Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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China Considers Toughening Rules for Foreign English Teachers

Shen Hua

   China recently issued new draft rules aimed at toughening oversight of
   foreign teachers in the country, requiring them to undergo ideological
   training sessions and creating a new social credit rating system to
   monitor their conduct.

   Arrests and deportations of foreign teachers in China have soared since
   2018 amid a broad crackdown on teachers without proper work visas and
   Beijing's push for a more patriotic education system.

   Analysts told VOA this is partly due to the deterioration of U.S.-China
   relations and China's relations with other English-speaking countries.
   Yet parents say they are still interested in having their children
   learn English.

   Draft regulation

   The [1]Measures for the Employment and Management of Foreign Teachers,
   issued by China's Ministry of Education on July 21, has been submitted
   for public comments until August 21 before final approval.

   The draft guidelines recommend that education authorities in China
   establish a social credit system for foreign teachers. Those teachers
   whose behavior is found to be in accordance with Chinese laws and who
   teach ethically and well will have that recorded in the social credit
   system, and those with unfavorable behavior would have it recorded as
   well.

   The social credit system is aimed at standardizing citizens' behavior.
   People with poor social credit scores in China who are designated as
   "untrustworthy" could be denied train or air tickets.

   First-time foreign teachers would have to receive 20 hours of ideology
   training on the Chinese constitution and regulations. Foreign teachers
   would also be banned from "illegally engaging in religious education."

   In 2017, China's Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs estimated
   that of the 400,000 foreign citizens teaching in the country, only
   one-third had valid work permits.

   The authorities launched training center inspections across the country
   in late 2018, which have intensified in the years since to create a
   "cleaner education environment."

   VOA contacted two major agencies, Go Overseas and Teach English Global,
   to learn how the new draft regulation would impact their foreign
   teachers in China. Both service agencies did not respond to VOA's
   comment for request.

References

   1. http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xxgk/s5743/s5744/202007/t20200721_474014.html

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