Job Discussion Forums

Peg Leg Pete · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 80 Location: Moscow

What's the situation with IPT these days? Are they worth working for or do they still have 'religious cult-like' problems? Are they still downgrading contracts or have they learnt to look after their teachers?

Anyone with any recent experience of them?

Dyadya Misha · Joined: 28 Jun 2010 Posts: 17

I worked for them in 2006-7 but left before the crisis hit. From what I know many schools shipped teachers out in 2008, few of them with much class. I don't think IPT handled things as well as they could have, but I'm back with them now and, although changes have been made to the contract they offer, things are pretty good.

The main change is that nobody is salaried. Everyone works on an hourly rate with Metro card reimbursed if you teach a certain number of hours a week, all visa expenses refunded at the end of the contract, etc.

the dakota kid · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 44

All,

I applied for a position with them... but I can't find much information about them on the web.

Any thoughts?
tdk

JimJam · Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 69 Location: UK

I work for them now. The work is standard, the money is ok and the admins are helpful and competent.

I have nothing bad to say about them which I guess is a glaring compliment in Moscow!

wojbrian · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 178

I have a phone interview with them on Tuesday.

Is there anything that they are looking for?

How is the travel in Moscow? Do they provide any housing?

Peg Leg Pete · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 80 Location: Moscow

No housing, but they do 'help' I believe.

The only problem appears to be the teaching hours. Some teachers are very short at present. I'm ok, but I know of some who are down to under 10 ac hours per week and if more teachers are taken on it will get worse.

Admin-not bad, as long as you don't upset them (i.e never say no to any request) otherwise they cut your hours. Seen it happen to one of my colleagues recently.

Basically, IPT are fine if you are here and established, but if you are new to Moscow/Russia I would think twice. Not much support.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:06 pm Post subject:

Don't hand them yer passport either. They tend to send your docs to immigration to have visas cancelled under the pretense of getting your registration done if they have a gripe with you.

Peg Leg Pete · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 80 Location: Moscow

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:31 pm Post subject:

Oh dear... the old 'we'll just keep your passport/degree/TEFL cert/local documents safe for you' trick.

Try going to a bank without your original passport and even just to lodge your own money, and see how far you can get. And try getting any of the administrators to be in the office when you need them to be to unlock the cupboard to get said passport. It is hard enough to get them to unlock the resource materials.

I wouldn't trust even a fair-minded, sober and competent administrator with my passport and papers.

Jazziz23 · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 61

Why do the schools insist on taking your passport when they don't need it? To hold their employees hostage?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:51 am Post subject:

Most schools in Moscow don't insist on this. This is the first one I've heard of that tries this on. But yes, it would seem that it is to hold teachers hostage.

If a passport is held by the school, they can easily arrange to have the visa cancelled. Very hard to stand up for your rights then. You'd have about a week to exit the country if they had your papers cancelled.

If they do not have the original docs, it is well-nigh impossible for them to complete the legal process required to have a visa cancelled within the life-span of the visa. In any dispute, you can just walk out, but stay on and work freelance in Russia until you secure a new visa sponsor for the following year.

Moral of the story is - never surrender your passport once you have the visa in it.

Jazziz23 · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 61

The thing is, on what grounds can the school ask to have the visa cancelled? Wouldn't the government check the facts first and talk to you.
Or maybe that's just how they do it in Russia.

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

Jazziz23 - are you in Russia now?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:10 am Post subject:

Grounds? On the basis of whatever story they concoct and present to the authorities. They can even present faked signed statements that you have decided to end your contract legally. After all, from the beginning your real contract (not the worthless paper given to you) was presented to the authorities with a signature that was purported to be yours. Clearly this document is not really a contract as we understand it, but it was what was officially submitted with your visa application. The same forging of signatures sometimes happens when the visa is terminated early.

Moral of the story: never, ever hand over your passport once you have the visa in it.

Without your passport, a school would need to show the authorities justification for your dismissal, and you take them to court for unfair dismissal. And get your lawyer to say that magic word (tax) and watch their previous threats and bluster collapse to entreaties to sort out a reasonable compromise.

JimJam · Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 69 Location: UK

Just to pick up on what a few people have said.

I haven't been asked or heard of someone being asked to give up their docs at IPT. Surely most teachers would refuse out of hand making it impossible to impose as a policy.

However the issues surrounding housing and potential problems getting enough hours do exist. Perhaps for a newcomer with no established private contacts one of the bigger schools is a better idea.