The Secretariat Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand is an organization for teachers, educational institution administrators, and educational administrators that has the power and duty for setting professional standards; issuance and withdrawal of licenses; overseeing the maintenance of professional standards and ethics; and developing the profession of teachers, educational institution administrators, and educational administrators. Then, teachers, administrators of educational institutions, educational administrators and other educational personnel of  both the state and private sectors shall have professional licenses as provided by the law.

Education professional standards are provisions relating to desirable characteristics and quality in the practice of the education profession, to which the education profession practitioners shall adhere to ensure quality in the practice of the profession; build confidence and trust among clients that they would obtain quality services; and address the public that the law recognizes the significance of the education profession as a licensed profession because of the fact that it is a profession with particular characteristics that requires knowledge, skills and expertise in the practice of the profession.

The Teachers’ Council of Thailand was incorporated with the principal objective to determine professional standards, issue and revoke licenses, supervise and monitor compliance with the profession standards and code of ethics, including professional development, so that education professional practitioners, (those who are licensed to practice the teaching profession, educational institution administrators, educational administrators and other educational personnel such as educational supervisors) shall have knowledge and understanding in the practice of the education profession which is a licensed profession under the National Educational Act.

Accordingly, The Secretariat Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, prepared education professional standards which consist of standards of professional knowledge and experience, standards of performance, and standards of conduct which have been announced as the Teachers Council of Thailand Regulations on Professional Standards and Ethics B.E. 2548 (A.D. 2005).

In education professional practice, those who enter this profession shall meet the specified standards of professional knowledge and experience in order to be eligible to obtain a license to practice the profession. Upon entering the profession, they shall comply with the standards of  performance and the standards of conduct. The details for compliance with the education professional standards for each area shall be separately delivered to the education professional practitioners as follows: Professional Standards for Teachers -There are 4 main standards required for teachers.

1. Standards of Teachers’ Knowledge.

A teacher must have minimum qualifications with a Bachelor’s degree in education or the equivalent or other degrees as accredited by the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, with knowledge in the following areas: language and technology for teachers, curriculum development, learning management, psychology for teachers, educational measurement and evaluation, classroom management, educational research, educational innovation and information technology, and teachership.

2. Standards of Teachers’ Experience

A teacher is required to have completed teaching functions in educational institutions under an educational degree curriculum for a minimum of one year and passed the criteria for evaluation of the teaching functions in accordance with the rules, procedures, and conditions as set by the Teachers’ Council of Thailand Board as follows:

i. Training on professional practice during study.

ii. Teaching functions in educational institutions on specific subjects.

3. Standards of Teachers’ Performance

A teacher has to maintain the standards of his/her performance as follows:

• Regularly practice academic activities relating to development of the teaching profession.

• Make decisions to practice various activities, taking into account their consequences on learners.

• Be committed to developing learners to reach their full potential.

• Develop teaching plans for effective implementation.

• Regularly develop effective instructional media.

• Organize instructional activities focusing on permanent results for learners.

• Systematically report on the results of learners’ quality development.

• Conduct themselves as good role models for learners.

• Constructively cooperate with others in their educational institution.

• Constructively cooperate with others in the community.

• Seek and use information for development.

• Create opportunities for learners to learn under all circumstances.

4. Standards of Conduct

A teacher is required to adhere to the following standards of conduct:

• personal ethics

• professional ethics

• client-centered ethics

• collegial ethics

• societal ethics