Rose, you haven't been "conned". If it's normal or not is hard to say as standards around the country vary greatly, but I believe it's safe to say that this country's freakish on CONTROL. On one hand, it demonstrates how well it can control some affairs/issues, and then on the other hand it neither can control the quality of its products nor the stats coming out of its offices.

On topic, the education is a well controlled field and all have to acquire the uniformed views for their future careers in the country. It all begins at the early age in classrooms. Local schools/centers get their licenses based on what their curriculum and schedule are and teachers are often required to submit their plans. Employers want to protect themselves from the authorities' and parents are to see what they pay for.

Having said that, I wonder how this has really worked as many schools are so disorganized with respect to any plans and they usually schedule and/or change schedules at 5 to 12. And, when any holidays come and we are to take time off, we also get to know at 5 to 12, don't we? So, how does their planning really work? Or, do they just want it from us?

A word of advice for Rose from is that she should prepare a contingency plan in case she is unable to carry out some of her ideas. Say for example, your amount of classes gets cut or your support fails to deliver. These are just some of the factors for which you'll most likely have to improvise later.

Cheers and beers to kindergartens with or without course books where there's plenty of material to help teachers deliver some of the best of their plans