One of the many problems with TBI is that it is a bubble of similarly deluded individuals. It always was. It is a place where people tell themselves that their extraordinarily low standards are actually the benchmark for the whole industry! Their delusions of grandeur are nowhere more in evidence than when it comes to…
We recently visited the TBI website to look at the latest version. We did not expect to be impressed but the rubbish they are now offering was gob-smackingly bad even by their own rock bottom standards. Look at it yourself and you will see pathetic testimonials from teachers with entry-level qualifications (you can lead academic…
Over the past few months, we have argued that with the ousting of TBI’s wretched old Director, the hapless and useless Ibu Mariam Kartikatrensi, the victory of her main rival, Ibu Nng Anhar, was complete. For many years, the shady yayasan (charity) USG had been the domain of Ibu Ning, while Mariam had thrown her…
Here are some photos of the empty premises of the former TBI Kuningan. TBI has now been forced to abandon its flagship school in Jakarta, hot on the heels of having to close TBI Sudirman because it couldn’t afford the rent there. They really are going through a rough patch, as we have been telling…
In recent days we have had confirmation of the shocking reports that not only has TBI Sudirman gone out of business, but TBI (The British Institute) has been forced to abandon its own Head Office on Level Four of the Sequis Centre. They used to be so proud of that office, right in the financial…
Today we would like to report the solemn news that TBI Sudirman has bitten the dust. Kicked the bucket. Passed away. In short, TBI Sudirman is ‘mampus’: dead. In the most disastrous turn of events in the history of TBI, they have been caught so chronically short of money that they are now unable to…
In this final part of this four part series of posts on TBI’s organizational structure- one which we have shown has been plagued by rent-seeking practices which have sapped the energy and competitiveness of the company from the start- we look at the real reasons for Mariam’s ouster in late 2015. Why was the TBI…
TBI is a company which has now had a lost half-decade or more. Between 2006 and 2010 a large number of new franchise schools opened under the guidance of Retty Setiawan, but in 2010 she was forced out of the company by Luke Preece, an Australian con-man who claims to have a degree in Geology…
“More on Luke Preece please. It’s very interesting. I knew him when he was making lunches for TBI Dago. What’s he up to now?” This request found its way into our inbox a few days ago, and we haven’t had the chance to respond to it until now. After all, we thought we had tirelessly…
Well, even for jaded, cynical TBI observers such as ourselves, we are surprised by just how low their fortunes have sunk. In recent weeks they have started once again advertising or teachers on online jobs websites, notably Dave’s ESL Cafe. There are now two successive teachers who have come onto the discussion forum and revealed…
tbilanguageschool 