Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Draz]

I want to transfer to a different public school. I'm at a middle school and I want to be in an elementary school like I originally asked for and was told I would get.

My contract says I will teach in elementary and/or middle schools. I know transfers are possible because... a previous teacher at this school got one. I don't know if it was her request, or just a random administrative decision, or if they wanted to get rid of her, but she was transferred.

Who is the best person to talk to about this? Does anyone have experience with switching between public schools and staying under the same contract?

[tob55]

If you are in GEPIK, we were told that any time you switch from one school to another your contract tenure begins all over again. This means that your tenure at the first or previous school makes no difference other than the fact you have experience you can use as a bargaining chip in your salary negotiations.

With that said, it depends on the school you are moving to to determine what you will receive in terms of experience and level recognition. There is no such thing as "tenure" of carrying your years experience with you here in Korea as there is in the US or other places as an educator. Part of the reason is that foreigners are not considered full time employees within the Korean Education system. We are contract employees which makes us non-permanent employees.

If you are with EPIK or SMOE I am fairly sure the rules will basically be the same, but it depends on the hiring agency. That is what I know from a personal and practical position. I was going to switch jobs from one public school to the next and found out in time before I completed the switch. Otherwise I would have had to "go back" in terms of the benefits I have worked hard over the years I was at my current school to build up.

[Draz]

I'm with EPIK. Neither of the places I'm working is named in my contract. I work wherever the province says I have to work. I don't want to outright quit because I don't want to pay back my airfare.

[Bibbitybop]

In SMOE, contracts are with SMOE, not with ind. schools. At the rehiring time, you can transfer schools within SMOE.

[Draz]

[aarontendo]

It's probably damn hard to do I'd reckon.

[Bibbitybop]

[pkang0202]

[Dome Vans]

[Draz]

[spliff]

[R. S. Refugee]

[Otherside]

[captain kirk]

I dunno, public schools are built like brick shithouses. It's not like they want to bother to understand you. It's a communal situation where there is no 'YOU'. Just a bunch of teacher-shaped cogs and wheels processing student-shaped cogs and wheels. You're going to interupt that? And then there's the face thing. Why do yo really want to transfer, don't you like it here? What's wrong with our school? How ungrateful! And who's going to do the paperwork, calling, and so on to get the new teacher, get them sorted into your apt, and so on. If you just stayed, they think, there'd be no extra work to do. Aren't you happy here? (repeat). Expect a roundabout, circular motion that is no motion.

If you said you'd find someone to work for you in your place, maybe someone older and more suited to M.S. and transfer half way thru, when there's a hiring window (Summer vacation say). But then there's the fuss of finding a school for yourself then. And, don't mean to be a worrywart, the risk of not getting your severance because of 'interuption'. Can you just suck it up and forge your mettle during a tough year?

[nomad-ish]