VACANCY INFORMATION

Teacher Recruitment Unit, HR, British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2BN, UK
T +44 20 7389 4928

F: +44 20 7389 4140

E: teachthere@britishcouncil.org

Section A
Information about the vacancy
Recruitment Responsibility
Location
Job Title
Start Date
Advertise job

DTCM Sri Lanka

Kandy, Sri Lanka
Full-time Teacher
7 October 2013
internal & external

Date
Job code
Job Type
Closing Date
Number of posts

5 July 2013
SRI
Teacher
22 July 2013
1

Advert Text including job Specific skills, knowledge, qualifications & experience

Located in the cultural heartland and former capital of Sri Lanka, the Kandy Teaching Centre is recruiting a teacher to start
work on 7 October 2013.
In Sri Lanka, the British Council enjoys considerable prestige and an excellent reputation. Demand for English is strong
and the centre in Kandy operates at close to capacity for most of the year. It has well-established and very popular adult
and young learner course portfolios with course development co-ordinated through the Teaching Centre in Colombo.
This is your chance to join a dedicated team working in a small centre. As well as the opportunity to teach groups of highly
motivated adult and young learner students, we can offer opportunties to develop in teacher training and materials
development, an attractive salary package and, for qualified examiners, regular opportunities to supplement this with
IELTS/ESOL examining work.
Applicants must have a first degree, a certificate-level EFL/ESOL qualification (CELTA or equivalent) and experience of
teaching both adult and learner students.
Internal candidates need to inform their current line manager and recruiting manager.
Candidates should click on the job title in bold then click again on Apply Now in the new web page. The closing date for
applications is 22 July 2013.
The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and is keen to reflect the diversity of UK society
at every level within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. In line with
the British Council's Child Protection policy, any appointment is contingent on thorough checks. In the UK, and
in other countries where appropriate systems exist, these include criminal records checks.

Local restrictions on employment (if any)

All expatriate staff require a work visa and applications must be made prior to arrival in Sri Lanka.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Section B and C
Information about the Teaching Centre: a brief overview and Job Overview
Location and facilities
The Kandy Centre is located in the centre of town on the third floor of a modern building and has 4 fully-equipped
classrooms, all with IWBs, and a spacious and well-resourced teachers room. In peak terms, we also offer classes in a
nearby annexe (part of a modern office block) and in part of our library space. One of the classrooms doubles up as a
CALL room and there are also self-access materials for students in the library.
Academic Year
There are four 10-week terms during the year. Leave is taken in blocks in between terms (December, April, July &
September) and teachers do an average of 10 placement testing days (at the end / beginning of term) during the year.
Students
We teach both adults and young learner students from the age of 6 and up. Sri Lankans are cooperative, keen and highly
motivated students and its not unknown for an adult student to travel for up to 6 hours to get to class. Young learners, in
particular, tend to be creative and very enthusiastic: teachers experience few classroom management problems.
Class hours
Adults study for 5 hours a week (either 2 x 2.5 hours or 1 x 5 hours), while young learners have one 2.5 hour lesson a
week.
Courses, syllabus, assessment and materials
General English (GE) courses are for students aged 16 years and above. GE Courses are book-based and follow an
integrated skills-based syllabus that is mapped to the Common European Framework (CEF). We also offer Spoken
English and IELTS preparation courses (both 1 x 2.5 hours/week).
Young Learners courses (6 to 15 year olds) are very popular. We have a blended approach and use a course book
together with either film or story book materials.
All students work towards the achievement of a set of can-do goals which are used for assessment purposes and guide
their learning. Adult students also receive a self study path that is linked to work cards and resources in the ELZ.
Teaching Centre Management team
While the Colombo-based TCM, DTCM & ADOS are invloved in the management of finance, HR and academic
programmes for both Sri Lanka Teaching Centres, responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the Kandy
centre lies with the Branch Manager, supported by the Adult Learning and Young Learner Co-ordinators, a Registrar, a
Customer Services Officer, a Resources Assistant and a team of 6-8 teachers.
The teaching team is a close knit and supportive group and can offer advice on all aspects of life in Kandy.

Teaching
staff (FT)

Teaching
staff (PT &
HP)

Total no.
students

650

Maximum
class size

20

Total no.
classrooms

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Section C
Information about the terms and conditions of service (TACOS).
Contract Length

24 months

Renewable Period

12 months

Contract Type

Network Recruited

No. of Staff Managed

Contract Hours

37.5 hours per week

Contact Hours

25 hours per week

Annual Salary
The post holder will receive:
1. A rupee salary on a ten-point scale from Rs. 213,713 to Rs. 282,990 per month.
1. A fixed sterling allowance of 448 per month
Note: LKR 199 = 1 GBP (BKR Jul 13)

Income Tax & National Insurance

Income Tax
Salary and all allowances are assessed as inclusive of any local taxes of whatever kind that may be levied by the
Government of Sri Lanka. At present, the position is that no local tax is payable on your salary in Sri Lanka for the first
two years of your employment as an expatriate member of staff, but if the host country requires you to pay income tax,
you must do so and the British Council will not adjust your salary and allowances to take account of any such taxes.
National Insurance
UK Class 1 National Insurance payments may be compulsory for the first 52 weeks of this agreement. If so the Council
will pay the employer's share and will deduct the employee's share from your salary at source.

Fares & Travel

Economy class airfares for the member of staff and accompanying family members to Sri Lanka at the beginning of their
employment with the British Council.
Economy class airfares for the member of staff and accompanying family members on successful completion of their
employment with the British Council in Sri Lanka either directly to the country of their next posting with the British Council
or back to the UK.
Sri Lanka is currently an ECA Category E country and staff and accompanying family members are entitled to a midcontract economy class return airfare to the UK. Please note that ECA categories are revised on a regular basis and any
change to the rating for Sri Lanka might make this clause inapplicable.
The British Council will cover the cost of the visas, work permits and vaccinations required for you to take up your
employment in Sri Lanka.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Baggage Allowance
Unaccompanied members of staff are entitled to an accountable baggage allowance of up to 1,200 on arrival and on
successful completion of their contract.
Members of staff who are accompanied by a spouse/partner/children are entitled to an accountable baggage allowance of
2,000 on arrival and on successful completion of their contract.
Note 1: Any claim for repayment under the terms of this clause must be made within 6 months of the members of staffs
arrival in post.
Note 2: Where a member of staff transfers to another British Council Teaching Centre on completion of their contract this
allowance is payable by the receiving centre.

Annual Leave Allowance

50 days paid leave (35 days + 5 days for ECA category E country* + 10 public holidays)
Note 1: ECA ratings are subject to regular review.

Medical Allowance
All UK recruited staff on globally mobile contracts and accompanying family members are covered by the British Councils
Group Medical Insurance.
The scheme is currently administered by BUPA International and covers medical, dental, repatriation costs, personal
liability and other items. Costs are reimbursed through BUPA or settled directly with BUPA approved hospitals.

Settling-In Allowance

Unaccompanied members of staff will receive a settling-in allowance equivalent to 2 weeks rupee salary to help them
meet their initial expenses on first arrival in Sri Lanka.
Members of staff who are accompanied by a spouse/partner/children will receive a settling-in allowance equivalent to 3
weeks rupee salary.
You may also receive up to two weeks hotel accomodation and up to two weeks subsistence while looking for suitable
accommodation where this is not provided on arrival.

Accommodation Allowance
Not applicable

Any Other Allowances

Pension

Network staff who have worked for the British Council full-time for at least three months are entitled to a
matching pension contribution of up to 1,800 per annum.
Note: applications for a matching pension contribution are submitted in December

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Additional Information

Recognition of previous service

Service in one British Council centre will be recognised as of equivalent value to service in the teacher's new centre.
First arrival
A meet and greet service will be provided on first arrival in Sri Lanka.
Country, City and teacher information
If you are an internal applicant, please see the Staffroom, our TC pages Sri Lanka for a country/ city overview (TC info)
and a teachers account of life / work here (my TC).
We also happy to send information or put you in contact with male or female staff if you would like to speak to somebody
about life in Sri Lanka. Please e-mail Ian Cameron (Branch Manager, Kandy) at Ian.Cameron@britishcouncil.org or
Dominic.Hudson@britishcouncil.org who will answer your questions or put you in contact with somebody who can.
Same-sex partners
Please contact us for information on the current situation in Sri Lanka.
Whilst the above information was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to change.
The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and is keen to reflect diversity of UK society at every level
within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. We guarantee an interview to
disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Section E
Information about the place
Country Overview
Recently selected by Lonely Planet as Best Place to Visit 2013, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer. Escape from the major towns
and cities, where the strains of development are plain to see, and Sri Lanka deserves its reputation as a tropical island
paradise. Lush green paddies, palm-fringed beaches, tropical rainforest and rolling tea plantations are all packed into an
island half the size of England.
In the north, the Jaffna peninsula and scrub forest of the Vanni have been off limits for twenty years, but with the end of
the civil war, the region is opening up to local and international tourism. The dry zone in the centre and east includes the
countrys traditional cultural heartland with its temples and ancient ruined cities while the hill country offers spectacular
mountain scenery and cooler air. To the west and south, the climate is wetter and the lansdcape greener. As the land falls
away towards the coast, densley-forested valleys give way to rice paddies, palm groves and eventually to the beaches
that have made Sri Lankas reputation as one of the worlds great holiday destinations.
Sri Lanka has had its share of problems in recent years. The 2004 tsunami brought massive destruction to coastal areas
and much of the island was directly or indirectly affected by a bitter and drawn out civil war. Today, the outloook is much
brighter. The physical scars left by the tsunami have healed and peace has brought a new mood of optimism along with
strong economic growth and opportunities for development in the north and east.
Sri Lanka is a developing country and anyone coming here should bear that in mind, but standards of health and literacy
are relatively high and local infrastructure is improving in the wake of economic recovery and ongoing liberalisation. The
two local languages are Sinhala and Tamil and although knowledge of one or the other is desirable, you can get by
without either as English is widely spoken.
Sri Lankans are friendly and welcoming and Sri Lanka is a safe, quiet and pleasant place to live. Expatriates generally
enjoy a comfortable and stress-free lifestyle, with a good standard of living.

City Overview
Kandy is the second largest town on the island and has a population of around 150,000. It is very important in terms of
culture as the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth is located here, and it is a cultural heritage city which attracts large numbers
of pilgrims and local and foreign tourists all year round.
Located amongst scenic hills around a reservoir, Kandy is much smaller and quieter than Colombo. Its central location
makes it an ideal launching pad for exploring other parts of the country.
The British Council has been in operation in in Kandy since 1960. The Teaching Centre is centrally located, on the third
floor of a modern building. Although it is much smaller than the centre in Colombo, it has a large library with around 4,500
members, a flourishing examinations department, provides Education UK services and hosts occasional cultural events.
The English Learning Zone (ELZ) is an example of inter-departmental co-operation and is popular with local teachers,
students and the general public.

Climate
The climate is tropical, although as Kandy is in the hill country the climate is more temperate than on the coast and it is
often quite cool at night. The average temperature is 26 degrees and the most pleasant time of the year is December to
February. It rains a lot in the monsoon season.

Accommodation
A major attraction of living in Kandy is that it affords the possibility of a semi-rural lifestyle, while remaining close to the
facilities of Kandy town centre.
There is a reasonable range of accommodation available from small flats to large houses and rents vary according to the
size and location of the property. Most teachers pay between Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per month for a 2 or 3 bedroom
house (often with a small garden) and most live a maximum of 10-15 minutes by trishaw from the Council.
Most teachers hire domestic helpers for cleaning, laundry, childcare, gardening etc. Furnished accommodation generally
comes with ceiling fans, a fridge, cooker, beds and telephone as a minimum, and often much more.

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General living costs & conditions

Salaries are very high by local standards and its possible for a single person to live very well on the local salary element,
although this is clearly dependent on your personal lifestyle and situation.
The cost of living is generally low, although imported products are sometimes much more expensive than they would be in
the UK. It is possible to employ a full-time maid or nanny at a cost of Rs 10,000 - 14,000 per month or to emploiy
someone on a once/twice-a-week basis (Rs. 600 - 800 per day depending on number of hours).
There are various factors that can affect cost of living significantly: IDD calls are expensive and eating and drinking
imported food and wine (c. GBP 7.0/bottle) is much more expensive than eating a rice and curry to go with a local beer
(c. GBP 0.7/bottle.)

Transport & Communication

Travel in Kandy
Driving in and around Kandy is typically chaotic. Some teachers use motorised trishaws to travel within and around the
city limits and fares are cheap, especially if you negotiate a weekly rate with a regular driver. Many rickshaw drivers have
mobile phones so you can easily contact them. Taxis/cars with drivers can be booked over the phone.
Most teachers have small motor bikes or cars but the poor condition of the roads means this can be costly in terms of
repairs and sometimes dangerous. A new scooter costs about GBP 600 and a second-hand car will set you back
upwards of GBP 5,000 (high import duties on vehicles mean cars are very expensive but hold their value well). It is
possible to get a vehicle loan from the British Council, and resale prices (even after a couple of years) are often as high
as purchase costs.

City buses are cheap, but hot and often dangerously overloaded. There is a comfortable intercity train to
Colombo and back every day which at 2 and hours is the fastest (and most picturesque) way to get there.
Other places accessible by train include Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.
Communications
All teachers have mobile phones, either pre-paid or with a contract. Some houses have telephones and most have
international direct dialling. There are public telephones for international calls and numerous types of telephone cards.
All teachers have access to the Internet and email at work and most have internet access at home, too.
Most teachers invest in a satellite television system to get BBC, CNN, Star, ESPN etc. Pirate copies (DVD) of the latest
films and TV series are readily available and cheap, but the quality varies.

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General Health, Medical & Dental Care

The British Council will reimburse against receipts for those vaccinations currently advised by the FCO for people
intending to live in Sri Lanka. Contact E&E London for the current list.
Mosquitoes are a fact of life and although malaria is rare, other mosquito-borne diseases (notably dengue and
chikingunya) are more common, especially during the rainy season, so prevention of mosquito bites is important. There
are locally available chemical and organic products for this but strong DEET-based repellent is hard to come by. Stray
dogs, cats and monkeys should be avoided as potential carriers of rabies.
In general, Sri Lankan doctors are good and many are UK trained. There are efficient dentists in Kandy, although the
facilities can be unattractive and old-fashioned. Visits to both doctors and dentists in the private sector are very cheap by
UK standards but its probably better to seek dental treatment before you get here.

Job Opportunities for Partners

It is difficult for a non-Sri Lankan to obtain permission to take up paid employment except for posts where it can be shown
that there is no suitably qualified Sri Lankan citizen available to fill the vacancy. Spouses must realise that only in very
exceptional circumstances will an employer be willing to negotiate with the Controller of Immigration for permission to
employ an expatriate spouse. The fields where some chance of employment may exist for the qualified are school
teaching and English teaching.
There are usually opportunities for hourly-paid work within the Teaching Centre for suitably qualified partners. However,
applicants need to make this clear at interview as it affects the visa process prior to departure.

Schooling & Childcare

An advantage for all teachers, but especially those with young children, is that domestic help in the form of maids/nannies
is affordable (see cost of living above). In addition, private schooling is relatively cheap.
For families with older children, the cost of an 'international school' (really an English-medium school, where most of the
pupils will be Sri Lankan) is presently around 90,000 rupees per term for a junior school pupil - there are 3 terms in a year.
The amount increases each year as the child gets older. All the international schools are co-educational, teach through
the medium of English and offer educational facilities from kindergarten to university entrance.

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Any Other Information (Shopping facilities, entertainment, leisure.)

Shopping
Kandy is a provincial town in a developing country and this can mean that the range and quality of goods can seem
limited. Shopping varies from the Kandy City Centre shopping centre (relatively recently opened and very popular) to Sri
Lankan style markets. Most items are in fact available in shops/supermarkets although imported items like cheese and
wine are limited in choice and expensive. Availability varies, and it is often advisable to seek advice about where to buy
things.
There are many shops selling attractive local handicrafts and fabrics with which you can decorate a flat. Due to the
thriving garment industry, there are also a number of outlets selling top UK/USA clothing labels at very cheap prices. In
general the cost of living is considerably cheaper in Kandy than Colombo, although the flip side is that the range of shops,
and goods in those shops is considerably smaller.
Leisure
Kandy is not known for its nightlife and a quiet descends on the town in the early evening. However, there are a handful of
restaurants and pubs within the town itself and some of the hotels also offer good Western and Asian-influenced meals.
There are a couple of fast food outlets (Pizza Hut and KFC) in the town centre. Many teachers are members of hotel
gyms/swimming pools (currently family membership of a five star hotel in Kandy comes to around 50GBP annually) and
some are members of the golf club, which is a short drive from Kandy.
Kandys size means that incomers quickly meet and get to know other members of the expat community, and this can
afford a useful support network, and helps with settling in.

Whilst the above information was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to
change.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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