Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Richardjw84]

I work in a private high-school and although I've asked several people what the difference between public and private is, I've had many different answers. All I can work out for definite is that it's not the same as the difference between a public and private school in the US or UK.

Can anyone give me a definitive answer?

[MoneyMike]

This might not be as definitive as you want, but here's a couple things I know:

Teachers at public schools must transfer every so often, (4 years I think) this is not the case with private schools.

Teachers at private schools are not considered government workers as far as I know, while teachers at public schools are. (I'm pretty sure about that, but if anyone knows differently feel free to correct me)

I've taught at public middle schools, and am currently in a private high school, and those are the only real differences I have noticed so far.

[calendar]

Teachers at public high schools can stay at one place for up to 9 years then they have to move. They can move sooner and most do.

Contract teachers get 1-2 years of employment and either have to be permanently hired or fired(for private schools), public schools it depends. Permanent teachers at private schools cannot move without special permission from the principal, etc. and then it is only about 2 a year if 2 or more apply.

I have only heard of one case being approved in the schools I know of in the past 7 years. I knew teachers who spent 30+ years at the same private school before retiring.

[jvalmer]

Most private schools in Korea are a product of Korea's poverty ridden past. Sometime after the Korean War, the government encouraged private groups to open schools (mostly middle and high schools) to help in educating the masses. The government made primary education free, however you had to pay to go onto middle and high school, so many girls were left uneducated after the 6th grade. Sometime later (not sure when) up to the end of middle school was publicly funded. And about 10 years ago up to high school is now publicly funded.

Also in the past teachers could have been fired on the spot and weren't well paid. Parents knew this, so with the double motivation of keeping good teachers around and hoping their children were well treated, paid extra money to teachers in unofficial ways (aka bribes).

[jvalmer]

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[koreatimes]

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[some waygug-in]

I think it depends on the school. I know a guy that left a university job to work at a private high school.

The reasons, he was given free reign to teach whatever and however he wanted, no interference from principals or co-teaching nonsense.

He has small classes and conducts them all in English.

Oh, yeah... no deskwarming.

Basically, my dream job.

He just laughed when I told him about the nonsense going on in the PS system.

[jvalmer]

[silkhighway]

How I understand a private school in Korea is more like what we could call a charter school in North America, a non-profit privately funded public school, with a separate administration structure. I'm not clear if that's right, or where the funding comes from.

[jvalmer]

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[RangerMcGreggor]

[Richardjw84]

Thanks for the information everyone, in my limited experience so far my private school certainly seems a pretty good place to work. I'll try and add to this thread myself when I find out more from my co-teachers.