School Flavours
In China, the term, “school”, can refer to a kaleidoscope of educational institutions, from nurseries to universities, from government-funded establishments to those paid for privately. This article looks specifically at the differences between public and private schools.
Here’s a primary one: money. With few exceptions, you’ll get more of it at a private school. Public schools generally cannot compete with the salaries offered by their non-state counterparts. They do, however, usually require fewer teaching hours. Traditionally they also give teachers better holidays – typically six weeks over winter and up to two months over summer. This advantage is disappearing in some places with the advent of ten month contracts, meaning that your holiday time is unpaid. But in general, you can expect to have more free time if you’re employed by the state.
There are some practical differences to be aware of. Some private schools, particularly training centres, may “sub-let” you to another school. This might be perfectly acceptable to you, particularly if you’re hired out to a school with similar conditions to those you signed up for. However, if you arrive expecting to teach classes of ten eighteen year olds, and instead find yourself cowering in front of rows of marauding thirteen year olds, you may not be too thrilled. Check your contract, know what your employer can and can’t do and try not to let your rights be trampled over.
You should also note that in a public school, you may be expected to live on campus, so you might find yourself in closer proximity to your students than you’re comfortable with. On the other hand, working at a private school means you’re more likely to deal frequently with the parents of your students. Understandably, since they are forking out a lot of money for the privilege of having their child educated by a foreigner, they will want to know what you’re doing and why, and may well want to let you know their opinions on your methods.
For the most part, donning my trusty “making sweeping generalisations on the internet” hat, public schools are more stable, more concerned about the educational experience of their students, treat their staff better and are less likely to renege on a contract.
Essentially, if you’re in China to make money, go private. If you want to have free time to explore, study or travel, find yourself a public school.
Of course, all schools are different, and the characteristics of an individual school are far more important than whether it’s public or private. The usual advice applies: do your research, speak to someone who’s taught there before, and as far as possible, know what you’re getting into before you arrive.