BKC Moscow - the Internal Regulations for Contract Teachers

We know you don't want to read the internal regulations. Why would anyone in their right mind want to read the internal regulations? Boooooooooooo-ring, right?

Just listen to us. If you haven't signed the contract yet, great! There's still time.

If you already signed the contract, consider finding an alternative school that will pay you more and provide you with a much more decent experience in Moscow.

If you please, pluck your Internal Regulations for BKC Full-time Contract Teachers document you have buried in a mass pile of paper on your desk.

Pay close attention to these:

2.1 - Teachers are required to carry out oral and written instructions from the head of Recruitment department, Senior teachers, Assistant Director of Studies (ADOS), Director of Studies (DOS) and General Director and to fulfil his/her duties.

Problem - every single one of the aforementioned people will give you contradictory instructions on how to "fulfil your duties".

2.10 - Teachers are expected to be in the school, where they are teaching, at least 20 minutes before the class is due to start.

Problem - we don't get paid for this. Even if you happen to work at only one school, and happen to work only 5 days a week, that adds up to one hour and 40 minutes per week of unpaid work.

5.2 - Teachers will not be paid for the first 3 days of absence from work through illness. For any further consecutive days of illness (beyond 3 days), teachers will be paid 50% of their gross salary (see payment guidelines for details).

Problem - no sick pay. except a measly 25 bucks or so starting on the fourth day.

5.4 - Regular or persistent sick leave can result in early termination of the contract.

Problem - huh? you're planning on sacking me because I get sick too much? you see those old guys hawking and hacking on the streets and in the metro? Oh no, BKC, you're right, it's all my fault.

6.3 - Teachers cannot take holidays later than 2 weeks before the end of the contract. Teachers cannot book holiday time to be taken after they complete their contract. They will be paid for the number of holidays earned but not taken.

Problem - we got together and tried to figure out what this means. We think it means that we can't use our holiday time past our contract. No shit? We also don't see why we can't take a holiday in the two weeks before contract ends. Stupid.

6.4 - Unpaid Leave. Teachers may be asked to take unpaid leave between June and August if there is not enough work in their branch school. If a teacher does not take unpaid leave, they may be moved to another Satellite or Central School or Summer Camp where there is work or they will undertake other educational work as directed by the school director. If a teacher wishes to remain in a school flat during an extended period of unpaid leave (more than 5 working days) he/she will be asked to pay rent.

Problem: If your contract runs through the months of June, July, or August (one of ours does), then that means you'll either be moved, get to do lots of stupid shit work for the Evil Queen, get shipped off to camp or, in a twisted scam - you will actually end up paying BKC, and not the other way around.

6.6 On public holidays when BKC schools are closed, teachers will have days off, which are not counted as working days.

Problem - this extends your contract, those sneaky bastards. this also means you don't get paid.

6.7 - Teachers working on public holidays when BKC schools are open will receive double pay.

Problem - they just like to throw this in there to make it look good. nobody ever works on public holidays.

6.8 - The school will be closed for winter holidays from the 31st December to the 7th of January. These days muist be taken out of the paid holiday.

Problem - oh, silly me, i thought i could take my holiday as i pleased. no? all those days off are forced holiday? thanks for telling me. nice of ya! WHAT THE FUCK? That's not holiday time, that's a public fucking holiday!

7.3 The company guarantees that it will take a teacher not more than an hour to get from a school where they teach to the flat they are provided with.

Problem - this is a bloody fucking lie. One of us has a commute that takes her anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours one way from her flat to her school.

7.7 The company cannot guarantee that all teachers will have the same standard of accommodation in terms of facilities, fittings, size of flat and convenience of location.

Problem - this is BKC-Moscow-speak for "We'll give the best apartments to our friends, and the ones that give us chocolate and vodka. Oh, and that cute American boy who invited us to his party. He'll get a good flat, too."

7.14 For teachers taking more than 2 calendar weeks leave (paid or unpaid) at any one time, the school cannot guarantee that they can return to the same flat they were living in before.

Problem - YES, it is a possibility that if you go on holiday and return 2 weeks later, BKC will tell you that you no longer live there. You live in this other flat. Across the city. How will you move your stuff? They don't care. Why was some strange wanker living in your room while you were on holiday? They don't care.

8.1 Teachers will receive reimbursement towards the cost of their return air ticket to Russia. This will be refunded as follows: 50% after 90 calendar days of teaching and the remainder on completion of the contract.

Problem - This is a lie. This year, we all received our 50% late. Took them a paycheck or two to finally give us the money.

12. VISA

We're not gonna touch the visa mess right now because it's a total cluster fuck right now. We'll try to post the latest and greatest from Russia and BKC Moscow as soon as possible.

14. Disciplinary Procedures

Just ignore all of that. It's all a big pile of horse shit. There are a lot of stupid teachers around you, and some of them just get tossed. There are a lot of good teachers around you too, and they also get tossed by the Evil Queen if they didn't do the proper bowing and curtsying and chocolate giving.

The most important thing to know is that you can get sacked for whatever reason and you're on your own in terms of getting back to whichever country you came from. Try to find a new job, whatever you do. And don't give them your visa. Trust us on this one.

15. Notice of Termination

Ignore all that happy horse shit, too. If you want to get the hell out of BKC Moscow, then go ahead and give them their 4-week notice. Do as they say. And maybe, maybe, just maybe, you'll get the money they owe you when you leave.

But we don't advise counting on that.

BKC Moscow Time Tabling - The Way They Treat BKC Teachers

This post has been removed per request of teacher. Unfortunately we could not publish the teacher's comments because they included the teacher's name. Reminder -- when you comment on this blog, do not leave your real name if you are a BKC teacher.

BKC Moscow Teachers! You Must Bow to the Evil Queen. Bow to the Students!

Most of you are young and eager. We were just like you once. We were sold the dream, only to see it die.

This is BKC Moscow's way of telling you that you must do exactly as the students tell you. They are in charge of you, not the other way of them. Fail to submit will result in damage. Do exactly as the students tell you. If it is impossible to do so, you still must do it. You have no authority. That is why we have overheard some of you, at Boro, telling the other rookies that your adult students have ousted you from your classes.

You are, quite simply, a liability to BKC International House Moscow. The students are an asset.

From the BKC Moscow Weekly News:


STUDENT FEEDBACK FORM
Dear teachers,
In order to increase student retention by providing classes students are happy with, we have introduced a student feedback form. The form is to be given to your adult students with the progress/end of level test, and will let you know what the learners think about the content and level of difficulty of the materials you use, what they want more/ less of, what they think about the course book etc. If you’ve already done the first progress test it’s still a good idea to give the students the feedback form, to see what they think about the course.
The forms are to be given by the teacher to the students, then collected by the teacher. After you look at them and decide how to adapt your classes to the students’ feedback, pass the forms to the ADOS of your school.
Please tell your students why you are giving them these forms (to find out how to better adapt the lessons to what they want) and ask them to be honest in their feedback.
Ask your LO/ ADOS for a copy of the form or download it from the Teachers’ Forum.
Thank you.

No, thank YOU, BKC. Thank you for entrusting us to not do our jobs correctly.

Actual Email from a BKC Moscow ADOS Telling You That You Must Help BKC Make More Money

When you go on holiday, you will receive an email like this from your BKC Moscow ADOS. This comes from an actual email sent to a teacher:

I see that you're having some time off.  In the past, we've had students who ask for a break in lessons when they know that their teacher is going to be on holiday, which is a bit of a nuisance for the school and loses us money.  If you tell your students that you will be away, explain that they will have a cover teacher, and encourage them to come for lessons as normal during your holiday.


We are not sure why it is our responsibility for BKC to not lose money, since they pay us poverty salaries.