Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

Hey, all -

I am trying, as much as possible, to keep stuff in the major threads that are already running on Brunei. But this topic keeps popping up (and I've gotten some PMs as well), and there hasn't been an answer posted yet.

Rather than put up here what I have heard from others/have gleaned from conversations, can anyone either give 1) a general rundown of this foreign permit/quota system, in regards to schools, teachers, and nationalities, or 2) link(s) to some page/site/.pdf that explains it directly?

I plan on going over to the MoE on Tuesday morn anyway, and it may come up then, but if anyone else knows, I think that would be great for people looking into Brunei, but hitting some of the same walls as myself and the South Africans are dealing with just now.

Greatly appreciated!

Glen

[jsteventon]

Hi

I can give you my understanding of the quota system, having lived here for many years...for example, the government allocates a specific 'quota' to CfBT - that is, they can only fill a specific number of posts within each school. The remaining vacancies will be filled by non-CfBT teachers - locals largely.

There is also a fixed quota within that for certain nationalities - South Africa included. Not for me to discuss whether or not this is fair or otherwise - this is the way it is done...so only a fixed number of, in this case, South Africans, are employed, being replaced as they leave within the quota limits. In fact, there are now many South Africans being employed by CfBT here, so I think the quota number is expanding, as a few years ago there were none....

Unfortunately, Glen, there is no quota for US teachers at present - meaning, as you know, that US applications are not accepted. No way round that I am afraid....Canadians are accepted though...


Hope that helps!

[gajackson1]

Thanks for that - it makes it at least a little clearer.

Yep, I've been told about CfBT/MoE and the no currently accepted USA teachers for public school positions. I'm not expecting them to bend on that.

What I AM hoping for, on the other hand, is for the MoE to tell me which of the govt.-registered private schools DO have a 'USA teacher permit/quota,' so I know who to try to contact, and who to not bother with. Even if a school currently has their quota filled, at least it will help me to get my credentials there, so if/when a vacancy opens up, I can be considered.

It's frustrating, to be sure - if I had quit my last job in Korea, instead of finishing the contract, I could have gotten in here during that briefly-opened window when CfBT/MoE WAS accepting USA applicants. But I just couldn't have left my old school hanging like that - good kids, parents, co-workers, admin.

For anyone interested, the current 'accepted' nationalities/credentials list for CfBT/MoE is : Degree from a University in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa (preferably in English/Linguistics/Humanities). That is a shame, considering how involved the application process is, but that is straight from the current CfBT Brunei recruitment page.

***This may mean that you can be a citizen of another country, but have gotten your degree from one of these 'accepted' countries, and still be ok to apply. However, that is SHEER speculation on my part - I know of no one who has done this.***

If anyone else stumbles into here, there is a lot more/better general info int the 'Thumbs up for Brunei' thread here.

Regards,

Glen

[rayman]

Interesting. I have both Australian and NZ citizenship. So if one quota was full at the time I applied, I assume I could still submit an application under my other nationality?

[lacsap]

I don't think there's a quota as such for every nationality. Only for South Africans as far as I know. I think when CFBT first started accepting South Africans, the MoE were a bit doubtful and just said that CFBT could only accept a certain number, about 12 as I recall, out of a total number of teachers on CFBT's books of about 200+. One thing you need to understand about Brunei is that the country and the system often runs at the whim of an individual in an office, rules are rarely clarified or written down, it just depends on the opinion of one person in a position of authority. As soon as that person has spoken, it is difficult for anyone else to question it, it just isn't done. Silly "rules" are just followed without complaint, as one is not supposed to question the people higher up the chain. You often have to wait for someone to get promoted out of a position, or to retire before anything will change. It's just the way it is. That is the case with US teachers. Maybe in a year or two, when the stumbling block in the MoE has moved on, then the situation will change. It does seem that the MoE are cutting off their nose to spite their face, as schools are desperately short of English teachers as people who leave are often not being replaced. Still, there's worse places than Brunei!!

[jsteventon]

Hi Glen,

Just remembered two schools where I have met 2 US teachers in the past. One was ISB - the International School of Brunei. The other was the Yayasan School - you might want to check those out....

JS

[celtica]

Rayman .... no doubt!

But plenty of Kiwis being hired at the moment .. no rumours of a quota.

[gajackson1]

This needs to go in the main Brunei thread, but a quick note here -

I went directly to the MoE this last Thur. Straight to the HRD to see about the quota/permit system, if my documents were processed, if there was anything else I could do. HRD was GREAT, but told me I was in the wrong place >.<

I needed to be @ the Teacher Recruitment & Development Unit, which is NOT with the rest of the MoE offices. lol

So, over to TRDU. Found it after trying a couple of buildings. There, also very helpful - and a mid-upper level person there said that the DoS/MoE does do hirings outside of CfBT. He listened carefully to the story, and got me a 1-page govt. position app in Malay/English to fill out. Asked for it, all copies of my docs, and also an extra cover/extension letter. They will file one with the MoE, and another full app with the SPA.

Today they were closed - I expect Sat, too? And of course Sunday. So I will get it all back in Monday morn. As I said, you all will be updated as I know things here.

JS - ISB already has all of my paperwork in (most of the major/known/listed schools do), but I'm unfamiliar with Yayasan, I think? I'll look into that one. Greatly appreciated, as always! In any case, the TRDU offical echoed the same thing mentioned here - there are NOT enough teachers currently. I don't think the policy will be changed overall, but possibly an exception made. (Which is a good call on their part, as I have access to some sources of certified teachers - non-USA ones - that they don't, to sweeten the deal )

Cheers!

G.

[jsteventon]

Sounds hopeful Glen - fingers crossed! By the way, the office will be open Saturday, as it is a working day for all government related offices and schools...

JS

[gajackson1]

I found an online copy of the ad, and pulled everything together. School is actually a pretty easy drive from my place here in Sungai Besar. I went by the school campus itself first - beautiful setting, but not many students. It seems like it will be run almost like a magnet / G&T school? Progressive education model? Then I drove over to the Foundation school's head office in BSB to drp off the actual app materials. Seems like an exciting opportunity; I hope I get tapped for the job. Wish me luck!

To get back to the thread title/subject, I may wind up having to actually apply for (well, have applied for on my behalf) one of these 'foreign employee quota permits' if I take up a job with my landlord's computer school/business. If that is the case, I'll report back for whatever was involved in that process, just so others can know about it.

Oh - also related: my application was formally accepted/approved for the 'Daily Rated Teacher' positions through the MoE/TRU - I got official word on that on Monday - but they don't have any slots open just now, as I was told. So not exactly sure what to make of that, but definitely better than an out-of-hand rejection.

Cheers,

Glen