. If they want you then you will be helped but if they decide that this week they have too many teachers then the next one into the office is given the sack. Once you have made it through your probation you do not have to face this again so people like David see it very differently but those that relocate and set up home in Phuket only to find that for no reason given they are unwanted after a month, will see it very differently.

As for the children. The school, like far too many in Thailand, is about bums on seats and money in the bank. The facilities are very poor and they are far too busy getting more seats for more bums to care about improving the quality. I do feel sorry for the children and do not think that the new building will improve their lot.

JBCB on Tue, 8th May 2007 7:23 am 



Just a few points and questions for those who are so adamant they know so much about Kajonkietsuksa

1. You have all formed such strong opinions. Well, how long did you work there? From what I know, probationary periods are 1 month long. Not long. And those of you who worked there longer obviously have too little work experience or an axe to grind, because I can tell you that I have very different views.

2. Yes, the sporting facilities are lacking, but do you think that our school is not aware of that and planning for it? Mmmm, there’s obviously very few managers among you.

3. You formed such very certain opinions of management. You obviously know them well.

4. To the gentleman who was ‘sacked’ after a bad observation. The expectations of a Summer Course are minimal. The classes are so small and everyone is in a truly laid back state of mind having just completed a very busy school year. And yet, by your own admission, after 3 observations with both comments and recommendations attached, you were still not finding yourself ‘up to scratch’. How, given this situation, could you possibly be given the responsibilities and added workload of a full-time teacher? Come on, you’re an adult, work it out. You may also take note of the fact that attitude and a willingness to learn count for far more points than a flawless lesson.

5. As for the comment of the school only wanting money and not caring for the children, you can ask any one of the so-called ‘in crowd’ (aka – The Long Term-ers) as well as any member of management, details of students personalities, academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as family backgrounds and even illnesses they have suffered. Can you say the same of the places you have taught at or are currently teaching at? How many parents can you think of who have the personal contact details of not only their child’s class teacher, but faculty as well as the Director of the school? And use them?

All in all, you are bitter and venomous because you didn’t make the grade. Believe it or not, there are some professionals who don’t only measure their worth and success in Baht, but being part of a network of support, acceptance into a community and the knowledge that they are not only making a difference, but being around long enough to see those differences year after year.

I hope you find a much better school to work at, Dude.

P.S. Nice English, Dude.

Starpunk on Wed, 9th May 2007 3:25 am 



If you’re not happy then you should move on…! Simple. Everything has its ups and downs

Starpunk on Wed, 9th May 2007 3:26 am 



i believe the Kindergarten section has improved by miles, is that not a start?

tafy on Thu, 10th May 2007 6:17 pm 



What I said is still true….

They hire you knowing full well that you are inexperienced at EP or teaching because they have such a high turnover. They wanted 15 teachers when I joined!

Then when you think they are helping you they are not, then you get fired without any verbal/written warnings. If I was such a bad teacher that I needed to be fired that day why didnt I get any warnings from the past month from the 2 other observations?

Why dont you tell people that they will be fired if they are not up to scratch on the observations? Why tell them its to help them?

Anyways, people who have been working there a long time love it, and are sticking up for it. I cant blame them for that.

Motorbility on Thu, 10th May 2007 10:19 pm 



JBCB Says:

I think you fail to understand where you are writing. This is teflwatch. Some of us are neither bitter or venomous but are here to warn others of a school that is not run fairly. I was open and honest about my abilities as was tafy. Neither of us claimed to be anything more than we are. We worked hard to do a good job and were dismissed for doing what we were asked to do. As tafy said, that was his second math lesson ever , he had not claimed to have taught maths before. The school led us to believe that we would be helped rather than judged. We were told that the observations were to aid personal advancement but he was summarily sacked for not being good second time. I was not even given a bad review, I was just sacked.

If someone relocates to Phuket to work at this school or spends any money changing to this job then they should listen to those that have gone before. We are not talking out of anger or malice. I now have a better job and I have spoken to tafy and know that he also has a better job. All we are trying to do is warn those that intend to go to Kojonkietsuka that the school lies about the probation period. They are not fair or open about what they are doing. They will say ‘we want to help you advance’ and then sack for for no or little reason.

Orator on Sat, 12th May 2007 4:03 am 



What we have here seems to be a bit of a stalemate. Motorbility and Tafy reckon its not a fair system. I would love to know; did the other positions (Tafy spoke about) get filled? Are these people still there?

I have been in ESL teaching for a long time. I have seen arguments like this a thousand times. Unfortunately they are usually waged by a handful of people with the strongest (sometimes most extreme) opinions. The “facts” of the matter are usually not 100% accurate from any party.

Why not, for a change, let us see the facts as they are? For example, what is the evaluation policy of the school? What are the criteria on which people are judged? Did the candidates meet these criteria? If they did not meet them where they give time / follow ups to improve? Did the candidates display a positive disposition to any assessments? Did they attempt to integrate themselves into a new system? Did they start each sentence with: “At my last school …. blah….blah…?” So many things go into deciding whether to pass or “fail” someone in their probabtion period.

I think a word to the wise for all those looking to move cities or countries. Do your homework, visit a school (during term preferably), Listen (don’t speak) to experienced teachers and find out what the “low down” is. Know what you are about so you do not end up in a situation which is not for you. I learned this the hard way in Korea! Have a plan B!

Judging by the responses from HLE / Davilge / JBCB and so on there seem to be people who not only enjoy the place but seem to defend it quite vigorously. So the neutral observer finds it difficult to judge.

I reckon this whole argument should be put to sleep now. I think it is about perceptions and if nobody is going to get concrete (and there are risks to everybody concerned) then the posting should end.

Well thats my two cents.

Jimmy Dean on Tue, 15th May 2007 10:28 am 



1.They have the highest turn over of staff in Phuket. Fact.
2. I sent my kid there. The letters sent out in English to parents have not been checked by an English speaker - or if they have then god help the kids. Lets start with the basics eh? There are dozens of mistakes in every letter.
3. Many of the long stay staff who stay there are working on non-o visas because they are married to someone who has a degree. Fact.
4. They have a reputation of being a teachers factory
5. If you dont get on with management or south africans then hit the road jack.
6. The teachers are asked to do rather more extra curricula duties than teachers in other schools and the “co-ordinators” dont have the spine to tell the admin to back-off as they are protecting their own empires.
7.For the fees - you would expect a native speaker in every class…………that is not the case. Many are filipino - or even Thai. Mainly due to high turnover and bad planning.
8. You have to sign in with a thumb print. That’s demeaning.

Orator on Wed, 16th May 2007 9:00 am 



Wow Jimmy Dean, lots of “facts” packed in there! Now its getting interesting! By the way No.8 - “That’s demeaning” is an opinion.

GE on Wed, 16th May 2007 9:28 am 



Jimmy Dean, it would appear that your experience at the school was not a good one and that you have since left?

I am sorry if this is the case. I sent my child there for two years, I was very happy on the whole. I originally wanted to send her to BCIS / Dulwich (we will one day move back to UK and must have IB), but the school she was at (bottom of the Island) was poor and she was seriously behind and “underdeveloped” if you will.

I sent her to Kajonkiet. Under her teachers she improved greatly and after two years I was able to move her to BCIS where she entered 2 years higher than where she left Kajonkiet.

I know that nothing is perfect, I saw the poor grammar in the letters. Probably some Thai person worried about saving face. All I can say is that in my experience the teachers who taught my child cared and demanded the best from her. Not only can she now spell properly, read properly and do Math at a functional level, she was accepted 2 grades up. Do you know how much money that is??

CmH on Wed, 16th May 2007 9:00 pm 



The school’s numbers have grown (over the last academic year) from 600+ to 910 (in 2007). This is only the English Programme School. They must be doing something right. Go on, think about it!

Heidi on Fri, 14th Sep 2007 2:38 pm 



As a qualified, experienced teacher looking for a new teaching job in Thailand, the location in Phuket is attractive, and I got a postive response to my application to teach at Kajonkietsuksa School. I, for one, totally appreciate the warnings by those who have come before and have been honest enough to articulate their dissatisfaction with the management of this school. I am leaving a really chaotic so-called “International” school with a dictator of a Head Teacher. Thus, I consider myself warned, and have cautiously decided it is best to not step “out of the frying pan into a fire.”

This forum at teflwatch is a service, perhaps saving people misery in their lives, not to mention helping good people to avoid emotional and economic upheavals. Thanks for your comments and advice colleagues!

Past life on Mon, 24th Sep 2007 3:46 am 



Heidi: I survived my time at Kajonkietsuksa without too much pain but like most of the decent teachers that started with me, I moved on. When I started there was one guy who should not have been teaching. He had no ability and I remember one occasion when all the children from his class were running around the landing and not in the room. He did not care because he was busy with something else. He is still there and is part of the family.

Decide for yourself, if you cannot control children and are no good at teaching, this may be just the place for you, but if you are any good it will just be a stepping stone.

ihatekajon on Mon, 11th Feb 2008 1:36 pm 



I have been at the school and I recently decided to pack it in, like most others. Be very careful, the school is going from bad to worse. This school should be blacklisted for they way management treat teachers and students. Everything said: never take a job there if you care about your sanity.

Smitty on Sun, 17th Feb 2008 11:28 am 



Well, let’s see, during my 6 year teaching career in Thailand, all of my students parents have praised me, and all of the principals at the schools I’ve taught, have given me outstanding reference letters, including Kajonkiet. I continued my education and now have a Bachelor of Education, specializing in kindergarten. I have steadily climbed the ladder and now receive a salary easily twice what Kajonkiet will pay. But forget all that and hear this; I had an advantage over all the teachers there, in that during my 14 month stay, I was able to observe what was going on behind the teaching scene concerning how the Thai help was being treated, which I wish not to speak of here, in order to protect the innocent. You have to know what’s going on starting at the top, to fully see the whole picture. You of the jelly fish gang who criticize me, have absolutely no idea what REALLY is going on there. Yes, I moved on finding much better schools paying higher salarys, with much less stabbing in the back.

Mike on Mon, 3rd Mar 2008 6:11 pm 



It’s very scarey to read all this. I just decided to check this school out and put it’s name in a search to find some pictures to see if I should apply for the jobs advertised. I have done the same with every job I have considered applying for and rarely see anything good written.
I am wondering if Thailand is worth bothering with or should I get the hell out of here before the whole thing chews me up????? I have now attended 15 interviews and have never met so many obviously shady caracters in my life and after 15 years as a child protection social worker you have to realise thats realy saying something!!

Joe on Wed, 5th Mar 2008 7:34 pm 



No problem Smitty. I wasn’t going to post again, but unfortunately, the grapevine says nothing positive other than the possible resignation of a few aforementioned “experienced” teachers planning to “coordinate” a low quality of education on some school soon to regret their poor interview and screening standards. This previously guaranteed attrition may not even happen due to other “reasons”. Not surprising. There’s no way they could ever duplicate the fortunate set of circumstances that led to their current positions. Why would they ever leave? I want to answer “Mike” but, Kaj, is only one of three schools I’ve taught since coming to Thailand over six years ago. I’ve heard stories and read things about other school along the same lines as him so one obviously must be careful in LOS. I can say, the people responsible for Kaj.’s poor reputation would never last the first month of probation in either the first or my current school. So, that’s some positive news (kpg comment) for Mike. I don’t know Smitty and the other posters, but I think our experiences here are similar by having very positive experiences for a number of years of teaching in Thailand and then came across the stark contrast of dodging daggers being thrown around at Kaj. I’ve can count on one hand the positive conversations I overheard in the teachers room (kpg must be thrive on the negative between reading this thread and working at Kaj.) Mike, sorry to be another downer during your decision to teach here, but there are some great schools here in Thailand. Further, Phuket is paradise and makes even teaching at Kaj, worthwhile after five o’clock and weekends. There are three other schools currently recruiting on Phuket who’ve never made even a mention on this site. Do some quick research. I quite personally know someone that I’m positive would say that the best four years of his/her life was spent teaching at one of those three schools. (kpg, another positive for you to place on the scale of “The balance of the nature of things”)
Sorry kpg, I don’t know you but I can’t think of anything you’d think was positive other than I’ll spare readers some more specifics about curriculum and the Kaj, university bound student expected academic competency, and what’s got to be a nervous group of “experienced” “coordinators” who’re responsible; that I’m dying to elaborate. If I were them I’d be jumping ship right about now and making a bee line return to the TGIF’s cocktail and wait staff crew back home.
Smitty, I would’ve surely written in about Dixie’s post. Dixie’s comment gives readers a peek at the ugly monster’s head that brought back the now comical, but then annoying memories of the situation that one finds oneself while teaching there. Kaj.’s recruiters had to breathe a sigh that Dixie did well to keep the beast caged while they’re struggling to fill openings. Although her cheap personal “pot” (pun intended) shot at you was interesting given the known working documentation issues with more than a few of Kaj.’s staff. My comments may seem cheap and personal as well, but my contentions about poor working conditions brought about by the aforementioned competing groups of twits is concurred here and with many others on Phuket. Unseemly staff retention statistics also verity this fact. My contentions about student competencies will be verified soon enough when the primary goes on into secondary or takes admission tests with expectation of using the score for entrance elsewhere. ”). Kaj’s students are a seriously mitigating factor for employment there. Truly great kids that have cool parents with interesting character. (Another positive for kpg’s “scale”).
Good Luck Mike

tobefair on Thu, 28th Aug 2008 12:23 pm 



As a qualified teacher who’s not afraid of hard work, I enjoyed my stay in Kajonkiet. It might seem a bit overwhelming to those who are not used to teaching or those who come to Thailand for its white sand and blue waters.

I didn’t agree with everything, but handled it all. Things are done differently in different parts of the world. If one tries hard, it is possible to change things for better. Complaining and whining behind others’ backs won’t get you anywhere. Well, atleast not to the right direction in my opinion.

As for the comments about back stabbing and “old workers” not welcoming the new ones: Think about it. Some have stayed with the school for years. They see people coming in, drinking, partying, not doing the job properly. If you do your job well, trust me, you are welcome here. Don’t expect people to come to you. Go to them. Let them know you are here to work and to co-work. Hey, you might even have some fun with your co-workers if you bother to try. I know I enjoyed the short talks in the teachers’ room. It was a great place to let some steam out, to ask advice for solving daily problems from those who have lived in Phuket for longer and to have a laugh over coffee to make work more fun.

It comes from my heart when I say I felt welcomed by my fellow workers and enjoyed working with them. When it comes to management, they are Thai, they have their Thai ways, but I felt appreciated and was always treated as a teaching professional.

No job is perfect. -And having a job means working.

I left Kajonkiet with nice memories and knowing I’d be welcomed back anytime.

If you choose to work here, try to do your best, accept that there are things you can not change, but try to work to make things better. Remember that it’s about the students. Most of all, there are great teachers working in Kajonkiet. Don’t be intimidated to make new friends and enjoy your experience teaching in Phuket!

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