EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL
more than 10,000 teachers and volunteers working in and through them. Interest in learning Chinese is also increasing rapidly. The number of foreigners taking the Chinese proficiency test rose from 117,660 in 2005 to 3.5 million in 2012.63
Example of Curricular Programmes INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS The International Schools Consultancy Group estimates that three million children worldwide are currently being educated in international schools. They predict that the rapid expansion of this network will continue over the next decade, with the number of schools increasing from its current level of 6,000 to as many 10,000. While there are not firm criteria for what constitutes an international school, they are all privately run and follow a curriculum different from that of the country in which they operate. According to the International Association of School Librarianship, one of the other characteristics of international schools is a transient and multinational teacher population. While international schools were not a focus of this study due to the unique nature of their structure and their lack of significant connection to public education, it should be acknowledged that there is a massive subculture of teacher migrants who travel the world to staff international schools. As might be expected, these teachers communicate extensively via the internet and social media to share experiences, advice, and warnings about specific schools, communities, and administrators. International Schools Review, an internet based network of international educators shares a treasure trove of such user-driven feedback. In addition, a number of teachers who completed the EI survey had worked in international schools.
Union Engagement Strategies Communicating with Members Abroad Many of the teachers who work in Spanish government overseas programmes maintain their status as civil servants. The Spanish unions continue to represent teachers while they are overseas, and though they do not negotiate wages, the unions engage with the Ministry on other terms and conditions of employment. FECCOO, one of the unions representing Spanish workers in the educational sector, has formed a division devoted to representing overseas teachers. In collaboration with the Ministry, the union offers professional development courses specifically designed for teachers who have been accepted to international postings. The union also
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Shangwu, “Hanban shops around for a wider choice�, 2013.