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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:27 am Post subject: EPIK Implosion |
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I am basing this post on what others have told me, so if I am incorrect, someone has been feeding me lies.
A few people on this site and someone I know IRL have all told me their public school budgets for foreign teachers have been slashed heavily this year. The gov't has only given them about 35% of what they got last year.
Doing a little simple math, that gives enough money for the foreign teacher to be paid for 4-5 months only. I guess a lot of people are assuming the rest of the money is on the way.
If it is, then it's all good. If not, I wonder what is going to happen. Will public school teachers be getting the hagwon treatment and not being paid?
Also, someone on this board said there is a money shortage in the budget because of the free school lunch thing. Assuming that is true, that blows my mind. A bunch of cheapskate parents whine and complain to save $20 a month and end up sacrificing their child's English education. Serves them right. |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Well...there have been budget cuts at GEPIK this year...but not in the manner that you're suggesting. With GEPIK (and it might be entirely different with EPIK) the schools that have lost their funding have been told that they can't renew their foreign teacher's contract.
As for why the GEPIK budget has been cut (again this is GEPIK...not EPIK) it's up for debate. Some people suggest that the program grew far more quickly than was anticipated, and has been scaled back a little...others suggest that this is the beginning of the end...still others say that it is because of school lunches being given to students.
I hope you're wrong about EPIK. If you're right, then schools should have a good idea by now that they are up the creek...what with the money being given to them at the beginning of January and all. |
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decolyon
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| This was the plan from the start. The education minister said that foreigners in public schools was just a temporary thing. The stated goal was to get Korean teachers with English degrees teaching and replace foreigners. They can pay them much less and they have far fewer benefits. I think they can get 3 Koreans for the price of one foreigner. |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| ^^ LOL Someone's clueless about salaries. |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| decolyon wrote: |
| This was the plan from the start. The education minister said that foreigners in public schools was just a temporary thing. The stated goal was to get Korean teachers with English degrees teaching and replace foreigners. They can pay them much less and they have far fewer benefits. I think they can get 3 Koreans for the price of one foreigner. |
Yeah, but what Boholdiver is saying is that EPIK schools have been given 35% of their budget for the year instead of 100%. If that's true, then a lot of foreign teachers will be very surprised when they don't get paid in a month or so. |
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rainism
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| Burndog wrote: |
| decolyon wrote: |
| This was the plan from the start. The education minister said that foreigners in public schools was just a temporary thing. The stated goal was to get Korean teachers with English degrees teaching and replace foreigners. They can pay them much less and they have far fewer benefits. I think they can get 3 Koreans for the price of one foreigner. |
Yeah, but what Boholdiver is saying is that EPIK schools have been given 35% of their budget for the year instead of 100%. If that's true, then a lot of foreign teachers will be very surprised when they don't get paid in a month or so. |
this is very stupid and uninformed speculation. public schools aren't hogwans and everyone gets paid till the completion of their contract.
if what you say is true, that the EPIK schools will only get 35%, then it simply means that roughly 65% of the current EPIK teachers won't be given an opportunity to renew when their contracts end.
all the NET funding is allocated when a NET is hired. It only becomes an issue when that yearly contract ends and there's no money for a subsequent contract. The money being given this year is for contracts that begin this year. |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| rainism wrote: |
| Burndog wrote: |
| decolyon wrote: |
| This was the plan from the start. The education minister said that foreigners in public schools was just a temporary thing. The stated goal was to get Korean teachers with English degrees teaching and replace foreigners. They can pay them much less and they have far fewer benefits. I think they can get 3 Koreans for the price of one foreigner. |
Yeah, but what Boholdiver is saying is that EPIK schools have been given 35% of their budget for the year instead of 100%. If that's true, then a lot of foreign teachers will be very surprised when they don't get paid in a month or so. |
this is very stupid and uninformed speculation. public schools aren't hogwans and everyone gets paid till the completion of their contract.
if what you say is true, that the EPIK schools will only get 35%, then it simply means that roughly 65% of the current EPIK teachers won't be given an opportunity to renew when their contracts end.
all the NET funding is allocated when a NET is hired. It only becomes an issue when that yearly contract ends and there's no money for a subsequent contract. The money being given this year is for contracts that begin this year. |
I'm not sure why you addressed this to me...but it's not my speculation! I was merely explaining to the other chap boholdiver's speculation. If you look at what I wrote, I said "but what boholdiver is saying" which should help to make it clear that it's not my own opinion, but the opinion of someone else. I didn't say anything about 35%...I was merely quoting the OP and explaining his opinion to a chap who was saying that if correct (which I doubt) then boholdiver's hypothesis is exactly as the government had planned for things to be. I would suggest that IF correct, boholdiver's hypothesis would NOT be the end game of some elaborate plan.
Thanks.
Oh, and funding for GEPIK is provided to the school at the beginning of each year (January) and has no relation to contract dates. I wasn't aware that EPIK was different! Sorry about that. |
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chrisinkorea2011
Joined: 16 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Burndog wrote: |
| rainism wrote: |
| Burndog wrote: |
| decolyon wrote: |
| This was the plan from the start. The education minister said that foreigners in public schools was just a temporary thing. The stated goal was to get Korean teachers with English degrees teaching and replace foreigners. They can pay them much less and they have far fewer benefits. I think they can get 3 Koreans for the price of one foreigner. |
Yeah, but what Boholdiver is saying is that EPIK schools have been given 35% of their budget for the year instead of 100%. If that's true, then a lot of foreign teachers will be very surprised when they don't get paid in a month or so. |
this is very stupid and uninformed speculation. public schools aren't hogwans and everyone gets paid till the completion of their contract.
if what you say is true, that the EPIK schools will only get 35%, then it simply means that roughly 65% of the current EPIK teachers won't be given an opportunity to renew when their contracts end.
all the NET funding is allocated when a NET is hired. It only becomes an issue when that yearly contract ends and there's no money for a subsequent contract. The money being given this year is for contracts that begin this year. |
I'm not sure why you addressed this to me...but it's not my speculation! I was merely explaining to the other chap boholdiver's speculation. If you look at what I wrote, I said "but what boholdiver is saying" which should help to make it clear that it's not my own opinion, but the opinion of someone else. I didn't say anything about 35%...I was merely quoting the OP and explaining his opinion to a chap who was saying that if correct (which I doubt) then boholdiver's hypothesis is exactly as the government had planned for things to be. I would suggest that IF correct, boholdiver's hypothesis would NOT be the end game of some elaborate plan.
Thanks.
Oh, and funding for GEPIK is provided to the school at the beginning of each year (January) and has no relation to contract dates. I wasn't aware that EPIK was different! Sorry about that. |
For the most part they are provided at the beginning of the school but actually what they do is "agree" ( i use this term loosely lol) on what each part of the NET's salary will come from. (Board of education, city hall in that area/region. etc) I say loosely because they agree on the money but there is usually miscommunication etc. There have been cases where schools have had excess money at the end a contract and they must give it back (which i think it would be smart to add to next years payment plan) and sometimes there is a shortage as well.
Good example would be what they did with me. City hall and the B.of Ed. decided on who was to pay what but they believed that each other would pay so i was paid 2 weeks later because of miscommunication lol. GEPIK cut costs for a number of reasons of which you mentioned and they technically are all correct PLUS the fact that there is new gov't guys coming in and trying to make it seem as if NETS are not needed, that koreans who learn english will eventually take over all these positions. Of course you and I both know that would never work. Unless you grow up in an english speaking country, your accent will NOT be that of a NET, no matter how hard you try. and english is the universal language haha. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Besides, these Korean conversation teachers are a mixed bag. Some are good at English. But others really screw the language up. If Koreans are serious about English, they will keep foriegners here for a generation. That's what's really needed. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Besides, these Korean conversation teachers are a mixed bag. Some are good at English. But others really screw the language up. If Koreans are serious about English, they will keep foriegners here for a generation. That's what's really needed. |
not really.  |
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ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Is it just me or does this thread have a lot of potential to turn into some really insecure NETs trying to defend their right to a job, and then some equally insecure NETs or non-NETs or just creepy jerks trying to tear them down? |
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Burndog
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Besides, these Korean conversation teachers are a mixed bag. Some are good at English. But others really screw the language up. |
Being fair, one could say the same thing about Native English Teachers. Some NETs are brilliant, and others are complete rubbish...it's the same for any large group of employees isn't it?
| Quote: |
| Is it just me or does this thread have a lot of potential to turn into some really insecure NETs trying to defend their right to a job, and then some equally insecure NETs or non-NETs or just creepy jerks trying to tear them down? |
Yeah. Any of these threads where the premise is 'we're all gonna be replaced by (insert the word Koreans, Indians, Filipinos or Robots here)' always ends with NETs demanding that everyone respect our role as the top of the heap...and trolls explaining why we're all redundant. It never ends! |
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rainism
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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regardless of how the money is specifically allocated, I've never heard of a ps teacher not being paid because money runs out prior to expiration of their contract.
that's why this is a ps and not hagwon and this is also why pschools tend to be so anal about the contracts. In this instance, them being anal is a positive. |
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ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Burndog wrote: |
| Yeah. Any of these threads where the premise is 'we're all gonna be replaced by (insert the word Koreans, Indians, Filipinos or Robots here)' always ends with NETs demanding that everyone respect our role as the top of the heap...and trolls explaining why we're all redundant. It never ends! |
You'd think that the actual job would be enough mind-numbing repetition for some people, but apparently there's always room for more.
Here's my advice: unless it actually happens, don't worry about it. But be prepared in case it does.
That's all that you really can do. |
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walter235
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Location: korea
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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The world is teetering on financial chaos and it will hit Korea. Just like in 1997, budgets will be cut all over the place and NET's will be seen as unnecessary overhead. From the beginning, EPIK and similar programs have been a mixed bag. IMHO, in terms of bang for the buck, it's more expensive that it's worth to the SK Government.
High turnover rates, low test scores, etc... I see EPIK and all similar programs getting cut to the bone, if not abolished over the next year or two. Just like in 1997.......... |
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