Korean Job Discussion Forums

treehouse · Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Location: Seoul

I'm surprised no one has posted about this yet. It's pretty big news.

My wife just told me that they reported on MBC news that all NETs in public schools (in Seoul only?) will be let go next year. Apparently, the budget for native speakers is not getting any better and there will be something like 700 lay offs next year?

Can anyone confirm this or am I the only one who heard?

dbtm · Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: ottawa

heres the article.

http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001040121

it just says seoul.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

looks like they paid attention to that drivel theissen wrote in the kt then:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2011/12/137_100248.html

PigeonFart · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I couldnt read the SBS article because it was in Korean, but if what you say is true. That's massive news!

tigershark · Joined: 13 Aug 2009

I think it's just SMOE. Also only 700 teachers (which is a lot). It's in the general discussion forum... but that's not right either!!

picadelli22 · Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Location: South Korea

서울 초, 중, 고등학교의' 외국인 영어 교사가 내년부터 차례로 해고됩니다. I read this in the SBS article and it says that "From next year, there will be NET firings that will occur year by year." So it really sounds like NET will eventually be phased out in Seoul but some schools are hiring/resigning NET's for next year so don't push the panic button just yet!~

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:02 am Post subject:

Sounds like a progressive reduction of the number of NETS more than firings. It is their (Korea) program and they can certainly choose to spend their budget as they see fit.

At least people get a warning on a trend and can adjust accordingly.

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:00 am Post subject:

Public schools aren't good anyways.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

I find this all very interesting. The original idea of having NETs was so parents wouldn't spend so much on private education.

Can we now call that idea a failure, and can expect parents will have to spend more?

This can only be great news for hagwons. Maybe it will soon be time to open one? Also, as more foreign teachers leave Korea, it can only open up more "opportunities" for those of us left.

amoonbot · Joined: 29 Jul 2009

Well, according to the news clip on the SBS website.

Teachers ending their contract next year will not be able to renew. The exact number being cut is 707. 255 from the high schools, 200 from the middle schools, and 252 from the elementary schools. They say it's a 57% reduction in NETs throughout Seoul. And three years from next August, they are planning to completely take out middle and high school NETs.

Looks like SMOE is going to have a lot of shit to deal with soon.

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:59 am Post subject:

radcon · Joined: 23 May 2011

Carbon · Joined: 28 Jan 2011

The system was bloated to say the least; a rebound was inevitable. Korea is slowly going the way of Japan regarding EFL.

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

add to that smaller classes due to smaller population. In my rural school..the last 2 graduating classes at elementary were around 25 students. Now the classes have about 16.