2008-2009 Hyogo JET Program Cuts

From HyogoAJET

The Hyogo BOE recently announced that the number of SHS JET positions in Hyogo will be cut from 144 in the 2007-2008 year to 100 in the 2008-2009 year. We created this page to make sure that everything is clear about why the changes are happening, and what they will mean to those who decide to re-contract for the 2008-2009 year. If you have questions that are not covered here, please feel free to contact the PAs, or the Hyogo BOE.

Contents 1 Why are JETs being cut? 2 What will this mean for ALTs in Hyogo? 3 Why do I have less time/only one chance to make my recontracting decision this year? 4 Will I lose my job? 5 What will happen to the schools that lose their ALT?

Why are JETs being cut?

Hyogo Prefecture is currently in a fairly dire financial situation. Loans provided by the national government to help cover the reconstruction after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 have come due, and in order to repay these, the Hyogo government is cutting its expenditures by approximately 30% across the board. This, of course also affects the BOE, which will be cutting the amount of money spent on all staff, including ALTs.

What will this mean for ALTs in Hyogo?

If you are not employed by the Hyogo BOE, or not re-contracting for the 2008-2009 year, this will probably mean nothing. If you are planning on re-contracting for the 2008-2009 year, this will mean that there is a possibility that you will be asked to teach at a different school than you were at in 2007-2008. At the moment, there is no way to tell how many ALTs will remain at their current schools, and how many will be moved. Even if you stay in your current school, you may have to start paying visits to other schools that lost their full time ALT.

Why do I have less time/only one chance to make my recontracting decision this year?

In order to have time to make the necessary arrangements to deal with these changes, the BOE rearranged the dates for recontracting this year. The deadline for submitting your recontracting form is January 23rd.

Will I lose my job?

44 SHS ALT positions are being cut in Hyogo, and last year 65 new SHS ALTs were accepted, which means that even if 44 positions disappear, there still should be plenty of space for those who wish to re-contract. However, this is just my unofficial prediction as a PA, and not a guarantee.

What will happen to the schools that lose their ALT?

In general, schools that lose their ALT will have one of the ALTs from a nearby school visit a couple times per week. This means that some ALTs teaching full-time at one school may be asked to visit another school a few times per week.

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