Job Discussion Forums

[scotti74]

I understand that the school here in Siberia struggles to recruit, and I have to say I can see why. The extreme temperatures (down to -52 in winter) aren't the main stumbling block, but the attitude of the school is.

During my time here, the school has refused to give two teachers the originals of their contracts, held-out on providing extra heaters for one apartment (when the temperature indoors was 10 degrees), changed contracts part-way through a course of employment with no consultation, and failed to honour explicit promises made in writing before teachers left England (including sick and holiday pay, and living arrangements). These are just the major points, there's a fresh conflict every single week between the school and the teachers.

The current Director of Studies doesn't speak English, and doesn't have any teaching experience. Previously she ordered cleaning supplies for the school, coordinated cleaning rotas and the like. One of her brainwaves was that we should teach in the school cafe and remind puils to bring extra money from their parents before the 'lesson'. At a health and safety meeting, the Facilities Manager told us the official procedure for fire alarms - leave immediately, quickly and take with you any expensive school equipment. The examples given were television sets and CD players. I understand that profit is essential for any private business, but when money is so overtly important that it comprimises student learning and staff safety, I think it's too much.

Their is no supportive structure to help English teachers get by day-to-day, or to help orientate them in this new environment. There is no appreciation of the huge undertaking that the move here is for most of the teachers from English-speakng countries.

Three English teachers have resigned for different reasons. They have always left under a cloud, and - having handed-in their notice as per their contract - have been asked to leave early, or had problems with their final payments etc.

I was recruited to this position via Saxoncourt Recruitment in London. The information I received from them about the job was inaccurate, specifically regarding sick and holiday pay, bonuses and living arrangements. The school blame Saxoncourt for this, and vice versa. The truth has never been explained and the issues regularly swept under the carpet. Saxoncourt promised 'a full investigation' into the sick pay issue, and we heard nothing back. On another occasion (when the school were witholding my contract, thus breaching it), Saxoncourt promised to exert some pressure to aid me but after this email I heard nothing from them.

The constant fighting, combined with the challenging climate and weather, make for a very tiring and unenjoyable time generally.

Oh, and none of the tape players have counters.