Job Discussion Forums

[SpedEd]

Hello people:

At my school, I've been advised by the other teachers to obtain the Foreign Expert Certificate, which was my thinking from the beginning. However, the school's director has not returned this document, and has already refused once, after my first request to get it. Now, I'm not well versed re. the matters of the FEC as this is the first time I've been issued one, but It's my feeling that it's a document that I should have on my person as a form of identification rather than resorting to carrying, and risk losing, my passport all over the place.
I'm planning on demanding the FEC next week from the admin, and if they refuse again, I'll threaten to resign. What would you guys do if faced with this kind of thing?

[Teatime of Soul]

Take a deep breath.

Many FTs have an FEC and don't know it. The school gets them and never releases them.

First off, the FEC is the nominal property of the school, but technically, is supposed to be in your temporary care and custody until you leave the school, whereupon you must surrender it to them.

While the FEC has traditionally served putative purpose as a means of identification, the mandate these days is to carry your passport.

What I have seen used in lieu of passport is a color copy of your passport photo page, and FRP stamp, printed in color, with a school stamp on the back, laminated. This is printed small enough to read and carry.

Resigning over the matter won't necessarily better your lot.

Best of luck.

[arioch36]

Ditto Teatime.

IF you have your residence permit in your passport (and your passport is with you) then the FEC is much ado about nothiong. Yes, technically it is supposed to be in your possession, and when your contract ends, you must return it. Technically it says in the FEC booklet that the FEC is to be used for identification. No place would accept it as such. If you like the school, don't get worked up about it. You could calmy say that it makes you feel you have lost face that theschool gave it to others, and not you. Don't quit your day job over it

I have always been okay with a copy of my Passport front page (picture, number and expiration date) and a copy of the residence permit
Teatime's suggestion of colour and stamp is good, I have never needed it for the copy to be accepted at hotels, etc, but the suggestion is good.

If the pasport is not in your possession, that's something to get worked up about