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If you've worked in the Thai education system or tried to hire English teachers in recent years, you’ve probably felt it: It’s getting harder and harder to find qualified native English speakers who actually want to stay.

The issue isn’t that people don’t want to live in Thailand, they do. But the way schools are hiring, paying, and structuring teaching jobs is pushing experienced and qualified teachers away. What’s left is a revolving door of backpackers, underpaid teachers, and frustrated schools especially the government schools and few private schools.

Here’s a closer look at what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can fix it.

What’s a "Qualified Native English Teacher"?

We’re talking about people who:

- Come from countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand

- Have a degree (ideally in education or English)

- Hold a TEFL or CELTA

- Have real classroom experience

- Can legally work in Thailand

And here’s the truth, more and more of them are saying no thanks to jobs in Thailand.

So, What’s the Problem?

1. Salaries Haven’t Budged Since 2005

It’s hard to believe, but many schools especially government ones are still offering 30,000 to 40,000 baht per month, the same rate teachers were offered 15 - 20 years ago. Meanwhile, rent, food, and general cost of living have gone up and neighboring countries like Vietnam, China, and Korea are offering double or more, plus housing and bonuses.

Why would a qualified teacher pick Thailand when other countries pay more and treat them better?

2. Agencies Are Taking a Big Cut of Teacher Pay

Over the past decade, agencies have become the middlemen in most public schools. In theory, they help schools find teachers  but in practice, many are just skimming money.

Here’s how it usually works:

• A school pays the agency 40,000–45,000 baht for a teacher.

• The agency gives the teacher 30,000–35,000 baht (sometimes even less).

• The teacher often doesn’t even know what the school is really paying.

On top of that, contracts are usually 10 months, so teachers go unpaid during school breaks even though rent and bills don’t take a vacation.

3. Schools Often Feel Forced to Use Agencies

This is important, we can’t just blame schools. Most government schools don’t have the resources to hire foreign teachers on their own:

• No English-speaking staff in the HR office

• No understanding of work permits or visa laws

• No system to screen applicants or handle paperwork

So instead of risking a mistake, they outsource the whole thing to agencies even when it means getting less qualified teachers or losing control over who gets hired.

4. Backpackers Are Replacing Professionals

To keep costs down, some agencies are now hiring backpackers who:

• Don’t have a degree

• Don’t have a TEFL

• Don’t have any experience

• Aren’t even on a work visa

They’re in Thailand for the beaches not the blackboard. And when you put someone like that in front of 40 kids, students suffer. Learning becomes inconsistent, teachers leave after a few months, and the cycle repeats.

So, Who’s Doing It Right?

International Schools

The difference is massive. International schools in Thailand usually:

• Pay 70,000 to 150,000+ baht/month

• Offer housing, insurance, paid holidays, and real benefits

• Provide proper training, curriculum, and structure

• Hire teachers with degrees, licenses, and experience

• Treat teaching as a profession, not a side gig

These schools are rarely short on applicants and their students benefit from stable, high quality education.

“My international school job feels like an actual career. I get support, fair pay, and respect. It’s a world apart from what I went through in the public system.”
— NES teacher in Bangkok

The Real Impact: Students Lose

Let’s be honest when hiring becomes a race to the bottom, it’s the students who pay the price. They get:

• Teachers who don’t stick around

• Lessons that are poorly planned (or copied from YouTube)

• Weak foundations in English

• Lower chances of competing in higher education or the job market

Thailand is full of bright, motivated students but they need quality teachers to help them grow. And right now, the system just isn’t supporting that.

What Can Be Done?

Here’s what needs to change, and fast.

1. Raise the Base Salary

Even moving from 30,000 to 45,000–50,000 THB/month makes a big difference. It shows teachers that their work is valued and helps Thailand stay competitive.

2. Hire Directly When Possible

Schools should be supported to recruit on their own whether through training HR staff or partnering with ethical platforms like SchooPed.com.

3. Stop Hiring Just Anyone

Schools and agencies need to screen for real qualifications. Accent and nationality matter less than training and classroom skills.

4. Offer Full-Year Contracts

Ten-month contracts are a turn off. Teachers need stable income and schools need consistency. Paying teachers year-round is better for everyone.

Conclusion

Thailand doesn’t have a teacher shortage, it has a quality shortage. There are thousands of teachers who would love to work here, but the system is making it too hard to say yes. By improving pay, reducing agency abuse, and supporting schools to hire directly, we can attract the kind of teachers students truly deserve. At SchooPed, we’re here to help schools connect with the right teachers, not just the available ones.

Need help hiring great teachers (without the middleman)?

Write to us at: hello@schooped.com | 🌐 www.schooped.com