Job Discussion Forums

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

Hi.....looked into this last year. Regarding salaries only, both have details of this on their websites....but from what I remember, starting salary at UBD (minimum masters.....) as B$36000-ish while cfbt is $42000 PA ($3500 per month) I could be wrong with UBD but I remember being a bit surprised that it was lower than cfbt's lowest scale. Of course, benefits, gratuities etc can make a big difference too.

and the qualitative differences....if you are cfbt you could be anywhere, you could have 10 students in a class, you could have 47. (I know people with both, right now). You will almost certainly NOT have airconditioning in your classrooms. You will have to dress conservatively at work at either place...depends on personality which one suits you. People who decide to do Cfbt for the cash (gratuity, save on housing allowance, travel allowance) but hate what they are doing are pretty miserable most of the time. Have to wonder if it's worth it.

lacsap · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 38 Location: South East Asia

Bit of a sweeping generalisation to say that people working for CFBT in Brunei hate what they are doing. There are plenty of people who quite enjoy it actually. There are indeed a few difficult schools, but mostly, the schools are fine to work in, very few, if any discipline problems. The majority of people just get on quietly with the job. CFBT admin are still fairly unobtrusive, although that has become a little worse in the last year or so, with the petty rules brought in by the new admin. I am sure working at UBD would be quite pleasant etc, but then of course, you are a government worker, not allowed to leave the country even for a day, without permission, which could take days to get. The recruitment process is also pretty nightmarish, it could take months to find a house, you might be in a hotel for a long time. They also often take up to a year to give you a decision on whether they will offer you a job. Government teachers also have to sign for three years, and then renew for another three. The bureacratic process is convoluted and completely opaque. CFBT is a breeze by comparison. CFBT salary scale is also higher, and you can supplement with a few extra lessons etc. It's all a trade-off really, as in anything else.

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

Re above post:

My post was definitely not saying all CfBT hate it here. Most don't. I don't. I love it here and am very happy.

Those who do hate it should do the rest of us a favour and leave when their contracts expire. Staying for the money is not a good enough reason unless people are going to stop whining about every other aspect of their jobs here (students, local colleagues, meetings, marking, exams etc....)all day, every day. Every party, BBQ, band night or other function where there are people.

I agree with the rest of your comments, people can definitely work in order to live happily rather than live in order to work here. And it's nice being a subcontractor rather than a direct government employee.

BOBBYSUE · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 100

i think UBD get much bigger housing allowance than us which probably evens out the salary difference, but I agree with both that it's much better to have CfBT dealing with all the hassles for you - I actually think things have got better over the last year with more energy and positive feeling about CfBT, and they've actually come into my school and sorted out some of its problems...probably not the same for everyone but in our case we actually needed them to be a bit more obtrusive after orientation - the office have been very good to us.

Javaggall · Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Tees Valley, UK

Just to add my two-penneth! I have to agree that working for CfBT is great - despite the whiners and wingers! I would agree with Bella that if those of you out there don't like it, leave so people who would truly appreciate the conditions can join the happy bunch who are here and want to stay!
That said there are lots of pros and cons between CfBT and UBD - the biggest I have heard is workload as hours are different and expectations differ - as they do from school to school. UBD lecturers do seem to be at work for longer hours - and the pressure may be greater as a result. My working hours are excellent and I am under far less pressure than when working in the UK. In fact my life here in Brunei is SOOOO much better than life in the UK that I hope I never have to leave!
CfBT offer a great support package (as well as salary etc) and I have found the admin side of things to be inobtrusive, laid back and supportive. I welcome professional development, targets and performance management as a way for me to ensure that I don't become too laid back in what is an easy working environment - at the end of the day I came here to teach and inspire young people (ye ha!) and I want to maintain my standards while challenging myself to avoid becoming bored - so if CfBT want to check up on how I'm doing, offer me advice on how to be better, and offer performance related bonuses (I've heard they're on their way!) then bring it on! Laughing

sandy gallop · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 33 Location: San Dunia

zootalaws · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 46

Sandy,

If my wife's experience is anything to go by, allow a LOOOONG time from submitting your application to getting a letter of confirmation to getting in the door!

While the agencies/CfBT are pretty slick, the delays waiting for the government vetting are interminable.

It has been easily 4 months and we aren't there yet!

You need to have pretty much every single qualification, teaching certificate, university curriculum (that was fun for a teacher a long time out of Uni!), etc. They just seemed to keep coming back for more Smile

The worry, if you can put it that way, is the long notice period teachers in the UK have to give, so my wife took the punt and resigned. Her time finishes at the end of July - by the middle of June, there was still no word from CfBT, still hadn't had final interviews, etc. It was only the other day she got the confirmation that they would be sending the letter, so still not had all the paperwork, contract, etc... still, she has her leaving do booked Smile

celtica · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 137

Things have changed a bit here with cfbt since the new boss arrived a couple of years ago. There has been such a recruitment drive and positive spin on the selling of the place that they are nearly up to their required number of teachers ... probably the reason for the long wait. In the past they begged you to come within 3 - 6 weeks!

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

celtica · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 137

Probably. Probably also the rise in pay in 2006?7.

BOBBYSUE · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 100

Actually i think it's a mix of all 3. The pay rise, the positive spin (and more positive atmosphere) and the new boss doing a lot more about getting the message out there. Before, Brunei was a little bit like a well kept secret. Now lots of new people are coming and loving it here. Whatever the reason, it's good I think...lots of new faces, a new sense of purpose, good energy about the place.

Javaggall · Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Tees Valley, UK

From what I've heard CfBT have fulfilled their recruitment obligations early! But I think the recruitment drive will always continue as people will be leaving. I have to say though - fewer people seem to be leaving all the time which suggests something is good in the Abode of Peace!
The recruitment process can take a long time - everything here takes longer than in the UK - but they check everything and that can only be good can't it? Need to maintain a standard and ensure strict criteria are met.
Good luck to everyone out there applying - it is a wonderful place to be - especially for kids if you have them.

zootalaws · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 46

That doesn't bode well for us - I will let my wife know...

If your information is correct, it looks like the whole thing is a bust - I wonder if my employer will tear up my resignation?

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

re getting info from cfbt, do keep chasing it up. Lots of things just seem to come together at the last minute here. I understand the awful feeling though, waiting to know what was going on. Before I came here I had a horrible month of being in limbo, contract ending, no home left, worry about kids, but everything did come together and was really smooth in the end. My recruiter was very good at replying to all my emails as was the HR person at Cfbt but it all stemmed from me contacting them first.

The other thing to bear in mind is that cfbt know well in advance which teachers will need to be replaced each term and will probably have recruited in advance. People like your wife may well have been 'assigned' (on paper) to a school already to replace someone who is leaving or to backfill a vacancy. So it may well be all alright very soon.