The Ministry of Education strictly requires that all teachers keep a preparation file and administration file. They are very particular about exactly what is kept in these files and in which order. They are also very particular that teachers specifically use the lesson preparation forms which they provide (and which I happen to find extremely unhelpful).
And it goes without saying that teachers are expected to cover their files in wrapping paper so they are pretty. This culture puts high value on image with an assumption that if something looks good then its contents, etc are good. Interestingly though, many teachers put so much time into making their files and other things look presentable, that they sacrifice the time in which they are supposed to be teaching in order to do this.
The Ministry is also supposed to come and check all these things, and I guess teachers get in pretty big trouble for not abiding by the red tape.
It may seem insignificant, but to be honest, the high level of bureaucracy in this culture can be one of the most frustrating parts of our service!
Fortunately, some colleagues see this and are also frustrated by it, so that somehow makes coping with this fact of life here more bearable.
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