Dr. Spilchuk (ISR On Line Teacher Consultant) normally hears from teachers living in countries that fall into conflict. The British International School Kyiv, Kiev International School & Pechersk School, among others, employ expats. Unfortunately, the situation in Ukraine appears to be escalating yet Dr. Spilchuk reports she has received no correspondences & worries for the safety of expats in the area. If you are currently in Ukraine, or have heard from friends of family teaching in the country, please visit the Ukraine Blog to share information with colleagues.
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Reblogged this on Cupla Focal.
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The school I work at in Kyiv closed for a few days during the peak of the unrest in Kyiv. When staff questioned what would happen if the situation escalated causing the school to close for longer lengths of time we were told that the school had added a force majeur clause to our contracts (they hadn’t) and that if they felt the need they would terminate contracts with no notice period. Needless to say many are leaving. However this is largely down to the schools attitude rather than the political situation.
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I work in an International School in Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine which is about 300 miles from the Russian hot spot. Yes there has been some concern about what might happen but equally most Ukrainian friends believe that there will not be an invasion of E Ukraine. Pupil numbers have NOT dropped but parents have taken extended holidays to watch the situation from afar. However , as of Early April, the school roll is now almost 100% and there is some optimism in the air – incidentally Dnepropetrovsk is a fascinating place to work and live with both an industrial and very cultural history. Only a tiny number of staff are moving on to another job – it is quite stable safe and secure place to work.
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I am currently teaching in Kyiv, Ukraine and have had so many emotions on the situations that have happened here. It has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. I have become so close to many Ukrainians and feel for them and their country. Currently our international school is operating as normal but there is always the faint thought of what if…
I feel completely safe here and not worried about myself in Kyiv. I continue to support my Ukrainian friends and hope that others will too!
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Thank you Kyiv teacher. Keep safe.
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I am English and usually I am a great fan of the BBC. However, I must say that I have been very disappointed by the one-sided and inaccurate reporting of the BBC and CNN. Neither of these two news organizations seem to understand that the Crimea was always part of Russia. Just about everyone in the Crimea speaks Russian and is Russian Orthodox. Tens of thousands of Russians died defending the Crimea in the Crimea War. Is Arlington Cemetery part of America? Of course it is! Well, that’s the way many Russians feel about the Crimea. The Tsars used to go on holiday in the Crimea (my wife and I visited their holiday home, the palace at Masandra). Sevastopol has always been a massive Russian naval base. Yes, it is true that Kruschev “gave” the Crimea to the Ukraine in the 1950s, but that was really a meaningless gesture at the time, since the Crimea and the Ukraine were still part of the Soviet Union and the Ukraine was not a separate country. Perhaps many Americans may not like Mr Putin, but many people in Russia (and in the Crimea) think that he is doing a good job.
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Thank you for you position Simon. While the creation of Ukraine is obviously a complicated historical situation, as is that of virtually every country in the world, the fact of the matter is that Crimea is part of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. It appears as though war may be imminent as a result of another country crossing Ukraine’s borders to overtake a part of her legal territory. Her right to Crimea has been confirmed by NATO, the UN and the G8. Further, it appears as though Eastern Ukraine may also be in jeopardy. Our purpose at ISR is to ascertain that international teachers in Ukraine are safe. To that end, if any international teachers in the Crimea or Eastern Ukraine read this post, can you please contact us at ISR to give us an update on your situation. We are concerned for your safety and for the safety of the children and people of Ukraine.
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Good post. History does count!
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I mean good post by Simon!
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Thanks Simon. Good to get real information. If the US continues on as it is we may all be unsafe where ever we are.
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Yes Simon a great job sending soldiers in plain clothes into a foreign sovereign state. Defending rogue countries like iran and their right to “wipe Israel off the map” defending a butcher like Assaad in Syria and his right to anhialate and gas and bomb his own people – Putin is SURE doing a great job -= i suppose Hitler was a s well!!
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My name is Simon Hill and I am not teaching in the Ukraine. My wife and I are currently in China, but she comes from Simferopol in the Crimea. Not surprisingly, she has been on SKYPE a lot recently, talking to her mum, dad, brother and friends who are all still there. At first everyday life was disrupted. All of the banks and shops were closed. Everyone was worried that there might be some shooting, but gradually things are returning to normal. The Ukrainian currency has lost a lot of its value, so prices in the shops have jumped. Most of our friends and relatives in the Crimea are sure that everyone will vote YES to the Crimea joining (or rather re-joining) Russia.
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Are many teachers likely to leave this year as a result of the conflict?
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I suspect that will depend upon what happens next in the region. All teachers should be thinking about an exit plan even if it becomes unnecessary.
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I’m at one of the schools mentioned and everything is fine. We’re all back to work, students are returning, and we are watching and waiting.
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Thanks for the update. Watching, waiting and thinking about the teachers, the children and the people of Ukraine.
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