Comments on: Kajonkietsuksa School Thailand

By: le petit prince

le petit prince — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:11:28 +0000

I so agree with Motorbility. Unfortunatly I didn’t read this forum before I applied for work there.. The system is crazy, they really make you feel like a commodity. I was originally hired as the new Art Teacher. Then I got an e-mail 1 wk before starting, while I was still in my home country, having arranged the visa, left my job, rented out my apartment, bought a one-way ticket to Phuket,,..the position was no longer available. They could offer a homeroom english/math teaching job ESC. Hmhm not exactly why I left my work within Art in my home country for…, but I gave it a shot. It was horrible. overloads of paperwork, the teaching was really fun, but all the marking..man..it kills you when you have two ESC classes in two topics…and never have worked asd a teacher before-…I didn’t come to Thailand to spend my weekends marking!!!!!

By: le petit prince

le petit prince — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:08:43 +0000

I so agree with Motorbility. Unfortunatly I didn’t read this forum before I applied for wortk there.. The system is crazy, they really make you feel like a commodity. I was originally hired as the new Art Teacher. Then I got an e-mail 1 wk before starting, while I was still in my home country, having arranged the visa, left my job, rented out my apartment, bought a one-way ticket to Phuket,,..the position was no longer available. They could offer a homeroom english/math teaching job ESC. Hmhm not exactly why I left my work within Art in my home country for…, but I gave it a shot. It was horrible. overloads of paperwork, the teaching was really fun, but all the marking..man..it kills you when you have two ESC classes in two topics…and never have worked asd a teacher before-…I didn’t come to Thailand to spend my weekends marking!!!!!

By: BRUCE NEEDS

BRUCE NEEDS — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:11:41 +0000

Recently made an Application to Teach with Kajonkietsuksa.
Comprehensive submission of all important documentation.
No response for months !!!???
Except for …… a recent delightful email from some “drone” using the “Kajon” email address asking for money to assist with their personal affairs!!!????
What????
Does this mean that someone in “Kajon” Administration is corrupt ??? Or that our email transmission has simply been hacked along the way?????

By: Motorbility

Motorbility — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:33:51 +0000

It has been a long time since this discussion and I can now say that I am calm and have no axe to grind. That said the school was dishonest and misled applicants by making them think that they were required for a job when that was not the case. When we went there they had taken on far more teachers than they could have retained. They staffed the summer school with teachers that were expecting a job when they were only required while the real teachers where on holiday. That is dishonest as people were paying a lot of money on relocating thinking that if they worked hard they would get a job. No matter how hard they worked, there was not enough jobs to go round.

There was no logic to the selection process. I have been teaching for 20 years now and understand most selection processes, even the corrupt, but a process was lacking here. One of the teachers that they accepted was definitely one of the worst applicants. Unable to pay attention to what the children were doing or keep any semblance of control. Some really good teachers were dismissed for no real reason. I understand that those who got on with those that were selecting did better but that did not explain it all. It did seem more a case of when you went for your appraisal interview, the decision of whether to dismiss or retain you had been taken before you walked in the door and it was not based on who you were or how you had performed. I think it was based on timetable needs that day.

By: Dr. Jo

Dr. Jo — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:46:12 +0000

My experience working at KJ was awesome. I have 25 years experience working and living in Thailand, and found KJ to be one the better academic and professional schools I have worked with.
Firstly, the academics at KJ are better than 99% of the schools in Thailand. The adminsitration is trying their best to raise the academic standards and give their Students the best.
We can all moan about the students not having such and such, the teachers not being such and such, or the coordinators being so and so, blah blah blah………. But at the end of the day this school gives alot back to the community and the kids get a very good education.
As far as salaries, I had no trouble living on my salary, and lived very well on Phuket. The trick is not to come to Thaialnd with debt. And, they pay the same as other schools anywhere in Thailand, indlcuding Bangkok. I had teaching experience and they were fair to me. I had an great time on Phuket.
Management – I agree there are some people you should watch out for. But would you not find that in any large organization? Everyone does not play nice. whah whah whah…..
Conclusion, it’s a good school. If you want to send your child there, they will get a good education. if you want to work there, it’s a great work experience. You will learn alot. Just mind your own business and do your job.

By: Pita

Pita — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:51:36 +0000

I have wanted to work for the school for some time. I have heard good and bad but then I have been teaching for 31 years. I have a degree in elementary education, certified all subjects grades 1-8, licensed in Texas, S. Korea, and Thailand. My room is my responsibility and I take it seriously. The only reason I did not consider a job offer there was the pay. You just can not live on the pay offered. If it wasn’t for the pay, I would be camped out on the door step for consideration. I like the vision of the school and the fact that they are serious about the children.

By: tobefair

tobefair — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:23:51 +0000

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!

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:34:02 +0000

No problem Smitty. I wasnâ€™t going to post again, but unfortunately, the grapevine says nothing positive other than the possible resignation of a few aforementioned â€œexperiencedâ€ teachers planning to â€œcoordinateâ€ 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 â€œreasonsâ€. Not surprising. Thereâ€™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 â€œMikeâ€ but, Kaj, is only one of three schools Iâ€™ve taught since coming to Thailand over six years ago. Iâ€™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.â€™s poor reputation would never last the first month of probation in either the first or my current school. So, thatâ€™s some positive news (kpg comment) for Mike. I donâ€™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. Iâ€™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 oâ€™clock and weekends. There are three other schools currently recruiting on Phuket whoâ€™ve never made even a mention on this site. Do some quick research. I quite personally know someone that Iâ€™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 â€œThe balance of the nature of thingsâ€)
Sorry kpg, I donâ€™t know you but I canâ€™t think of anything youâ€™d think was positive other than Iâ€™ll spare readers some more specifics about curriculum and the Kaj, university bound student expected academic competency, and whatâ€™s got to be a nervous group of â€œexperiencedâ€ â€œcoordinatorsâ€ whoâ€™re responsible; that Iâ€™m dying to elaborate. If I were them Iâ€™d be jumping ship right about now and making a bee line return to the TGIFâ€™s cocktail and wait staff crew back home.
Smitty, I wouldâ€™ve surely written in about Dixieâ€™s post. Dixieâ€™s comment gives readers a peek at the ugly monsterâ€™s head that brought back the now comical, but then annoying memories of the situation that one finds oneself while teaching there. Kaj.â€™s recruiters had to breathe a sigh that Dixie did well to keep the beast caged while theyâ€™re struggling to fill openings. Although her cheap personal â€œpotâ€ (pun intended) shot at you was interesting given the known working documentation issues with more than a few of Kaj.â€™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. â€). Kajâ€™s students are a seriously mitigating factor for employment there. Truly great kids that have cool parents with interesting character. (Another positive for kpgâ€™s â€œscaleâ€).
Good Luck Mike

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:11:50 +0000

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!!

By: Smitty

Smitty — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:28:47 +0000

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.