Job Discussion Forums

[Roger]

I am sure the name "Huamao" and the adjective "experimental" in connection with "school" have been debated here recently. This is why I feel it might be interesting to take cognizance of a recent SCMP report.

In yesterday's SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, the Shenzhen Huamao Experimental School was explicitly mentioned. The reason was that its Hong Kong passport-holding director is under investigation for embezzlement. The Shenzhen authorities have had to take the school over.
The school, which educates children from local families plus a smattering of Koreans, was in the illegal habit of collecting huge deposits that were refundable upon completion of a student's schooling. The amount was around HK$ or RMB 160'000. To this you had to add a charge for the maintenance of the school which cost around 30'000, plus the actual tuition fee, which was nearly 10'000 a year.

With students completing their schooling since 1998, a number of parents have been unable to collect their debentures (is that what this is called?), and they waited until other parents a year later joined them to complain. Finally, things boiled over at the end of last year. The parents received a promise from the government that the authorities would refund their deposit out of taxpayers' money.
What's going to happen to teachers - any FTs there? - is not clear, nor whether the school can continue as such. Please, be careful when applying for any jobs in Bao'an just outside of Shenzhen. The exact location is Gongming, which is even farther north but is part of Bao'an District.

[Susie]

Was the name of the HK owner of Huamao given in the SCMP article?

[garbotara]

That sounds like the school I worked at last year.The parents would block the road unitl they got their money back.

[Roger]