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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| winterfall wrote: |
| sojusucks wrote: |
| Schools without foreign teachers = angry parents |
Yup, most Foreign Teachers don't realize. It's a big status jump and selling point to have an FT. There's not enough to go around. Unlike hagwons where its the norm. If parents had a choice between public schools, they'd almost always send their kids to a school with an FT than one without. I think it even boosts their college admission scores, if their high school had one. |
Yeah..a buddy of mine, his school is paying to keep him because apparently enrollment numbers increased 30%(!!) thanks to him being there. I dont know how they got that number...but there you have it. 
His school is rural like mine. I think before the 2008 money crisis, no one would have taught there (though he likes it). |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:07 am Post subject: |
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There are some parts of this big GEPIK announcement that don't make any sense. But let's see how it's implemented.
BTW, the GEPIK recruiters seem to be taking this lying down. None of them has a problem with this? |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:18 am Post subject: |
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http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110329000773
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GEPIK hiring freeze sparks anger in Gyeonggi
2011-03-29 17:38
The recruiting body for native English public school teachers in Gyeonggi province has sparked anger with a three-month hiring freeze.
The Gyeonggi-do English Program in Korea announced that it would not hire any new teachers, or renew current contracts ending between this May 25 and Aug. 31.
An email sent Tuesday signed as from GEPIK coordinators and Gyeonggi Province Office of Education seen by The Korea Herald said the three-month freeze was to allow the organization to restructure and streamline the program.
�We are aiming to set contract dates for September 1st and March 1st so that the GEPIK structure will be more standardized,� the email to its employees stated.
�We do realize that many of you will be affected by this change, but please understand that we found it crucial to restructure our program to improve GEPIK, not only for the program itself but for our teachers as well,� the email added.
Coordinators said that all teachers would be able to finish the full 365 days of their contracts and native teachers whose jobs were funded directly by the city might be able to renew their contracts. But those whose jobs were partially or fully funded by GPOE with contracts ending during the three-month period would not be able to stay on at their schools.
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GEPIK coordinators are heartbroken- NOT. What "sacrifices" are they making?
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A GEPIK coordinator, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that schools with teachers finishing during the recruitment freeze would go without native English staff until September, noting that the period included a one and a half month summer vacation.
�Schools would normally hold English summer camps during this time, and these won�t run at these schools (left with no teacher) but we have to make small sacrifices to improve the quality of our programs,� she said.
Teachers had been given the 60 days notice set in their contracts that their jobs would not be renewed, she said, but declined to comment when asked if budget issues had influenced the recruitment freeze.
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
There are some parts of this big GEPIK announcement that don't make any sense. But let's see how it's implemented.
BTW, the GEPIK recruiters seem to be taking this lying down. None of them has a problem with this? |
Why would they have a problem with an extra wave of warm bodies to be sent their way for placement? 
They're probably annoyed that there are fewer positions for them to fill, lowering their profits...but as far they're concerned...their job ends with the teacher being at the school for 6 months. Do recruiters make more money if the teacher recontracts (I dont know this answer)? If they dont, then this shouldnt bother them too much.
Plus I'm sure schools will be thrilled at not having to pay for a flight ticket for the teachers that will just be finishing up their last contract here and wont have time to go home.
Sounds like a win/win for everyone, except the teachers...and maybe the students. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:13 am Post subject: |
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The sooner you jump from the sinking ship that is the public school english programme... the better it will be for you.
Expect to see some triumphant air punching by Korean English teachers. "The waygook has gone! The waygook has gone!" |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| ZIFA wrote: |
The sooner you jump from the sinking ship that is the public school english programme... the better it will be for you.
Expect to see some triumphant air punching by Korean English teachers. "The waygook has gone! The waygook has gone!" |
And exactly what ship do you suggest jumping to? |
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oldtrafford
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Hogwon for most!! |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| oldtrafford wrote: |
| Hogwon for most!! |
some jump from a "sinking ship" to a pirate ship? no thanks! |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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For all of those gloating about the glorious bounty in the Hagwon world...think serously about what will happen to pay rates and conditions in the Private Sector if there is no competition from the Public Sector! If GEPIK, EPIK and SMOE fold, or even reduce numbers significantly there will be greater competition for Hagwon jobs...so pay rates and conditions will become a race to the bottom!
As for the recruiters...I'm sure that they're happy that people who would otherwise have stayed on at their school for another year will have to apply again. Looks like a bumper year for them! |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Makes some sense not to hire out of the March/September cycles.
Once you hire a teacher mid-semester, it's pretty hard to get out of that cycle, as his/her contract will end mid-semester, and thus you'll need to find a replacement.
Additionally, I believe it's harder for schools to hire mid-semester, you have to pay a recruiter (which costs more if just 1 teacher, rather than buying in bulk), then process all the documents etc, and there's always a risk the teacher gets cold-feet or there's a problem.
Now, GEPIK, will work out that they need 500 (random figure) teachers for March, and hire 550. If a couple of teachers don't make it, you still have some extra and if it turns out you only needed 450, there'll be a repeat of the SMOE debacle a few years back.
Lastly, it will be far easier to fill up poor locations. Recruiters will show urban locations "just outside of Seoul" such as Anyang, Bundang, Suwon, Bucheon etc, telling their applicants it's "just 30minutes to downtown Seoul" and you'll be living in a nice urban area, and that will be true for a good number of the positions, however, you'll get plenty of teachers suckered into places in the middle of nowhere.
The negatives: from my experience, you have an attrition rate of about 25% over the year. This means, that schools won't be able to replace teachers who leave, however, as there are two hiring cycles, schools who lose a teacher, will probably get a replacing within about 3 months.
From the teacher's perspective this sucks. One of the best things about GEPIK was that you could choose your location (even specific school! if going direct), this allowed teachers to choose their preferred location, and in many cases that was the primary reason for going GEPIK.
For most recruiters this is a negative change. Prices for mass intakes are lower per teacher, and even though recruiting an individual teacher is more work per teacher than recruiting in bulk, there isn't that much work in the off-season. Additionally, the private GEPIK hires was a good way for smaller recruiters to get their foot in the door.
I also feel this "streamlining" will be the beginning of the end for additional perks at public school jobs. Generally, the direct hire schools gave a bit more leeway with things like desk-warming, a few extra days off etc, as everything will be "stream-lined" you'll see only the contract and nothing more. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:48 am Post subject: |
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| The reason why schools hired teachers in the middle of the school year was to replace foreign teachers who has resigned or done runners. It may not have been the last foreign teacher, but it happened at some point. How this action will remedy that situation is beyond me. There will always be openings in the middle of school years because of runners and resignations. What GEPIK is doing only punishes the teachers, schools, and students who are at these schools now. |
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brickabrack
Joined: 17 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:10 am Post subject: |
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"Once you hire a teacher mid-semester, it's pretty hard to get out of that cycle, as his/her contract will end mid-semester, and thus you'll need to find a replacement. "
Can't the school just wait a couple of months and attain
a new teacher in late Aug or late Feb?? Is there some governmental
issue that states a teacher is required year round? Do
they lose funding if there are any gaps?
If none of these are concerns, then I don't see a problem. |
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blm
Joined: 11 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| The reason why schools hired teachers in the middle of the school year was to replace foreign teachers who has resigned or done runners. It may not have been the last foreign teacher, but it happened at some point. How this action will remedy that situation is beyond me. There will always be openings in the middle of school years because of runners and resignations. What GEPIK is doing only punishes the teachers, schools, and students who are at these schools now. |
They will probably be replaced with Korean conversation teachers (contractors) some of who do a decent job... some are hopeless. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| brickabrack wrote: |
"Once you hire a teacher mid-semester, it's pretty hard to get out of that cycle, as his/her contract will end mid-semester, and thus you'll need to find a replacement. "
Can't the school just wait a couple of months and attain
a new teacher in late Aug or late Feb?? Is there some governmental
issue that states a teacher is required year round? Do
they lose funding if there are any gaps?
If none of these are concerns, then I don't see a problem. |
There's school choice in Korea and a school having or not having a foreign teacher can be a big deal to many parents. So, it can be worth a lot of money, from increased or decreased enrollment. That's true, even if it's only for a few months. It doesn't take long for Korean parents to find another school, especially between semesters.
I'm guessing that there are some Principals and parents who will freak out about their school not having a foreign teacher. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| Decreased enrollment? From elementary through middle-school students have no choice what school they go, it's based on where they live. |
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