Page 7 - ELG1901 Jan-Feb 463

NEWS

Lured to teach in China by agents’ promise,

South African teens detained and deported

By Matt Salusbury Guanghua University for their
Nearly 100 young South Africans orientation in the opening weeks MYSPACE
were detained by Chinese of their year-long contracts.
authorities in the second half In March, 2018, they were
of 2018, South Africa’s foreign asked to return for training in
ministry had confirmed. Most Changchung, where they were all
were accused of illegally teaching arrested and had their passports
English. confiscated.
One group of 51 South African They were confined to their
nationals were recruited in the university dormitories and
second half of 2017 by agent unable to leave the campus while
Owen Wong to teach children immigration authorities launched
in schools across China. They a criminal investigation into
arrived on student visas and were Wong. South Africa’s Minister of
accommodated at Changchun International Relations Lindiwe
Sisulu made efforts One of the Chinese student visas that are at question
to intervene on their
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SOUTH AFRICA were finally able most of them school-leavers still that she would be able to upgrade
behalf.
The South Africans
to leave China just
in their teens, who are being
her student visa, but was arrested
eleven days after reportedly
Christmas
before
lured by agents to teaching
jobs in China. The prospective
2018, once authorities
starting work at Nanjing’s Sesame
had concluded their
teachers are told they can start
Street English school.
work on a student visa and
into
investigation
Several more South African
teachers across China were
upgrade to a category Z work
Wong, who is now in
custody. The People’ s
on deportation flights in the run-
In another case, 19-year-
Republic of China
organised three flights
old South African Tristan-Lee
up to Christmas 2018.
to bring the teachers visa later. released from detention and put
Niemand was held in prison
The Chinese foreign ministry
back home. in the Chinese city of Nanjing has warned South African
The 51 were among for more than a month in late nationals they need a work visa
South African Minister of Inter national an increasing number 2018. Recruited by an agent who and a degree to teach legally in
Relations Lindiwe Sisulu of South Africans – cannot be traced, she was assured the People’s Republic.
US teacher indicted for French rule Brits can
assisting Islamic State keep status post Brexit
By Matt Salusbury By Matt Salusbury
a position teaching English to leaving the EU without an exit
ESL teacher Warren Christopher students in the Islamic State.” A Bill to allow British nationals agreement.
Clark has appeared in federal It is unclear whether the court working as public-sector English France’s minister for Europe,
court in Houston, Texas, to be indictment, which carries a 20- teachers in France to retain their Nathalie Loiseau, indicated
indicted with attempting to assist year sentence, is directly related “fonctionnaires titulaires” civil servant that British nationals may
a terrorist group. to this application, which does not status after Brexit went before the not retain the status forever,
Clark, a Muslim convert who appear to have been successful. Republic’s National Assembly at and could subsequently be
previously taught ESL in the Fort In his court appearance, Clark the end of December. downgraded to the less secure
Bend Independent School District, confirmed his identity and told To teach in public sector contractuel status.
was captured by Syrian Democratic the Judge he had been “very lost” education or in private institutions The Guardian newspaper
Forces in January and has admitted in Syria, according the Houston contracted by the state, reported Loiseau as saying France
applying to be an English teacher Chronicle. The judge reminded teachers in France need to hold would guarantee the residence,
for Daesh, as the “Islamic State” is him of his right to silence and told fonctionnaire titulaire status. This employment and welfare rights
known in Arabic. him to stop talking. is normally conferred exclusively of all 160,000 UK nationals in
A document, reportedly In an interview for broadcaster on European Union citizens. An France, even the event of no
recovered from a house in NBC, given while in Syria, estimated 1700 UK nationals, deal – but the offer is conditional
Mosul, Iraq, proved to be Clark’s Clark denied being a fighter for mostly EFL teachers, currently on Britain offering the same
application letter to Desh. Using Daesh. He claimed he joined the have that status, according to guarantees to French expatriates
the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed organisation out of curiosity and French news site The Connexion. living in the UK.
Al-Amerikani, he wrote, “Dear that he was repeatedly imprisoned The Bill is an emergency For more Brexit updates, see
Director, I am looking to get for refusing to take up arms. measure in the case of the UK news on page 9.
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