Rejected and Jobless: Young Man’s Dream of Working in Corrections Shattered by Unexpected Setback
Young Man Passes Entrance Exam for Department of Corrections, Only to be Informed Qualifications Don’t Meet Requirements
Mr. Surin, an academic and professional in the field of butlers, recently filed a complaint with the Foundation for the Campaign to Claim Justice in Society after being informed that his qualifications did not meet the criteria for a position at the Department of Corrections, despite passing the entrance exam.
Mr. Surin applied for the exam after the Department of Corrections announced a competition to recruit and appoint people in the civil service as prison officers. There were 221 posts for male inmate supervisors and others, but the announcement later increased to 700 posts, with a total of 4,609 applicants.
Mr. Surin took the exam and selected four positions: Nakhon Pathom Central Prison, Kanchanaburi Provincial Prison, Khao Bin Central Prison, Ratchaburi Province, and Bang Khwang Central Prison, Nonthaburi Province. He passed the written examination for Part A (general ability test) and Part B (position-specific ability test) on January 27, 2024, and was scheduled to take the Part C exam on March 10 and 11, 2024, at Thammasat University.
On April 4, 2024, the results of the exam were announced, and Mr. Surin was informed that he had passed and would be posted in Nakhon Pathom Central Prison, his first choice. However, on May 16, 2024, officials from the Department of Corrections Recruitment and Placement Department called to inform him that his qualifications did not match the recruitment notice, citing that he must have graduated with an associate degree, a 2-year program.
Mr. Surin confirmed that his educational background meets the criteria for the exam, which is the Academic Certificate of Higher Education or P.Ed., equivalent to an associate degree. He brought a certificate from the National Sports University, Samut Sakhon Campus, to send to the official, but has not received any response.
The incident has had a significant impact on Mr. Surin, who resigned from his previous position at the Department of Observation and Protection of Children and Youth on April 9, 2024, after learning that he had passed the exam. He is now seeking compensation and has petitioned the Campaign to Reclaim Social Justice Foundation for assistance.
Mr. Rapasit Phattharasirichaisin, Vice President of the Foundation for the Campaign to Restore Justice in Society, and Mr. Chanchai Chaibu, Advisor to the Foundation for the Campaign to Restore Justice in Society, have stated that they will submit a letter to the Minister of Justice and provide assistance in filing lawsuits before the Central Administrative Court to restore justice to Mr. Surin.
The Foundation is of the opinion that the Department of Corrections should carefully examine the qualifications of candidates before taking the exam to prevent similar incidents in the future.