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Stan Gale, left, chairman of Gale International Korea, and Nigel Turner, chairman of Vancouver International Primary and Secondary School, shake hands after signing a collaboration pact for International School Songdo at the Gale Korea office in Songdo, Incheon, last May. The VIPS chairman has recently been accused of using the bank account of his school in Canada to fund his children’s trip to the Monaco Grand Prix and business interests in Britain and Korea. / Courtesy of Gale International |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Incheon City's plan to open the first-ever international school in its Free Economic Zone has been stuck in a stalemate due to what it claims to be ``unclear criteria'' set by the authorities for the institute.
Last July, the school failed in its second attempt to get a license for the Songdo International School from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. This makes it uncertain whether the school will open early next year.
The ministry is still looking for a proper operator of the school. The Songdo International School, which was originally scheduled to open with a K-12 program for 2,100 students in September, was rejected, as its operator, Vancouver International Primary and Secondary School (VIPS), had no experience in running high school programs.
After the decision, the New Songdo International City Development (NSIC), gave up its high school program and applied again for a school license but was rejected again.
``We don't understand what's wrong with our plan. The criteria of the ministry for the international institute is unclear and we are very confused and frustrated,'' an NSIC official told The Korea Times.
In reaction, the ministry said the VIPS failed to meet the required number of quality teachers and proper curricula for school establishment.
``The school operator has not proposed specific plans on how to recruit teachers and students, and it didn't follow the school foundation process set by the ministry,'' said Lee Kyeong-lim, deputy director of the ministry and international school liaison. ``We are also unsure about the reputation of the school operator, VIPS.''
In addition, according to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Nigel Turner, VIPS chairman, has been accused of using the school's bank account to fund his children's trip to the Monaco Grand Prix and business interests in Britain and Korea.
According to affidavits filed by several parents as part of an action in the B.C. Supreme Court, he allegedly tried to transfer $24,000 out of the institution's account. He also asked parents to put up a $12,000 bond.
In light of the rejection, it is uncertain whether the school will be able to open by next March. The NSIC is searching for other international school operators.
About 150 billion won ($119 million) has been put into the construction of the school, which includes a sports complex, a digital library and other facilities.
For the fall semester, the international school planned to recruit a total of 280 students, with 40 in each grade from kindergarten through Grade 6.
In the meantime, the ministry has launched a special committee comprised of 10 civil servants and experts in order to attract more international investors to the free economic zone. Greater foreign investment is essential for the school to open as it needs to fill a quota set for foreign students.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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