Job Discussion Forums

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I thought I read a posting about a program where the Taiwanese government places you in rural areas. This was supposed to be something new and you had to apply directly through a government agency. Was I imagining this or has anyone else heard of such a thing?

Thanks.

Keep on digging.

killian · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:42 am Post subject:

the ad i saw pertaining to such required certified teachers. the recruiting agency for the task was iacc.

be leery.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Is IACC a recruitment agency or what? If so, I will be leery as I have never seen anything good written about them.

What do you mean by "certified?" I have a teaching credential from California if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Do a search at buxiban.com and you will see that IACC--as well as the name for which it stands-- is not a company you want to deal with. They have a million and one complaints against them.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

No you weren't imagining things. The MOE has been attempting to get a program off the ground whereby foreign teachers be permitted to teach within government schools in certain 'underpriviledged' rural areas. There has been a lot of resistance to the plan locally, and the original plan for 1,000 teachers has been watered down to just a couple of hundred. It wouldn't surprise me if this only materializes into 30 or 40 teachers.

The waters were tested last year with a dozen or so volunteer foreign teachers in places such as Nantou. Now it looks as if the government is trying to sneak the paid teachers in. I say sneak them in as the publicity surrounding their recruitment is very low key when compared to the original pomp and ceremony.

Originally, the promise was to only employ teachers who are qualified teachers in their home country. There was little interest shown in the positions and there was trouble recruiting suitable applicants. I have suspicions that the orginal conditions have been watered down somewhat such that a degree plus TESOL certificate is probably adequate.

There are a number of recuiters offering these positions but I would be very wary of their offers. Teaching in most elementary and junior high schools remains illegal for foreign teachers. Recruiters have long recruited teachers for these illegal positions, and they would of course continue to do so as there is money to be made. The problem is - How can a foreign applicant determine if the position being offered is one of the legitimate ones through the MOE or just an illegal position dressed up as a legal one?

Xenophobe · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 163

My wife and I are part of this project and are heading over with a group of teachers in a few weeks. We are being posted to Jinmen after a two week orientation in Taipei. It was advertised through Dave's by the Canadian Education Centre Network. So far, they are only interested in Canadian and British teachers, with B.Eds and TESL experience.

If you are single or just a couple they give you free housing, or in our case because we have children, a housing stipend of NT 10 000 amonth. The MOE, so far has been very helpful Shocked

in making alll the arrangements, paying for all our tickets and accomodations for the two weeks we are in Taipei. I don't know what other agencies are handling nationalities from other English nations, but an American friend of mine is dealing with IACC and he hasn't got many positive things to say about them.

Visit the CECN site and peruse its info. You can determine for yourself if it is a legit organization, check out its board of directors and other programs.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

I would strongly advise against taking a position in a public school outside of Taipei. The recruitment and hiring of teachers is being done through illegitimate third parties or Taiwanese education "corporations" who are hiring volunteers to work under an illegal subcontract.
The MOE does not have a very good reputation on Taiwan with their own people much less the international community. The former Taiwan Minister of Education was recently charged with raping one of his foreign employees.
The biggest priority for Ministry of Education officials is how much money they can graft or extort by abusing their positions. How best to educating the students of Taiwan is question that is seldom even taken into consideration by Taiwan Ministry of Education officials.
Welcome to Taiwan!
A.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

I know directly of two teachers who got screwed over by IACC. If you must use a recruiter then make sure that your contract is with the school, NOT the recruier. This might not be possible with this program.

Xenophobe · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 163

Our contracts are with the MOE and the local schoolboard. Aristotle has based his statements on personal dislike and a lack of information rather than fact. His sweeping generalizations should be disregarded.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

As usual, I am confused. Of course, this is a normal state of affairs for me but you guys are certainly contributing factors. Here is my situation:

I have friends outside of Puli and I would love to teach there. One daughter-in-law of a buddy is way up in the local education administration and has expressed an interest in having me work in a junior high in Wushe.

Any suggestions in how to proceed? Should I contact the MOE and deal with them directly? If so, how do I do that? Do the speak English?

BTW: I have a TEFL Cert. and a California teaching credential plus a few years of experience.

Thanks.

Keep on digging.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Fair enough. That is what I shall do.

Thanks.