Buhay OFW

PRC official meets Filcom, confirms special exam for teachers on September 24 in Bkk

An official of Professional Regulation Commision (PRC) confirmed the conduct of Special Board Licensure Examination for Teachers (BLEPT) on September 24, 2017 in Bangkok. Venue is at Ekamai International School on Ekamai soi 12.

Atty. Arjay R. Rosales, PRC’s OIC chief of Human Resource and vice chair of the Bids & Awards Committee met with Filipino Community leaders and concerned educators at the Philippine Embassy on August 22, 2017. The meeting started at past 5:00 p.m. and lasted for almost two hours. Participants were given time to ask questions and raise their concerns about the program.

Rosales arrived in Thailand on August 20 to work on the preparation of the said teacher’s examination. He will fly back to Manila on August 23.

According to Rosales, a total of 276 teachers will be taking the test. The list of examinees will be posted on PRC website before the exam. Notice of Appointment (NOA) will also be sent thereafter. PRC delegation for the September 24 exam will arrive in Bangkok on September 23. Non-education graduates who are qualified to take BLEPT under the  Special Professional Licensure Exam (SPLE)  program will be bracketed by PRC according to their undergraduate degree. In some cases, the examinee can request for the area of his exam.

The Embassy will look for proctors who are not related to any examinees by blood up to third degree or by affinity.  It is advised that examinees must be at the exam room at 6:30 in the morning. Only examinees will be allowed inside the compound. Proper dress code will also be implemented. Minor errors such as spelling of name can be fixed at the exam date.

Meanwhile, Rosales mentioned that deadline for the application cannot be reopened nor extended, he said that the exam can be conducted in Thailand every year. He also added that PRC will bring Mongol 2 pencils for the examinees noting that the pencil brand is not available in Thailand.

Furthermore, Rosales also commended the Embassy officials for working hard for the exam noting that SPLE program is not a responsibility of the Embassy but of Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) which does not have an office in Thailand. POLO is under Department of Labor and Employment.

In a short chitchat with PinoyThaiyo after the meeting, Rosales also praised the collaboration between government agencies and the Filipino community in realizing this important event. The upcoming exam for teachers is the first Filipino professional licensure examination in Thailand.

Consul General Mary Ann Padua welcomed Atty. Rosales and the participants. In her welcome remarks, Padua acknowledged the many concerns of Filipino teachers in the kingdom. She also assured that the Embassy with the help of the government is willing to address the issues and she hopes for more dialogs to make the lives of OFWs in Thailand better.

Vice Consul Jim Minglana moderated the meeting attended by 35 Filcom members. Vice Consul Anna Marie Santos and Tourism Attache Edith Mallillin were also present.

Filipino community leaders who were present at the meeting were Dr. Edgar Eleguen of Partners for Change Thailand who is the main proponent of the exam, Ms. Nelly Palpallatoc of OFW QuickservANTS United for Du30, Dr. Tess Zarate of ERC Thailand and Asst. Professor Analiza Amurao, director of English Studies Program of Mahidol Unidol University International College.

Representatives from St. Robert’s Group of Companies, PinoyThaiyo and observers, teachers and examinees from different schools also attended the meeting.