German teacher closes blog, denies govt pressure

• Source: Global Times
• [02:28 May 24 2010]
• Comments

In his past 10 years in Guangxi, he has never asked to be paid from the local school and has kept his monthly costs at less than 200 yuan ($29), which comes from his parents back in Germany, media reports said.

But the German, who was nominated by CCTV in 2006 as an individual who inspires the country, due to his past experience, admitted that he has no volunteer and teaching qualifications issued by any Chinese authorities, as he declared in his blog.

In 2006, Loewe had to return to Germany because his application for Chinese nationality for the first time was rejected.

According to relevant Chinese laws, those who have "made special contributions" to China can apply for Chinese nationality.

He returned to China in 2007 thanks to an invitation by the Guangxi Committee of the Communist Youth League of China to visit the country, and he has been here since then.

"My visa will expire at the end of October, this year and I was told by the Public Security Department of Guangxi that the visa can't be extended again," he said.

Loewe said he is still discussing with the Youth League to find a way to stay, but they have yet to find a solution.

"I'll try to come back again, as I can't leave my students," he said.

Foreign teachers can easily be found at the country's teaching institutions, from universities to kindergartens.

But many do not have appropriate certificates, especially in private schools.

An insider with a private kindergarten in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, told the Global Times Sunday that some foreign teachers at her kindergarten do not have teaching certificates.

Lin Meilian contributed to this story