Job Discussion Forums

[West Coast Teacher Newbie]

Before the election a few months ago, my Taiwanese girlfriend told me that the Chinese news media was chock full of reports about the Ministry of Education's announced plans to crackdown on kindergartens and buxibans.

From my understanding, no new laws were actually announced, but that the government intended to tighten its rules about kindergartens (illegally) employing foreigners and about English language schools that offer kindergarten type programs (with foreigners). I was also told that because of a big public backlash, the government did soften its announcements but said that things would be enforced within 6 months (I guess by the beginning of a new school year).

Does anyone in Taiwan know what the current situation is like or is going to be like? I don't want to get screwed working for a school (legally) that has me teaching an English kindergarten-type class. The school is an English school (buxiban) in name but most of the worktime is with little kiddies.

Thanks for any responses!

West Coast Teacher Newbie
Taipei

[markholmes]

I think Kindies has always pretty much been illegal. I worked for Kojen and had to run out of the back door twice (once in my socks) when the authorities showed up.

Whether your school gets raided or not depends on the owners connection to the authorities. Actually it maybe that any school can get raided, its the relationship between school and authorities that dictates what happens after the raid.

[Aristotle]

Early this year the Ministry of Education was stripped of all authority or influence over the visa application process of foreign teachers.
The Ministry of Education had simply been extorting too much for too long.
Many teachers with excellent credentials were unable to get a visa through the Ministry of Education because the schools had not paid the required bribes. Coincidentally, convicted criminals were able to get high paying professional university positions for much the same reason.
In response to their loss of authority and face the Ministry of Education has exerted the maximum amount of pressure they can to keep the graft flowing into Ministry of Education officials pockets. Hence the recent crackdown on licensed kindergartens and busibans and the prohibition of English from many private schools.
Many education professionals in Taiwan and abroad are now advocating the removal of the Ministry of Education authority over private schools entirely.
None too soon!
Good luck,
A.