Poaching teachers?

[inspiration]

Dear international school teachers:

I am wondering if changing the school within the same country is usual or unusual.

Is there a tacit approval among international schools within a country that they do not recruit a teacher from other schools in the same country because it is regarded as 'poaching' or 'unethical'?

Let me know your knowledge/experience of this matter.

[johnwest]

A few years ago I was told by one administrator in my then-current country that he would not interview me because he did not want to give the impression of poaching. Then again, this was within the same city. I THINK I spoke with someone who went straight from Islamabad to Lahore or vice versa. Anyone else?

[pussygalore]

In one Middle East country many schools will not give a release letter to allow teachers to apply to other schools in the country. The better schools will allow release realising that teachers may wish to leave for promotion or other reasons. It is ironic that some of the schools which will not release staff are quite happy to employ teachers from other local schools!

[Chinuk]

It's very common in the country I work in, but I learned at the last fair I attended that schools in Shanghai have an agreement to keep PUBLISHED pay and benefits in line with each other, but that all this means is that what you end up signing for can be MUCH more. Talked to a teacher who signed for double the published figure.

I don't think it's poaching if the teacher has finished their contract and given notice that they're looking for another position, then decide to accept an offer from another school in the same city or country.

[inspiration]

Thank you for sharing your information and opininon.

I guess it doesn't happen often because most teachers tend to move on to a new school in a different country, or even if they succeed in getting a job in the same country, their contract may become 'local hire' and lose some benefits of 'overseas hire'.

[Chinuk]

In my experience, you don't lose overseas hire benefits if you sign the contract at a fair. In fact schools where I live prefer in-country transfers because they know they will have less hassle hand-holding teachers through culture-shock or language difficulties.