A group of Thai teachers has protested against a state agency’s partnership with a beer company, claiming the deal tarnishes educators’ integrity and sends the wrong message to society.
The one-year deal, signed last month by Tawandang German Brewery and the government office for improving education workers’ welfare and benefits, offers teachers a 10 per cent discount at three branches of the brewery firm.
Chayapa Khunpittikana, coordinator of the Thai Teachers Against Vice-Promoting Welfare network, said the partnership promoted harmful behaviour, the Bangkok Post reported.
“The image of teachers is already often viewed negatively,” she said. “For a state agency to endorse and incentivise access to vices through discounts on alcohol is unacceptable.”
Benefits such as discounted beer could damage the public image and ethical standards of teachers, as well as the education bureau, the network stressed in an open letter to Thailand’s Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob.
The deal could also have a negative influence on young people who are likely to mimic their teachers’ behaviours, and erase the dignity and respect traditionally associated with the teaching profession, the letter noted.
The network called for the deal to be withdrawn and urged authorities to instead establish partnerships that truly enhanced teachers’ welfare – such as securing affordable private healthcare access.
