Job Discussion Forums

[MESL]

I assumed the expenses for foreign teachers were included in my school�s government provided budget. Turns out my principal charges 150 yuan per student per lesson by foreign teachers. Multiply that by 75 students per class, then multiply that by 16 classes. According to my calculations, that�s 720,000 yuan per month. Classrooms are old, crude, rundown. And he doesn�t carrry himself any different than principals without foreign teachers. So you wouldn�t guess he�s a millionaire. This is a public school in a small town. Imagine what kind of tuition private schools and language schools in urban areas charge China�s rich. This is the best kept secret of China�s ESL industry.

[Non Sequitur]

The individual teachers are skimmimg it too.
Many hold private classes at their homes weekends and holidays.

[it'snotmyfault]

I find that very hard (impossible) to believe.

150rmb off each student, every class, in a small town public school. I think somebody's telling you a tale..

[johntpartee]

Not difficult to believe at all. Remember what "small town" means here.

[hilena_westb]

What's the issue with being charged 150-250 per hour per student? If you are doing private lessons for less you are simply wasting your time.

[it'snotmyfault]

[NoBillyNO]

I'll echo that...

[muffintop]

150/hour is far more than what they'd be paying at most private schools for classes with a random foreigner. I find this story difficult to believe.

Is there only one foreigner in the entire town or something?

[muffintop]

[choudoufu]

[roadwalker]

[wonderingjoesmith]

Much of that money surely goes elsewhere. However, even if the principal keeps 10 % only, given the demographics of the country, it's a highway robberry. Education around seems to be arm and leg for little. Some kids' eyes never open but their parents' dirty wallets do. I guess this is kinda system developed here; produce cr*p, drive a fancy beamer.

[MESL]

I might have misunderstood my source. She might have meant 150 per month rather than 150 per lesson. But what does it matter. Multiply the figure by 900 students. Even factoring in apartment, visa, airfare, etc, the profit is still enormous. The foreign teachers are doing most of the work and the Chinese administrators are keeping most of the profit. Meanwhile, they're put up a very clever front designed to prevent us from discovering the level of exploitation.

[Denim-Maniac]

[MESL]