Suranaree Wittaya School began accepting applications on Wednesday with the last date for prospective candidates being April 4.

This year marks the first time in decades that persons without teaching licences can apply for teaching jobs in some fields – those not covered directly by teacher-training institutes and in fields where there is an acute shortage of teachers.

“We have 374 assistant-teacher posts available in 25 academic fields. Of these, six fields will welcome persons without teaching licences because there is a shortage of teaching staff,” said Paisan Wuttilanon, who heads the Nakhon Ratchasima Educational Service Area 1 Office.

The six fields are: mathematics, English language, science, physics, Finance/accounting, and chemistry.

By 2pm, the number of applicants in Nakhon Ratchasima had soared to over 7,000.

In Phang Nga province, 66 assistant-teacher posts are available. More than 500 candidates submitted their applications on the first day of the application period.

Many candidates had to leave the application venue disappointed because of a last-minute change in rule.

On Tuesday, the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission revised its new rule on the qualifications of eligible applicants in the face of huge pressure from education faculty deans.

Initially, the new rule was designed to welcome non-holders of teaching licences in all fields – not just select fields.

But following stiff opposition from teacher-training institutes, the rule was amended just a day before it took effect.