US Recession Forces Jobless Teachers to Find Employment Overseas, According to Teach Away Inc.

TORONTO--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The worst US recession in decades has forced new and experienced teachers to redefine career paths. Since the beginning of recent recessionary budget cuts to education in the US, Teach Away Inc. (www.teachaway.com), a leading provider of teachers worldwide, has seen a 350% year-over-year increase in the number of applications received to teach overseas. In February 2009 alone, applications jumped 157% when the effects of the recession on the job market began to take hold.

“These layoffs greatly complicate the challenges school districts face in retaining veteran staff and planning for the hiring and assignment of new teachers to meet student needs”

The Department of Education cut $3.7 billion from the 2008 budget of $68.6 billion, providing only $64.9 billion for 2009. In California, this resulted in 5,500 teachers being laid off, and those remaining being switched to 10-month work years.

“These layoffs greatly complicate the challenges school districts face in retaining veteran staff and planning for the hiring and assignment of new teachers to meet student needs,” says a report released by the Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning.

To combat education budgetary cuts, teachers across the country have organized protests. But little has been done to improve employment prospects as budget cuts continue in many States, including another $4.2 billion in California for the 2009-2010 school year.

While US teachers struggle to find work, teachers working overseas are enjoying lucrative salaries amongst other accommodating benefits. Teaching jobs in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, for instance, provide return airfare, housing, and salaries ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 USD per month, on top of lucrative salary completion bonuses.

David Frey, Director of Teach Away Inc., states

“The tough local job markets coupled with great incentives to teach overseas have triggered an increased interest to teach abroad.”

Frey believes that despite the loss of educators to higher paying jobs overseas, the net result is positive for the US education system as teachers with international experience return more culturally aware and are better able to incorporate cultural diversity into the classroom.

Frey adds that “the demand for North American teachers internationally is constant as the North American education system is highly regarded.” Governments across the globe hire native English speaking teachers, many from the US, in large numbers every year. This year, the Korean government hired 1,500 such teachers in an effort to place one native English speaking teacher in each school.

Experts maintain that continued recessionary budget cuts will result in more domestic layoffs in education, and increase demand for North American trained educators worldwide.

About Teach Away Inc.:

Teach Away is the sole provider of North American teachers to governments in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a leading provider to governments and international schools in Asia, the Middle East and South America. To learn more about Teach Away Inc. and international teaching jobs please visit www.teachaway.com.