.. Skip into. - go to age chart
How
Old is Too
Old To
Teach Overseas?
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Experience
is a valuable tool and the wisdom one gains can often be shared
with others. So what happens to experienced people in the international
world as they age? Is the wise one valued? Considered desirable?
Or, Is upkeep too expensive? This Gray One set out to get
some answers and I'll share them with you, country-by-country, in
the chart, below.
What I discovered was teachers interested in this topic were those whose age could prevent them from receiving a work visa in certain countries. In response to my request for information, which I published in various ISR newsletters, I received a few responses from teachers in Europe and the Americas. By far the greatest response was from the Middle East and Asia where there are age policies “clearly” in place. From the information I received I came to understand that in some countries, age policies are flexible, while in others, there is very little “wiggle room” on the issue. Apparently, many areas have no formal age restrictions since there were few reports. An ISR Reader in Japan Sent this Interesting Bit of Information
I was glad to hear that half-pay was not an issue at this school as three years ago THIS grey-haired one was told by one recruiter that I “wouldn’t want to teach in Japan” as I would receive only half pay. Hhmmm. Another ISR Reader Sent Valuable Facts About China
Opinions Varied as to Why There are Age Limitations
Interestingly, I even heard from a teacher in his/her 70’s who still embraces international teaching and has continued teaching into his/her early 70’s! The majority of responders, however, seemed to be in their late 50’s and 60’s...understandably so. The Gray One’s database of age regulations as related to various countries is formed entirely from the responses emailed to me. Occasionally there was conflicting information. Most often a specific school was not named. If you have truly unique skills and experience, you may be one of those rare ones who are able to work into your late 60’s and even early 70’s. I learned there are a few people hired no matter what the age limit mandated by the country. If You Have Unique Skills the Rules May be Bent
Yes, there are schools that simply do not want graying staff members, regardless of the laws of the country. There are also countries that permit schools to decide whether age is a barrier to the continued employment of a staff member who has exceeded the age limit while in the employ of the school. This Gray One was advised and will advise you of the same: If there is a particular school or country in your sights, but there seems to be an age limit standing between you and the job, by all means, DO correspond with the school. You may just find you are the one with the “unique talents or skills” that motivate them to take advantage of the “wiggle factor” and usher you in. |
All
information in the following table submitted by ISR readers
based on their experience
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| Newest additions as of 12/1 are highlighted in blue, including new foot note links. | |||
Country
|
School
|
Age
Limit
|
Comments
|
| Australia | |||
| New Zealand | 1* click | ||
 |
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| Africa | |||
| Egypt, Cairo | No apparent limits? | Man teaching until age 77 in
math, computer, ESL areas. Another teacher reports being hired at
70.
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| Ghana, Tema | Hermann Gmeiner Int'l College | 60 mandatory | Almost positive not after 60. |
| Nigeria, Lagos | 60-65 | Depends on the school. One reported
no work permit after 60.
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| Tanzania | 50 | This is a government mandate | |
| Uganda | No age limit | We had two teachers nearly 70 | |
a
a |
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| Asia | |||
| Bangladesh, Dhaka | AISD | No age limits | |
| Brunei | 55 | ||
| China | 60..... 2*click | Man reports being hired at 60 and believes
he can stay until 70
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| Hong Kong | Canadian Int'l School | 60 | Can stay longer but loss of
benefits. Cannot register after 70. Must be "permitted" after
60HK Ed & Manpower Bureau.
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| Government work | 60 | ||
| Indonesia | Jakarta Int'l School | 60, but not legal requirement | Can be issued but employer must be willing
to write letter with facts why your skills are desired. Can finish
school year.
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| Japan | |||
| Canadian Academy, Kobe | 65 | Changed, by contract was 70.
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| Seisen Int'l School, Tokyo | School's discretion after 60
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| St.Mary's Int'l School,Tokyo | At age 60 benefits are lost.
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| Private universities | Preference is under 40 | ||
| Public Universities | 35, usually | Due to pay scales.
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| Malaysia | 60 | Do not like over age 50 (60) unless school
wants to keep you.
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| Pakistan | Over 60 | Teacher
reports many on staff in Islamabed are over 60 and some hired
at over 60.
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| Peoples Rep. of China | 55 | ||
| Beijing | 60 | No to 60 year old. New law says 70 age max.
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| Singapore American School | 60, unofficial | No to 60 year old. New law says 70 age max.
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| South Korea | 55.....3*click | ||
| Sri Lanka | No interviews after 60.
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| Taiwan | Kaohsiung American School | Teacher reports being hired at 64 | |
| Taipei American School | Age doesn't seem to be a factor. Person reported
being hired at 64.
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| Thailand | NISF | 55 | Need not apply after 55.
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| Thai Chinese School, Bangkok | 60 | No interviews after 60. Max. 55 unless already
there is the reality.
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| Ruamrudee Int'l School | 60 / 62 reported | Can stay longer, but lose benefits and up to
%75 pay.
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| a |
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| Europe | |||
| England, London | Less than 55 | Many teachers reported schools not interested once 55-60. | |
| Hungary | International School Budapest | Teacher reports that many on staff are over 60. One near 70. | |
| Netherlands | Early 40s | Low age cut-off due to social services. | |
| Portugal | 60 | But CAISL employed a 65 year old | |
| Russia | Over 60 | Teacher reports being hired in Moscow at 63. Her director says no age limit. | |
| Turkey | 65 | 65 is retirement age | |
| a |
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| Middle East | |||
| Bahrain | 60 | ||
| Kuwait | 60, by law | Can continue if already employed at 60 at schools'
discretion. 61 year-old hired because headmaster wanted person.
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| UAS | Man hired at 61. Director said "I hire who I want." WASTA. | ||
| Lebanon | Currently no limits in place
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| Oman | 60 | 50 reported by one teacher - name of school
not given.
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| Qatar | American School of Doha | 60 | Policy, but currently ok at 60 due to shortage.
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| Saudi Arabia | 60 | ||
| Aramco | 59? | Will not offer a contract if you would turn
60 during it. One person hired at 60+ by special arrangements w/
government highly skilled in sciences including research, hs, and
univ. teacher.
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| United Arab Emirates | Government mandatory cut-off age is 55+ a
problem usually. After 60 annual work visa is expensive.
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| a Dubai school | 60 | Unless school wants to keep you.
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| a |
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| North America | |||
| Mexico | None | ||
| United States | 4*click |
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| A |
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| Pacific Islands | |||
| Marshall Islands | Kwajalein | No age problems reported here. | |
| Philippines | Int'l School of Manila | 60 | Forced retirement at 60, but can finish the school year. |
| A |
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| South America |
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| Colombia | Hires 60+ | ||
| Uruguay | No age problems reported. | ||
1* It's
not just international schools who discriminate on the basis
of age. After 6 years on the international
circuit I returned
to New Zealand, aged 57. Twenty three applications and only three
interviews later I am back working in Europe. Yes, schools in
the Far East were reluctant to employ me but I was surprised that
as a counselor with 22 years experience, plus ten
years as a teacher, I could not even get past square 1 at home
- I do know my competition back home and those obtaining the positions
did
not have my experience or qualifications. The only thing they
did have was a younger age score. Most of the positions advertised
for
a counselor to work with international students, and with 5 university
qualifications and the experience I believed I would at least
get to the interview stage. So it's not just International schools
who don't like gray hair.
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2* In
2005 I was hired by a college in North Eastern China on a year's
contract to teach ESL. I was 65 at the time. A similar school
near to the one I taught at had several "senior" teachers,
including a husband and wife team, over 70. I was never aware
of any official
age limit in China; hiring policy simply appeared to be at the
discretion of each school's hiring bodies! (Another teacher
reports "age
limits apply only to Chinese and not to expat experts/professionals.
This concurs with
info from Chinese embassies as well...". |
3
*I
am age 56. I currently teach English conversation in a public
high school in Korea. I have heard that
retirement is mandatory at age 60. It is assumed that the children
will take care of the parents at that age. The reason I came to
Korea was that I could not get a teaching job in the San Francisco
Bay
Area. It was only after being turned
down many times and forced to substitute teach that I found
out few teachers in Bay Area public schools are over 40. I was
told
that older teachers with lots of experience have been forced
out and Oakland School District has been sued for age discrimination
This is not limited to SF. My uncle is a retired principal in
IL
and
he said not to try IL. They don't hire older people. |
4* I
am experiencing many of the same "age
issues" at home in the United States as well. Either my "rich
background and teaching portfolio" (perhaps
means age and experience which = cost) or simply my age receives
comments like, "we just thought another candidate would
fit in better with our staff." Does that mean younger?
Cheaper? or of a minority ethnicity? My international teaching
experience
does not seem to be relevant either as the country is more insular
than ever. |
Do you have information to add to our table? Click
Here