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Nova management in further turmoil
Management turmoil at Osaka-based English-conversation school company Nova Corp. has led to the sudden closure of schools, complaints about tuition refund delays and other problems. Of its about 900 schools nationwide, around 50 had closed as of the end of September. This month, at least another 50 schools will be unable to offer lessons due…
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Labor body hopes to grill Nova chief on pay missteps
An Osaka labor standards watchdog wants to question the president of scandal-hit English-language school chain Nova Corp. over delayed wage payments, but meanwhile four executives of the firm have resigned because they can’t get ahold of their boss, Nova said Wednesday. The Osaka Central Labor Standards Supervision Office has quizzed foreign teachers and other Nova…
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Four NOVA executives quit, including founding board member
Four high-ranking employees of scandal-plagued NOVA Co. resigned Thursday, including an executive who had been with the English conversation school chain since its inception, company officials said. Anders Lundqvist, who had been involved with NOVA since its foundation walked out on the beleaguered business Thursday, together with three auditors. Reasons for the resignations were not…
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Cash-strapped NOVA fails to honor contracts to public schools after teacher exodus
OSAKA — Scandal-hit major English school operator NOVA failed to dispatch English teachers to local public schools after many teachers quit or took leave because they didn’t get paid, officials said. By Monday, NOVA had cancelled its planned dispatch of English teachers to five municipal elementary schools and five municipal junior high schools at least…
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Human rights survey stinks
Government effort riddled with bias, bad science On Aug. 25, the Japanese government released findings from a Cabinet poll conducted every four years. First, why is the government even asking whether non-Japanese deserve equal rights? Are human rights optional, a matter of opinion polls? And if a majority says foreigners deserve fewer rights, does that…
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Labor standards office questions Nova staff to prepare for charges
OSAKA — Osaka Labor Standards Office could as early as Tuesday hear from Nova Co. teachers and staff to decide whether to press charges against the English conversation school giant that continues to be beset by problems, office officials said. The office asked members of [Tokyo Nambu’s sister union] the General Union, which includes many…
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Three scenarios for Nova Corp. amid snowballing fiscal troubles
Nova used to pay teachers their salaries on the 15th of each month. As of last Friday, however, many teachers had not been paid. Some teachers say they are still owed for September, too. That led some teachers at Nova schools in Osaka and Tokyo to go on strike. Several of those schools decided to…
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Benesse Corp. bigwig bashes underling in meeting
An executive from correspondence education giant [and parent company of Berlitz and Simul] Benesse Corp. faces punishment after he punched a middle manager during a meeting last month, the company said. The executive, a 53-year-old man whose name has not been released, has apologized to the lower-ranking manager who he hit. But Benesse Corp. officials…
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School row traps Aussies
AROUND 2500 Australians working in Japan as English teachers could be left stranded if school operator Nova Corp goes under. Union spokesman Katsuji Yamahara warned yesterday that in a worst-case scenario, the Australians would have to try for scarce new jobs or go home in despair. Already they are working without pay. Mr Yamahara ?…
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Unions want Nova, president indicted over payroll delays
A labor union representing teachers at scandal-hit Nova Corp. submitted a petition Tuesday to the Osaka labor standards authority asking it to seek an indictment against the language school chain and President Nozomu Sahashi for breaching labor laws. The General Union asked the Osaka Central Labor Standards Supervision Office ? an arm of the Health,…