Job Discussion Forums

[backtothefront]

I just signed a contract with Shenzhen Public Schools, a new programme which started this September. it has a strange clause in translated from Chinese:

The successive working period for the designated party shall not be over 5 years in China. For those that want to be employed in China must come back to China after two years.

Do you take this to mean I have to leave the country after 5 years? Regardless of where I end up working?

[johntpartee]

It is technically a rule that any foreign teacher has to leave after five consecutive years in China. I've heard of it being enforced, but I've also heard that it can be circumvented. No first hand experience, unfortunately, although I knew one foreign teacher who was refused a renewal because of it, but I think it was also an excuse to get rid of him. I've never heard the "stay out for two years", I always heard it was one year.

[chinatimes]

[GeminiTiger]

[choudoufu]

on the bright side, if you are forced out, you'll be able to collect
your retirement contributions, and perhaps even apply for
unemployment benefits at the chinese embassy in your home
country.

[teachingld2004]

In my school there are 3 teachers who had to leave after 5 years. But they school held their apartments for them and they were able to come back after 6 months. They had said that they could have gotten a job at another school for the 6 months and then come back.

[wonderingjoesmith]

After 5 years, isn't there a rule which allows you to apply for a permanent RP? Why would you have to leave? Don't they want experienced teachers?

[johntpartee]

I've never heard of a "permanent RP". Probably the closest thing to that would be permanent alien resident status. I've HEARD that the five year rule is so that the native speaker will return to their home country and speak their native language with other native speakers; that is, if they stay in a foreign country for too long their speaking will become "rusty". Yeah, I know, bizarre, but........

[Laoshi1950]

I am just starting my twelfth consecutive year working in China. In that time, before I came to Beijing, I had not worked for 5 years in any one particular city - but, I have now worked in Beijing for 5 years at two different universities. There was no mention of any "5 year rule" last May when I was renewing my Contract in Beijing for a sixth year.

I have not experienced the "5 year rule" in the other places that I worked in Jiangxi, Zhejiang, or Hubei. Like many other things in China, it seems that this "rule" is arbitrarily applied in random provinces and is also unevenly applied within those provinces.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[teachingld2004]

Many people have told me that the 5 year rule is that you can not stay at the same school. You can stay in the same city.

As I have said. 3 teachers in my school had to leave after 5 years for 6 months, and then they were able to come back. They could have worked at the school down the road.

Teachers love my school. I have only been here for 3 weeks, but from what I see and hear I will most likely stay for 5 years. Then I will go back home for good.

[johntpartee]

[lionheartuk]

No five year rule where I work. Two teachers are now into their 6th consecutive year and I am just finishing my 5th.

[mike w]

This is another of those 'rules' that sits in the very, very grey area where rules are applied sporadically at the governments whim.

There is a rule, but I can't remember the last time I heard of it being applied. I know it has been used in the past by schools as an excuse for not renewing someone's contract.

I would find it very surprising to hear of anywhere that regularly applies the rule as a matter of course.

I know plenty of people who have been here much longer than 5 years, and it's never been mentioned. I'm in my seventeenth consecutive year, and never been out of China for more than three weeks at a time during that period.