Because it's not meant to be a money-making venture but an educational exchange (excuse me whilst I laugh and puke at the same time).

This goes back to the idea that higher-education personnel would take a leave of absence (sabbatical) to further themselves and their knowledge base - so it wasn't about profiting but "expanding one's horizons.".

Because you work 2-3 days per week. What are you doing in your free time? Making money, if you are smart. When I was in China, I taught privates for a minimum of 200rmb/private class. Again, that was the minimum. I did face gigs for hundreds or thousands of rmb...and while those gigs are stupid, I learned a bit about working in an entertainment industry. I learned far more than I would have being treated like an animal at a training center for children!

Every intelligent uni teacher I know makes more/month than forty hour weeks in shitty training schools make. And, you have summers and winters off to travel.

What are you teaching, at which level ? I was in IT education.

If you are Chinese, working in a public university comes with a lots of perks that compensate for the low income : free or incredibly cheap accommodation on campus (quiet in the middle of a park), better retirement schemes, good school for your kids 1 mn from your flat at token price, etc. As a foreigner, beware, you won't have all those perks even after year of good services... but you can always ask, and insist ^^ You also have more free time. It's supposed to be time for research work, which in practice is doing consulting work, for example. You can get nice research grants and do actual research too. I did both (grants, consulting) and those "side" things accounted for the 2/3 of my income + free accomodation.

Perhaps because the university students pay a hell of a lot less money to be there than kids at a private training school! And (supposedly) the money that comes in from the students is supposed to be spent on research and equipment.

You're also getting paid somewhat similar wages to what the other teachers are getting. Is this a 'bad' thing? Especially when, usually, they've had to get their masters degree (and for some, a PhD), while many (most?) FTs just have a face.

Because nearly every public universities have a low budget to run huge campuses. Government subsidies have been drastically cut down in the last few years. Also universities are not meant to be for-profit organizations, even though the dean probably collects generous hongbao.

Like Rachel said, for one, you don't work all that much. I've known teachers who worked for as few as 12 hours a week at a university, and got paid around 5,000 RMB (plus free apartment). If you only work 2-3 days, you are free to fill the rest of your time with side jobs at language schools, or tutoring.

Also, universities are not businesses. Language schools are out to make profits, and can charge a fortune (often because they promise one-on-one lessons, or at least small classes). The facilities are often much nicer than universities, and they have better equipment. They can afford higher salaries, especially to well-liked teachers (which often means teachers are paid based on popularity and good looks, rather than actual teaching ability, but this is China). Private schools want to have teachers that bring in the customers, so are willing to pay more to hire and retain teachers who get the students. It's a completely different model from universities.

Also, you might not need to get low pay. I've worked for a place that had a lowish salary, and few working hours. I went and asked at the office if I could do more. They were a bit surprised that I wanted to take on more, since most teachers were fine with just 12 hours a week of oral English classes, but were happy to have me take on reading classes, and writing classes, and pay me extra for the extra work.

Hey is your family name Hafsechs

many universities have borrowed money and are in debt up to the neck and drowning, which explains some universities charging more for low gaokao scores, re exam fees to take the exam again and not failing students so they can keep that cash flow for another year, and of course keep the revenue stream from the next victim guaranteed by making it hard as hell to change universities or majors, not having to raise a ft salary every year and create additional labor expense is one reason some provinces are using the 5 year rule.