Job Discussion Forums

cheeseandegg · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 58

Staff working for ELS-Bell (Gdansk, Warsaw, Gdynia, Szczecin, Bydgosz, Lodz) have confirmed that they have been informed of cuts to all schools next year. All current teaching staff will face wage freezes (read: major cuts). This has badly affected moral in Warsaw and Szczecin and many experienced and new staff will be leaving.

Selyer · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 Location: Poland

Ain't that just always the way of things? Certain IH schools in Poland are doing something very similar with some very similar results--and they already pay pretty low as it is! Twisted Evil

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

Why would these schools be cutting their staff when they don't even know what their enrollment will be next year?

Did these schools have a bad year?

Selyer · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 Location: Poland

In the case of the schools that I am referring to, the owner has implemented a new "budget scheme" one aspect of which was to cut wages. Most teachers don't want to come back to a school for less money than they earned the year before. And to my knowledge enrollment at these schools has not gone down significantly. There is a rumor that started to float around towards the end of last year and still occasionally raises its ugly head that the owner wants to sell some of his schools. This year the twist to that rumor is that the budget cuts would make it look like the school is more profitable than what it actually is, which would aid in the selling of it. But like I said, it's just a rumor.....

booty · Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 94

People say that the same thing is happening with many schools all over Poland. However, others arue that some students aren't prepared to pay for poor teaching standards, and many are dropping out as a result

caramel · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 57 Location: London

I think Bell are having a hard time at the moment. They overestimated on the amount of students that were coming this year. I won't be staying in Bell another because of this situation. I hope they turn around as it has been a good school to work with.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Since the advent of the expanded Europe many people from the new member states have gone to work in the UK and other countries of Europe. over 125,000 came to the UK from Poland. These people would normally have attended language classes in English while in Poland, now they do not. They are entitled to Free English classes as part of the workforce needing language and literacy skills...and they can work here and earn good money to send home.
It would be interesting to know just how many language schools have suffered a reduction of numbers in the 18-30 age bracket.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject:

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

On the subject of the FCE.
Many high school students have to take an obligatory language course as part of their university education. For many it means sitting in a class with a non-native speaker/teacher for four years or until the end of the course, with those who have not studied a language as part of the group too. It is not altogether an interesting option and many vote for the FCE option. This is often accepted by the Uni or College as a suitable example of ability in a foreign language... the reason for the obligatory course.
to gain this qualification means several years of after school training in the language schools. Now many 18/19 year olds are taking an alternative, A year off as an au pair in England or working a crap job but getting free teaching and then going back to Uni after a year and not needing to go to classes... over 4 years it all adds up so they save time.
I wonder how FCE classes and exam registrations have been hit in Poland