Schools in the UK are facing two major crises. There is the shortfall of places in primary schools where many parents cannot get their children into the first choice of school. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 shortages.
The other key issue that plagues schools in the UK is the loss of teachers. A report by the Guardian stated that Sir Michael Wilshaw warned of a “teacher brain drain” from the UK to most often the Gulf States.
There are a number of factors that have lead to the brain drain as described by Sir Wilshaw.
International Schools
Many public schools are starting international branches in countries in the Middle East, as well as countries in the Far East such as China and Japan. There has been a growing demand in these countries for ESL (English as a Second Language) Tuition. The number of international Schools is expected to double in the next few Years.
In these countries, Middle class and Upper-class parents enrol students to ESL courses in order to prepare them for a possible university education overseas. The growing demand and the amount these parents are willing to pay have forced schools in places like the UK to respond.
In China, the demand for UK teachers came after the Chinese government ruled that only native English speakers can be accepted in Chinese schools. This meant that non-native English speakers were locked away from these teaching opportunities. It subsequently created a lot of opportunities for tutors from countries like the UK.
More Opportunities for Teachers
Many Teachers are moving to countries in the Middle East because of the attractive tax-free salaries and benefits offered by some of the countries. In this respect, the United Arab Emirates is considered to be the best.
The UAE is known to offer attractive packages that include benefits like paid flights, accommodation, health insurance as well as bonuses for working for a specified period of time. Salaries in the Middle East can range from 1,800 to 3,800 pounds. In Middle Eastern countries like the UAE, these salaries tend to be tax-free and may include benefits like insurance and housing.
Countries like China tend to offer lower salaries, especially in public schools and universities. However, there are lots of benefits for teachers. Also, most of the teachers working in schools away from the major metropolitan areas of the country enjoy working in places with a lower cost of living. Public universities in China have shorter working hours and English tutors do not have to remain in school when they don’t have a lesson.
New Environment
Better salaries and benefits are not the only reason why teachers are flying to distant countries. A change of environment is also a major factor. The boom of British international schools worldwide has given teachers the chance to live and work in many different countries around the world. These schools work with the British curriculum making it easier for teachers to adopt when they move to a new country.
Some of these countries have warm weather throughout the year. They can choose to go to international schools in hot countries like UAE or countries with a more moderate tropical weather like Seychelles or South Africa. There is also the opportunity to sample the diverse cultures that these destinations have to offer and meet new people.