foghornleghorn wrote:keeping_it_riel wrote:
The problem, as we said on another thread, is that most Khmer language school owners will do anything to keep their variable (e.g. labor) costs down and increase their profit margins .
They'd rather employ a beery breathed old drunk or a straight-off-the-flight clueless inexperienced backpacker for $10 an hour than hire a much better teacher for $15-20.
It's no coincidence that the only schools in town prepared to pay $20 plus ph for properly qualified, experienced and motivated teachers are NOT owned by Khmers.
These Khmer school owners will pay lip service to the concept of quality education but ultimately, its all about money. And they love money.
Here's a dumb question. Why do they have such a short sighted approach to making money? A school builds a reputation for excellence. Then it can promise to potential employers that its graduates are top notch. That way they can promise their grads a leg up in competition for jobs or spots at top uni's. A good rep means you can charge more. Look at the Ivy league schools in the US. What's going on in Cambodia? What am I missing? Low standards mean short term gain and long term loss.
What are you missing?
This is a developing economy, so:
- there are no jobs for graduates to go forward to, so forget advancement of the student based on a goal-oriented approach other than they'll be able to speak/use the language.
- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush re $$, so forget forward planning... cash-on-the-nail, today, is king. Massively disruptive ego-driven management? Who cares, they're cheap. Massively disruptive ego-driven students? Who cares, they pay.
- there are no reputations built yet short of the few mentioned - ACE etc - nothing lost if the money's already been made. Afaik, there are no (zero)
real and genuine connections to universities outside this country for students to continue their studies beyond the scope of schools here.
- there are no formally required quality standards to look to / be guided by and cheapest is best for the majority of locals, so piss-head DOSs, druggie and wino teachers are not weeded out as they'll work a 4 day week for peanuts using shitty books and will take all the rubbish thrown at them from both above and below as it enables them to do their sunny addiction thing in such a relaxed environment.
There is no driving force for the improvement of schools and no economic reason for the improvement of salaries - people (foreigners/westerners) work for nothing because they want to be here.
Go back 15 years or so and there was very little of anything in the EFL category compared to today - apart from one or two places (mentioned) not much improvement has been made to date other than in the sheer volume of opportunities for those wishing to study to spend their money.