New Credit System for Foreign Teachers Could Be Coming

Up to now, foreigners have been exempt from China’s experimental social credit system, designed to keep citizens accountable for their actions. However, if proposed legislation drafted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) is passed, foreign teachers – whether they work at a language training center or international school – could find themselves with a credit system of their own.

The MoE has asked for public input on the draft, and it’s not the first time during this public health crisis – a phenomenon which some social psychologists argue is capable of exacerbating xenophobic sentiment – that the government has requested public input on legislation related to immigration. In late February, just as the pandemic was getting on its feet, the Ministry of Justice asked the public for opinions on an expansion of China’s green card system.

One celebrated change in the draft is that it would allow teachers to legally take part-time work, as long as their employer consents. However, taking part-time work will be prohibited when a teacher first begins their work, though the duration of that probation is still unspecified.

The MoE’s proposed legislation would also create a “credit record system” for foreign teachers, ensuring that all teachers provide “high-quality education and a good teaching style.” Educational institutions would need to keep regular reports of all staff, which they would provide to the MoE, who in turn would keep their own database of foreign teachers. If a teacher exhibits bad behavior, their employer would be required by law to include it in the report. Several such behaviors are expressly laid out in the draft, including:

• Serious academic misconduct
• Accepting jobs outside of the educational institution where they are employed in violation of institutional rules or employment agreement.
• Breaking the rules set out by the employer such that it results in termination of employment
• Quitting without prior notice before the contract is concluded

A poor score could inhibit the ability of teachers to find a new teaching job in the future, as accredited institutions will be able to access teachers' records using a teacher's unique credit number.

The MoE is likely seeking feedback in Chinese, but those who have an opinion or ideas to improve the legislation are encouraged to send an email to fzb@moe.edu.cn before Aug 21.

READ: First Group of International School Teachers Allowed to Return to Beijing

Image: Guangzhou Bowen Shangde Education