Job Discussion Forums

[snooty]

So Nora, why dont you come at work at Bpec? I really wish some of these so called teachers would relate some of their experiences here in person. ie straight from the horses mouth. The reality of the situation now is that Teachers at this company, can not think of it as a school, are not paid what they are promised, and are continually threatened or put under pressure, if they are not teaching enough hours. The two Directors of Studies are not interested in expat teachers whatsover and are more interested sending text messages or personal matters. They can not remember expat teachers' names, even if they happen to be teaching also at the University and have studied English for many years. Is a really terrible place to work, so much for including Professional in their company name. Should change it to BUEC....so unprofessional. Yes it is true that many teachers will move on, if it is a good school where teachers have been treated properly, then there is a good chance that some will stay, at least for one more year.

[Hod]

[Nora22]

Just for the record, I am a DOS in a very nice joint uni program in a great city in China, didn't really like Morocco. That is why I won't come to work at BPEC.

[Hod]

You�re preaching to the converted. I�m gobsmacked why anyone would choose to live in Morocco. Apart from all the disadvantages, which have been discussed once or twice already, the whole of Europe is but a two-hour boat trip away. Thinking of the cultural diversity of nearby Spain, for example, has me drooling as I type. But then you head south across the Gibraltar Strait and wonder where all the women have gone. I can�t think of any two-hour journey on the planet in which the scenery deteriorates so rapidly. What about the huge array of tapas, wines, the bars with women inside? They all disappeared along with the vegetables and healthy food.

But anyway, one must present a balanced view, about the schools anyway.

[BobMcC]

I am currently working at B.P.E.C., and my experience at the school has been generally favorable. I got my teaching license in 1973, and have taught in a few schools over the years. I plan to return next year. The situation at the first of the year, when I arrived, was somewhat chaotic, but there were several reasons. The director was called back to England for a family emergency, one of the expat teachers died suddenly, and a new term was starting (The school is on a tri-mester system.)

After a few weeks, things were going a lot more smoothly. I never was called the wrong name by any of the faculty, staff, or administration. Actually, I can understand that happening though. Out of 5 male expat teachers, 2 happen to be named Chris, and 2 Martin. That had to have caused some confusion. Also, there are two young american female teachers who have very similar appearances. I sometimes confused them mentally, although I never called them the wrong name that I can recall.

I am quite independent, but the two DOS's always helped me out when I asked them to. Maybe a younger or less experienced teacher might need more mentoring, but I've been happy with the way things are handled.

I never had any problems with getting paid, it has always been timely, and the correct amount. This is totally different than a school I worked at in S. Korea, where I literally had to shake my salary out of the owner. Once.

I worked less than the contractual number of hours most months, and received what I was promised every month. No one has ever made any comment upon it. I was asked to do some course outline work, but there wasn't any implication of wage reduction connected with that request. It is in the teacher's agreement, so I didn't feel at all put upon.

I was familiar with a 'crisis' about pay, and maybe that was the cause for worry by some teachers. The facts are as follows; one of the expat teachers is over age 60, and by statute in Morocco, can't have a regular employment contract. The way the lunar calendar is this year, the Muslim fast month of Ramadan conflicts with the usual holiday period in Morocco, therefore the enrollment at the July "intensive" session was impacted negatively. An unguarded remark was made that there were too many teachers here for July, and some folks took that to mean that all bets were off and no one was getting paid for July. Turned out not to be the case, really a tempest in a teapot actually, things are calmed down quite a bit now. In fact, the teacher in question is also returning next year.

Now, B.P.E.C. is not a perfect place, but it is not terrible either. My experience has been almost exclusively in North America and Western Europe, and the way of doing business and management styles are different, and take some getting used to. The government here is very bureaucratic, and it takes forever to get official things taken care of. Policies and regulations seem to change on a daily basis, or to depend on who you ask. These things are beyond the control of the school's administration. I don't think that this situation is unique to Morocco, I have had similar experiences in the Far East. All in all, this is a decent employer, and those issues that come up are resolved amicably, if all parties keep an open mind,and an understanding attitude.

[snooty]

Being a teacher with many years experience and I am not young physically, does that entail that one does not need the guidance of a Director of Studies? Throughout life, no matter how much experience or knowledge one has, one always needs well intentioned guidance, we are all human. The two Directors of Studies at Bpec have been called TweedleDee and TweedleDum, basically because in my opinion, they are useless and more interested in young women students and looking at porno on the internet during working time, than doing there job.

[BobMcC]

I returned to BPEC for a second year, after a year away. I had a really terrible family crisis, and had to return home after only a couple of weeks. The administration, faculty, and staff were tremendously supportive. They helped me in numerous ways, financially especially, actually they offered more than I was able to accept. I have worked in quite a number of businesses and schools over the years, and there are very few, anywhere, who would have been as kind and accommodating as the people at BPEC were.

No, the place is not perfect. Where is a perfect place? There are issues there, of course, but underlying it all, they are decent human beings, and that says it all, in my opinion. I firmly believe that if you treat with them in a straightforward and honest manner, you will be treated the same. What more can you ask?