RIF on Jeju - Some More Info
The good folks at Jeju Weekly were kind enough to send me some information concerning the posts I did concerning a possible RIF of NSET's on Jeju. I thought I'd take the opportunity to post what I received and then add some comments.
From the good people at Jeju Weekly:
Hey, LOJ
I really appreciate that Jeju Weekly was thoughtful enough to send this to me.
Now, understanding that I usually see a black cloud in a blue sky, let me comment.
My comments are in italics.
Jeju Provincial Office of Education (POE) English Program in Korea (EPIK) Coordinator Sunny Lee is steadfast that Jeju will not experience budget cuts like those in Seoul.
With respect, Ms. Lee is a mid-level functionary. She is not a decision-maker. As such I doubt she could be counted on as the definitive word on such matters. She is not, as far as I know, privy to discussions at nosebleed level in the Education Administration or in Provincial Assembly meetings. Consequently, her stating that she has not heard of anything doesn't mean actual decision-makers aren't planning something. I liken it to the stories I have heard of a NSET asking their co-teacher something about re-signing or pay or vacation and being told not to worry about it. Only later to be told "Oh, I'm sorry but the Principal said...." It is the same thing, in my opinion. Only at a much higher level. I believe evidence continues to mount for a RIF as demonstrated in Ms. Lee's later comments.
At the moment there is no plan to completely discontinue hiring native English teachers on the island. This year, Lee said, there will be seven less job openings than last year, but it has nothing to do with money.
I like the qualification "At the moment..." I have used the term "Reduction-in-Force (RIF) deliberately. A reduction is not an elimination. Will there continue to be NSET's on Jeju? I think so. Will the numbers be the same in 2014 as they are today? I would be willing to bet several months of an average EPIK teacher's pay that there will be 40% to 60% fewer EPIK/LC teachers than there are today, if not fewer.
I think the comment "...it has nothing to do with money" borders on the disingenuous. Of course it has to do with money. When it comes to NSET's, it always comes down to money. Our Korean friends have demonstrated this time after time after time. If you work for the Education Administration and are NOT teaching 22 hours a week, what do you hear as justification for giving you more classes, making you desk warm alone all winter or other duties? Riiiiight.
“I calculate the school hours. Each school, they need a certain amount of hours,” and seven of them do not require an EPIK teacher to meet that quota, she said. “We have TALK scholars who only teach in the afternoon. They have too many afternoon classes so we are going to use TALK scholars in the regular classes.”
So, we have the first example of lesser qualified, and cheaper, TaLK teachers being used to replace EPIK teachers in regular classes. This is a direct, unequivocal departure from the goals and purposes of the TaLK program. Thanks for providing more evidence that something may be in the wind. A TaLK teacher is not an EPIK teacher. They work for a lot less. There's that silly money thing again..... By the way, technically speaking, hiring seven less teachers this year (not replacing them) is a RIF. First the drips, then then the small breach, finally the flood.
I think it's great that the folks at the Jeju Weekly followed-up on the issue. It is just a shame that they were not able to get an actual in-person interview with a decision maker who wears a black suit, never smiles and is driven around in a big black car. However, even if they did, I doubt the person interviewed would admit to what I believe is in the wind.
Thanks, Jeju Weekly. It's nice to know you are looking into this matter.
For those who are reading this but are not regular readers of Jeju Weekly, I recommend you become a regular reader of the island's only English language paper. They put out a really nice publication. The layout is top-notch. It's worth the read for those who want to know about some of the interesting places and people on the island.
As far as I know, most of the people responsible for writing, proofing, editing, etc. at the Jeju Weekly work for nothing, zilch, nada. They deserve our support.
Have a great holiday weekend!
From the good people at Jeju Weekly:
Hey, LOJ
For issue #66 of The Jeju Weekly, we have spoken to both Jeju EPIK and SMOE about the recent Seoul education budget cuts and its affects to Jeju.
Jeju Provincial Office of Education (POE) English Program in Korea (EPIK) Coordinator Sunny Lee is steadfast that Jeju will not experience budget cuts like those in Seoul.
“In Seoul [the budget cut] was a very enormous change, but in Jeju it is not like that,” Lee said in a telephone interview. “They won't cut funding like in Seoul.”
At the moment there is no plan to completely discontinue hiring native English teachers on the island. This year, Lee said, there will be seven less job openings than last year, but it has nothing to do with money.
“I calculate the school hours. Each school, they need a certain amount of hours,” and seven of them do not require an EPIK teacher to meet that quota, she said. “We have TALK scholars who only teach in the afternoon. They have too many afternoon classes so we are going to use TALK scholars in the regular classes.”
I really appreciate that Jeju Weekly was thoughtful enough to send this to me.
Now, understanding that I usually see a black cloud in a blue sky, let me comment.
My comments are in italics.
Jeju Provincial Office of Education (POE) English Program in Korea (EPIK) Coordinator Sunny Lee is steadfast that Jeju will not experience budget cuts like those in Seoul.
With respect, Ms. Lee is a mid-level functionary. She is not a decision-maker. As such I doubt she could be counted on as the definitive word on such matters. She is not, as far as I know, privy to discussions at nosebleed level in the Education Administration or in Provincial Assembly meetings. Consequently, her stating that she has not heard of anything doesn't mean actual decision-makers aren't planning something. I liken it to the stories I have heard of a NSET asking their co-teacher something about re-signing or pay or vacation and being told not to worry about it. Only later to be told "Oh, I'm sorry but the Principal said...." It is the same thing, in my opinion. Only at a much higher level. I believe evidence continues to mount for a RIF as demonstrated in Ms. Lee's later comments.
At the moment there is no plan to completely discontinue hiring native English teachers on the island. This year, Lee said, there will be seven less job openings than last year, but it has nothing to do with money.
I like the qualification "At the moment..." I have used the term "Reduction-in-Force (RIF) deliberately. A reduction is not an elimination. Will there continue to be NSET's on Jeju? I think so. Will the numbers be the same in 2014 as they are today? I would be willing to bet several months of an average EPIK teacher's pay that there will be 40% to 60% fewer EPIK/LC teachers than there are today, if not fewer.
I think the comment "...it has nothing to do with money" borders on the disingenuous. Of course it has to do with money. When it comes to NSET's, it always comes down to money. Our Korean friends have demonstrated this time after time after time. If you work for the Education Administration and are NOT teaching 22 hours a week, what do you hear as justification for giving you more classes, making you desk warm alone all winter or other duties? Riiiiight.
“I calculate the school hours. Each school, they need a certain amount of hours,” and seven of them do not require an EPIK teacher to meet that quota, she said. “We have TALK scholars who only teach in the afternoon. They have too many afternoon classes so we are going to use TALK scholars in the regular classes.”
So, we have the first example of lesser qualified, and cheaper, TaLK teachers being used to replace EPIK teachers in regular classes. This is a direct, unequivocal departure from the goals and purposes of the TaLK program. Thanks for providing more evidence that something may be in the wind. A TaLK teacher is not an EPIK teacher. They work for a lot less. There's that silly money thing again..... By the way, technically speaking, hiring seven less teachers this year (not replacing them) is a RIF. First the drips, then then the small breach, finally the flood.
I think it's great that the folks at the Jeju Weekly followed-up on the issue. It is just a shame that they were not able to get an actual in-person interview with a decision maker who wears a black suit, never smiles and is driven around in a big black car. However, even if they did, I doubt the person interviewed would admit to what I believe is in the wind.
Thanks, Jeju Weekly. It's nice to know you are looking into this matter.
For those who are reading this but are not regular readers of Jeju Weekly, I recommend you become a regular reader of the island's only English language paper. They put out a really nice publication. The layout is top-notch. It's worth the read for those who want to know about some of the interesting places and people on the island.
As far as I know, most of the people responsible for writing, proofing, editing, etc. at the Jeju Weekly work for nothing, zilch, nada. They deserve our support.
Have a great holiday weekend!
posted by loj at 9:01 PM
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